The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-23

Custom House Picklngs the Chief
Cause Of Friction.


Custom house pickings are said to be
the chief cause OF the friction with the
Spanish authorities at Havana. The
action of this government In paying
duties on the food supplies on the
Comal, while correct In international
law. because the Spanish nag rs still
flying In that part OF Cuba, is never
theless a concession that was made
with regret. 1t is now the clear pur-
pose of the Spanish officials to keep
control of the custom house up to the
last minute. If the receipts were used
to pay the expenses of the government
that is maintained there under Spanish
authority there might be less cause for
complaint. Private advices. however.
are TO the effect that this rs not being
done. Since the protocol was signed
and the blockade raised the customs
receipts have been larger than in peace
times. This was due TO the large
amount OF goods which had been wait
ing chance OF shipment to the port.
Nobody connected with the govern
ment had been paid for months, except
the higher officials, who were able to
provide for themselves. As the present
customs officers and other officials
know that their tenure of office Is very
short, they will make the most OF 1t.
Instead of the employees being paid,
they are still kept on promises. When
the United States takes control IL viii
probably be asked to pay the arrear-
ages of hundreds of late employees of
the Spanish government, who will be
entirely without means, and, IL some
aid is not given them. will be objects
of charity. This is the situation as 1t
is explained in letters recently received
from Havana. Further. than this, the
Havana officials were insulting In their
refusal TO permit the landing of the
supplies without payment of duties. 1t
was in the power of Capt. Gen. Blanco
or of the Autonomist cabinet, which is
still nominally In authority. TO have re-
mitted the duties. Instead. they re-
fused. and are putting every obstacle
in the way of distributing the food 1t
Is understood that the commander of
the Comal wanted to bring the supplies
back 10 the United States rather than
pay the duties. but he was overruled in
Washington.
The plan OF having Havana the last
place to be evacuated by the Spanish
troops is not looked upon with favor
though tits In a measure the only feas-
ible method The troops in the central
part of the island can all be mobilized
at CienfueRos, on the south coast. II
has railroad communication with all
points where there are Spanish garri-
sons. In peace times a line of vessels
also ran directly between Cienfuegos
and Spanish ports. 1t was here that
the Spanish steamer Montserat brought
her cargo OF arms and supplies for
Capt. Gen. Blanco after hostiities
broke out. 1t was thought that the
vessel would try and run the Havana
blockade but IL got into Cienfuegos be-
fore patrol was established on the
south coast. Several ships which had
lain in Jamaica ports are said tn be
available for transport service from
the south coast of Cuba.
There is n feeling that In order to get
the benefits which still accrue from the
control OF part of the island the Span
ish authorities will interpret the un-
derstanding as to immediate evacu-
alton in their usual manner. and viii
want till spring to get $4,000 or 0000
troops back to Spain. II is hardly prob
able that the American military com
mission will tolerate the .delav. While
lack of facilities may be<claimed. IL
will be found or Investigation that
there are plenty Of ships which can be
utilized for transport service. A line
between Havana and Barcelona. which
though managed under the Spanish
flag. was owned by English canitalists.
has number Of vessels available The
French lines are also in position to fur
nish transports tS-Washington Star