The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-03
An Economic Task,

found in the memorial which the mer-
chants of Santiago have presented to
Robert Z. Porter, the presidents spe-
cial commissioner to arrange a tenn
porary system of tariff regulations.
This memorial recognized frankly the
fact that the reconstruction OF Cuba
is first of all an economic problem with
political destiny far in the background;
and it suggested numerous ways and
means whereby the wasted commerce
of the island could be restored
Among these it asks that no internal
taxation be levied on sugar estates,
that machinery be admitted duty free
and that Cuban sugar be given free
access to the markets Of the United
states: that live stock, barbed wire
and farming implements be admitted
free; that export duties be abolished;
that the mining industry be exempted
from internal taxation and mining ma
chinery as we'll as raw materials be
not dutiabc. that small banks be
opened to loan money on real estate
security at low rates of interest, that
duced in the island be as low as pos
sible consistent with revenue needs;
that the dollar head tax on immigra-
ton be abolished, that !ntoxicants be
taxed and that tonnage dues be re-
stricted to cargoes actually brought
into Cuban harbors. In regard to agri-
culture the temporary exemption from
taxation Of rural estates, the distribu-
ton of waste lands among the Cubans
who are desrous Of cultivating them,
and the granting of special facilities
to corporations desrouS of construct
ing railroads and other means of inter-
provincial communication are recon-
mended 1t also advised that out of
the customs revenues the insurgent
army be paid off and disbanded.
AS things go in this world it is ask
ing a good deal Of the United States
to ask it to go through all the trouble,
worry and turmoil Of Cuban recon-
struction only to hand Cuba over. at
the conclusion of our task, to an in
dependent Cuban government. Yet
this is what we are pledged to do and
we cannot honorably hesitate. There
is this consolation in the premises;
Cuba's destiny is so closely intertwin-
ed with our own and her commercial
dependence upon us is so obvious that
annexation is the inevitable finality
Thus we can feel that what we shall
do now in Cuba will be done both
from humanitarian purposes and with
ar eye to the fact that the benefits of
that work are bound in course of time
to be reciprocal and reversionary.
General Garcia says the representa-
tive Cubans will welcome American
military control pending the establish
ment of a stable government, but he
would like to suggest that the United
States send only well-disciplined and
law-abiding troops. so that the natives
may not receive false impressions The
suggestion is certainly to the point.
Episodes like that at San Luis, in San
tiago province, where a riff raft regi-
ment of United States immunes got
into a fracas with the Cuban police
force which was acting under direct
orders from General Wood and shot
some of its members fatally, will make
trouble faster in Cuba than our best
| diplomacy and craftsmanship can un-
make it. The American who goes to
Cuba in his country'e uniform should
be a true representative of American
| chivalry, patience and humanity or he
! ShOul6 hC CpDt home N
1t is, of course, regrettable that ex-
| Minister Hannis Taylor is not satisfied
| with the terms Of peace 1t would be
| pleasant to have everybody satisfied,
| including Professor Norton, Andrew
| Carnegie and Senator HOar. But since
| differences of opinion are inevitable in
| this imperfect world the American peo-
| pie as a whole will strive to get along
as best they may under the weight OF
| Hannis Taylors displeasure, thanking.
heaven their burden is not heavier.
Gratifying educational progress is in
dcated in the recent report Of the sec
! retary Of the interior. One-iifth of our
entire population now attends school.
The per capita cost Of public instruc-
tion, which was $l.75 i'm 1871, is now
S2.62. In quarter of a century the
enrolment of pupils in our public
schools has very nearly doubled. Our
teachers number 4l3,3i3 and our pupils
1862, ,492 This Is our real grand army
that challenges the world,
The Red Cross society proposes To
| establish a regular hospital system
| throughout Cuba. The Red Cross soci-
ETY. is setting an example of energetic
| devotion to humanity which our ad-
ministrative officials in Cuba will do
well to follow.
The representatives of the republics
of the Western Hemisphere who par
ticipated in the Pan American con-
gress, in 1889 voluntarily offered to
formally pledge their respective ma
tions to the payment of postal sub
sides to American steamships If direct
lines We're established, but the offer
was never accepted. Such an offer 10