The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-24
SANTIAGO CUSTOMS REPORT.
ESTIMATED INCOME OF SANTIAGO
PROVINCE $2.15O,OOO A YEAR.

Nphcctor OonnidSOn Makes n strong /
Plea for Cutter for Use at SANTA |
GO-Sums Collected More Than
Enough to Properly Administer
the Government in the Province.
Vice President CapOte of the Gu
ban Government Grants an Inter
View'tQ the Associated Press Cor
respOndent-Headau Trans
ferred From CamaEuey to santa
Cruz.
Santiago de Cuba Sept. %: 1880 p M
BY the courtesy of Gen. Lawton. the AS
ISOLATED Press correspondent was to-day
afforded an opportunity 10 peruse the re-
port issued by Customs Collector Donald
son covering the transactions of the Gus
tom house at Santiago during the period
between July 16 and Sept. l. The sum of
$l07S7S was collected from various sources,
and payments were made of Sls.101 for
sanitary and similar purposes, city police
municipal salaries salaries of custom
house officials and miscellaneous expenses.
Collector Donaldson estimates the an
nual income of the province of Santiago
at $2,150,000. He makes a strong plea for
continuous employment in these waters in
the protection of the revenue, the assist
ance of vessels In distress, the enforce
ment of quarantine laws and the protec-
ton of wrecked property.
The report closes with a manifest of the
numerous sources of public revenues. The
sums authoritatively collected and duly
accounted for would more than suffice TO
support in an adequate manner all the
expenses of administering the province,
even if the rates of assessment were re-
duced in view of the impoverished condi-
ton of this portion of the island.
Gen. Lawton was greatly pleased with
the report and on its reception paid high
compliment to Collector Donaldson.
Two hundred miles west of Santiago Is
the desolate fishing village of Santa Cruz.
| Here the Cuban government has estab-
| lished headquarters and during the past
month has held sessions for the conduct
| of affairs of the several towns in charge
| Of the Cubans. When the Associated
| Press correspondent arrived at Santa Cruz
| two night ago he was conducted into the
| office of Vice President Capote, where
| around a table lighted only by candle In
| a bottle, the officials of the embryo gov
eminent were engaged in writing orders
and other executive documents. The rea-
| son for the change of the seat of govern
ment from Camaguey is the facilitation
of travel of the delegates and officials by
| boats.
With reference to Cuban affairs, Vice
| President Capote said to the correspond
| ent: When war between the United
| States and Spain was declared the gov
| eminent decided unanimously 20 assist
and cooperate with the Americans to ee-
| cure the independence of Cuba, designat-
| ing me as special envoy to see President
| Mckinley with regard 10 the best methods
| to make the cooperation most effective.
Though 1t was not noticed officially
| with the Presidents consent 1 saw sew
| eral members of his cabinet and my efforts
| for the establishment of friendly relations
| and regular communication with the
| United States resulted favorably. lhad no
| difficulty In arranging the necessary par
| ticulars of this relation. Although formal
| recognition of the Cuban government was
| not given me, nevertheless the President
and other officials in Washington realized
that the body of men which represented
| constituted the government In the minds
| of thousands of Cubans and was the real
official voice of thousands of men then
under arms and of practically all those
| who were in sympathy with the revolu-
ton.
| The result Of this conference was that
was assured that the United States would
| cooperate directly with those at the head
of affairs In Cuba for the attainment OF
the objects in view. This satisfied me, as
| felt assured that the Cubans would re-
ceive the assistance of the Americans tc
sustain a stable government whether the
| Cuban government would be recognized
| or not. When / returned TO Cuba, | found
that my compatrlots were perfectly willing
TO help in any way to carry out the policy
| which the United States set forth In tbs
l oCf of n 10 Il
| Cubans under arms have been obedient Il
the Cuban government as constituted anc
the government has felt that 1t not only
owes duty to the army, but to the Gu
ban people who have upheld its supremacy
and that 1t should not dissolve, now ina
the American government has achieved {
noble victory, without leaving the army
that for three years has been obedient tC
It, the property Entrusted to 1t
i The purpose of the government.
Il since peace as practically declared haI
been to settle the question as to mainten.
ance of the army, TO give opportunity fol
all who desire to lay down their arms and
seek work and to resolve into proper form
the laws existing among the Cubans. Ir
| relation to the necessities arising undel
the somewhat peculiar circumstances al
far as possible. the Cuban people through
this government, are endeavoring to set
the Justly all the questions pertaining 4
the relations between them and the Amer
leans.
1.-THE United States government ha
taken complete control of affairs in thi
province, and Is, l believe, CONDUCTING
them in the right spirit. My own fear Il
that if the Cuban government, as 1t Il
now constituted Is left out of considera
tion and If authority Is taken away from
It, the government of America by gnor
ing its authority before its own people
may, perhaps. find 1t more difficult to set
tie the problem OF establishing perma
. hent government among the people VIII
for many years have looked 10 Cuoan gov
ernuhent as the controlling power"