Evening star., 1898-11-16

as TO the gold standard there is a differ
eice ol olihton In relation 10 the aIvisa-
plty OF squeezing the imitation out OF
these gold coins, while others recommend
as the only logical remedy to the situation
the substitution Of American currency as
sole legal tender. In such an event other
COINS would have their proper market
value. Such action on the part Of the
united States government would in 10 way
interfere with the present contracts which
are Invariably expressed as payable in
spanish gold. The premium on Spanish
gold was never agreed to by the business
people. Having thus arbitrarily put q me-
MUM on Spanish gold, the same au.hori-
nes later put premium on French gold.
Ihe whole thing is entirely artificial and
to continue ii, in the opinion of your com
missioner. would be a mistake A nerusal
of the testimony will show that some
bankers think i. inadvisable TO Introduce
paper money az this time while certain
planters are fearful lest their labor should
refuse to take one American dollar instead
of two Spanish dollars. A country which is
just now going through operation in
volving its very existence will not be
likely to be seriously affected by taking
this fictitious value out Of the gold coins
and establishing once and for all "A sound
currency that Will be good for a hundred
cents on the dollar no more no less. the
world over"
Question of Taxation.
Mr.. Porter then takes up the question of
taxation. and suggests the abolition Of GER
tain taxes. especially that known as the
consumption tax on the killing Of cattle,
which is an exaetion that greatly increases
the price of food to the people This tax"
says Mr.. Porter. like many others. is sim
ply farmed out to private firms or corpora
tions, whose emissaries in its collection be-
come u constant menace to thrift and In
dustry in their respective districts. Another
tax which will fall down Of its own weight
when the United States forces take control
Of the island is the 'cedula' VI head tax,
which varies in amount from few cents
to 500. according to the rank and import
ance of the individual. Curiousiy enough
this tax, when not collected, becomes a
greater source of injustice and annoyance
than when collected. Ii is generally allow
cd to run until some occasion comes for the
unhappy victim of Spanish rapaclty to re-
Qulre public document or permit to bury
a child or relative, a license to marry, a
transfer of real estate, or a notaria ac-
acknowledgement. Then il is that the petty
rascals in charge of public business bear
down heavily, and unless the fines and back
'cedula' and handsome qualification
to the official is forthcoming, the body must
await nterment the marriage must be
postponed. or 4 transaction delayed" 1t is
understood that both the President and the
Secretary Of the Treasury agree that this
form of taxation and the revenue from lot
teries must he abolished
Mr.. Porter then takes up the question of
education. There are free public schools
take pay scholars and naturally those who
do not pay get little 10 attention. The
proportion Of people who are illiterate is
very great. Some statistics show only one
in forty of the laboring classes able to read
and write. There can be no stable govern
ment in Cuba, Mr.. Porter says, until this
has been remedied.
Industrial Enterprise.
In regard to Industrial enterprise Mr..
Porter concludes that title can be done
until the sanitary conditions have been i'm
proved in all the industrial centers Not
only the commercial prosperity of Cuba,
but to considerable extent that of the
southern portion of the United States de-
fever which exist in the larger towns, es-
pecial.y in Havana and MatanZas, and
which have been the cause of epidemics Of
this disease which have occurred in the
United States during the past century. Mr.
Porter recommends that commission of
experts be appointed, some of whom shall
be engineers of skill and experience, TO
make a sanitary survey of Havana and Ma
tanzas and report as to what shall be done
to stamp out yellow fever in these cities,
with careful estimates OF cost.
Dealing with the railway system of Cuba,
the facts gathered on this subject by
Commissioner Porter he reports, point to
the advisability Of Immediately construct
ing a trunk railway from end to end of the
island, with branches extending north and
south to the important cities and ports.
Mr.. Porter returns to Cuba this week
and will spend a week with General Wood
at Santiago. He will then go to Cienfue-
gos and will be there December l. when IL
at that place.
Mr.. Porters report was highly commend
ed by both the President and Secretary
Gage.