Evening star., 1898-12-08

SENATOR HOAR
They applied the X-rays and discovered
that his interior mechanism was choked
with purses of gold and jewels. The Paris
doctors knew that jugglers, sword swallow
ers and fire eaters did not swallow gold and
jewels. They asked their patient when the
first symptom of his disease had appeared.
Two years ago" was his reply. And
what is your profession?" Formerly l was
notary. Two years ago l had the good
fortune to become a member of the Ayun-
tamento.'
The theater that night was filled with
Spanish officers. Many of them were
going to take the ships for Spain at later
hour. They enjoyed the play, which con-
tanned many similar hits at army officials
well at civilians uproariousy. An
audience in an American city would proba-
bly, enjoy such take off, on an alderman,
especially If 1t happened TO be at a time
when franchises for street railroads and
electric light companies were in demand.
But If the jest were broadened so that it
included everybody filling public positions
its humor would be fat, for the simple
reason that everybody connected with the
administration of affairs is not presumed
to be stealing. This Is the difference be-
tween the American and the Spanish con-
ception. 1t is an important difference in
Cuba at the present period
The same play had for one of its charac-
terS the illage schooimaSter. He came on
lIt stage 10 coH1)ldlH or the part the
tfor had cast for him. 1t was that of a
rotund, Wel-dIessed. Well-fed person The
schoolmaster on the stage was thin and
threadbare. He was a good actor for he
looked SO hungry that everybody in the au-
dience felt hungry. His coat was torn and
he could not afford a needle and thread to
mend it, He inveighed mot against his own
condition. but against the stupid author
who had violated all the rules of dramatic
art by creating a Spanish schoolmaster who
would not be recognized by his own people
Ihls bit of acting was immensely pleasing
to the audience. A Spanish friend at nv
elbow, himself an officer, between his inter
Vais OF merriment, explained the signifi-
canoe of it to me. 'It is very clever" he
said. You see on the stage there the real
schoolmaster. He is always shabby and
thln and hungry. In Spain we never pay
the schoomaster." He might have added
that this functionary is one of the few
government employees who has no chance
to steal. ] had seen Something at one of
the bazaars In the afternoon. which, when
related to them. struck the Spanish officers
with amusement equal to that shown over
the representation on the stage. 1t was
private soldier buying a money belt. They
We're lncredulous at first, and when finally
convinced they fell to wondering what a
private soldier could be doing with a money
belt. That would go well on the stage"
said one of them. and his companions
laughed their assent
Pay for the SchOOImasters.
The schoolmasters in Cuba have never
been numerous enough to make their back
pay in a lump a large sum. If the United
States were going to assume these obliga-
tons, a single days receipts of the custom
house would make the schoolmasters happy
W nat is due them Is hardly an item N the
sum total of wages overdue civil employees
IN other branches of the government The
majority of them have claims for five
months OF last year and for the eleven
hn nrNo H.
they have received trifie on account. Some
OF them have been able TO realize some
thlng by selling the |. o. US or due bills
OF the government to the spectators, who
at times are possessed with the delusion
that the American military authorities will
make provision for paying these bills.
Their advances are small, the risk is all
on their side. Commonly, they are willing
TO buy the certificates of indebtedness at
little more than the value of waste paper
Ihe civil employees have lived by what they
could exact In the way of fees and petty
extortions from whomever had business
with them
The Debts in Cuba.
The inheritance Of debts which the United
States might assume If 1t cared to do so Is
rich one. Some time ago Captain General
Banco thought that If he had at his dis
posal 800, 100000 he might pay the troops
and settle other bills of Spain in Cuba. In
stead of getting Sl00,UJO,000 he is credited
with receiving less than $4,000. The
Iailroads and other enterprises which are
controlled by European capital will have to
await the settlement of their bills until
Spain is in a condition to receive urgent
representations from their respective gov
ernments. Meanwhile they are seeking to
compensate themselves for what Spain fall
ed to pay for thu transportation of its
troops by charging the United States three
or four times what should be paid for
transporting American troops.
Most of the municipalities are bankrupt,
yet the creditors are thankful that under
international usage Spain was not charged
with the responsibility for these debts.
They would rather take their chances either
under annexation or under an Independent
government Ultimately the municipalities
may be able to pay these debts, though
contracted under the Spanish system and
by the Spanish officials, who stole most of
the proceeds. The civil employees who hope
to remain in Office and those who hope to
obtain Office will all be content to start
afresh with the American military control.
They know that so long as the United
States Is exercising or supervising the func-
tions of government it(will zee to the pay
ment of its servants in the administrative
positions. CHARLES M PEPPER.
Carolus Duran. the, well-known French
portrait painter has been elected president