New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-05

trarily created by the Madrid Government y!
n simple issue OF S3.O0O.000 against the lSiah"'
What for: 70 cover the expenses OF i"'c'-
wars in which Cuba was not concerned save d.
n part of Spain Once started. the dept grew
In 1SGS ut the outbreak of the Ten iears ""''
il was 1850 600. The costs of that war were
added In II. and other causes contributed 10 us
further growth. In 1886 It was consolidated al
SIoI 900 OOO. and In 1891 It amounted 10 no less
than S1GS 100 900 although down 10 mat Tine
S113.3:;G. }Oi had been paid for Interest ana re-
dcmption
This debt was incurred chiefly on account OF
the Ten Years War and Of other wars III when
Cuba had no part Even granting the Justice
of recurring her 10 do 30. cuba was not ai.oWeu
70 nav il. by the manner in which her revenues
verc dsposed of by the Madrid Government.
The island was. for example. in 1S@'-'H com
PEELED to pay the expenses OF the Spanish army
and navy in Cuba. the salaries and al expenses
Of the Colonial Ministry ut Madrid, and huge
roll If military and civil pensions and retired
nav. These items aggregated no less than ~
:jo7 900 Add 10 that $lO43j. 1S' interest on the
debt. and the bulk Of the total expenditures.
S"6G;73S9 is disposed Of. Nor IL that all HOT
thc worst. The robbery of the island through
custom house frauls-pcrpciialed ny ''FpeF
bocrcrs" from S2an-has been appalling. Sehor
Romero Robledo is not TO b. suspected OF par
TALLY to Cuba. But he reported TO the 'or'es
at Madrid on May IS. 1SJp deiaica'iohS III
Havana atone amounting 10 S22.sll.'i'' "'h-
cral Pando no friend OF Cuha-at the same seS'
sion Of the Cores footed up series OF CHI
bezzlemonts 10 SiOOoo 00o ana senior taStaheo'
reminded The Government that Gcneral irehd'T-
CAST had furnished a list OF go custom mousse
and other employees against whom proceedings
had been taken for fraud. hut not one or whom
had been punished. In view of such statements
Se1or Dolls charge that custom house 'hcl's
In Cuba since 1878 amount TO Sl0O.OOooW seems
by no means cXtravagani
The Cuban deb, at the outbreak Of the pres
ent war. then was SiGS,500.0oO. Nhat II Is
now cannot he exactly stated. II IS eh'r'''
within bounds 10 reckon that this war has D'eh
costing Spain IN average Of Slo."o.ooo inon'h'
In March last If was rcckoncd. from official ig-
rros IA have cost thus far over SIonoNo'n
Ar the present moment the total may well n'
estimated nj s1T5 900 900 Adding that 10 TIC
amount Of the deb, before the war the appalling
aggregate Of Sii3. 5OOO0O is reached. such i
the burden winch the Spanish Government
would impose upon the Island who's INDUSTRIES
have been rayagcd ont of existence ny me pHr-
barities Of the Spanish aforementioned. NJ
the present rate Of & per cent. the interest Oh
that debt would amount Ia S2J.Gln"" F'1r'
or more than the entire budget Of The island
before the war. The principal OF The dcb' would
be SOL TO every man. woman ana chlld III the
island. And the puhc debt Of France. now ny
far the largest ever yet incurred hy any nation
in the world Is only SlG2 head, Suci * Inc
load which Cuba must carry II sh" acc'p's Inc
offer Of autonomy.