The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-22
WHY CUBAN'S REBEL.
from the Detroit Tribune


Not long ago Colonel Deland, statisti-
eian VI MichlSah, nearly took the breath
away from his constituents nv shouinr
that during the past four years the total
appropriations made within the state for
an purposes, local and general, was n lit
tie over S7UO.OO or $l9,25OOOJ a year.
"ichisah contains an area of 5S,9l5 square
miles. ana has population of nearly
.,ooV'oVo people. by whom this money Is pro-
uuceu. Nhen comparison Is made with
tne appropriation which Is drained out Of
Cnpa every year. a better appreciation
ma! De mad OF the situation. In the years
1917 and 1850. Spain assessed the island,
which with all its little dependencies
measures but f.27S square miles, $46, 900 O,O
year, but three years ago the resources
or the territory We're so drained that the
appropriation was reduced to $26 OOO, 900.
The white population Is but 76i73O Busi-
ness Is not conducted as in the United
States, but Is hampered In every way BY
the horde of Spanish officials who fatten
Off the country. A man cannot 20 into
business without procuring a license from
these officials. He must pay in prOpcr-
ton TO the business he expects TO do If
he expects to a business of $4,000 a year.
and by unexpected good luck does more,
an official drops down on him and charges
him with fraud. To escape prosecution
and Imprisonment he must pay an exorbi.
tant blackmail If farmer has a calf or
a donkey or a goat added to his flock
he must report 1t at once to the assessor
or lose the animal and his liberty, so rigid
is the assessment law.
-:lI:-
Cuba must pay yearly salary Of $50, ,OOO
to the governOr-general sent over from
Spain. but that is only half his pay. He
must be furnished with a palace In Ha-
vana. and his living. and that of all his
numerous followers comes out Of the pub
lie fund. He also II furnished a country
estate, a stable of horses. carriages. ser
wants. etc. And In addition to all these
he has fat perquisitts for sO-called secret
expenses. His annual stipend Is worth
twice what the president of the United
States receives and 1t Is a mark of royal
favor to appoint decayed grandee to
this trust and thus build up his fortune.
The director Of the treasury gets $ls.50O,
the archbishop and bishop $4,000 each
Weyler gets $l6.5OO and his assistant gets
$4,000 year. The president Of the Au-
diencia. or audtOr-general. gets a like
amount and fat salaries are allowed the
governor of Havana and all the city Of
ficials, besides the generals and army Of
ficers, the navy officers and other hang
ers-on. Government clerks get from 81. 900
to 5000 year, and worst of all poor little
CuDd IL cOTnpeIleu 10 put up SSO w d year
for the colonial minister who lives In
Madrid
-:l':--
A more rotten government has never
existed. for the officials not only plunder
the natives by blackmailing schemes and
fee systems. but years ago the vaults Of
the national depository were robbed Cf
$6j0O.0O0. although 1t requires three Of
iicials to gain access through the locks.
During the ten years war, false vouchers
and stuffed provisions bills robbed the Gu
ban treasury of So. III 900. and during the
same period by means of false warrants
the board of public debts stole $4,000. 900
more As a result of this system the pub
lie debt of Cuba Is now about $500, O00,O 900.
or more than $40 per capita. In 1890 the
exports of Cuba were worth s10.60S. 900. of
which S. l2l .0O went to Spain and $5S, 900
came to the United States. The island of
Cuba Is. therefore. in one sense. a COM
mercial dependency of the United States,
while it In turn acts as the chief support
of the Madrid government. Ii belongs to
North America by geographical associa-
tion. and its commanding position at the
mouth of the Gulf of Mexico makes it par
ticuarly desirable for possession By the
United States.