Evening journal., 1898-09-23
OUR new Ell DORADO
Potential Wealth Of Cuba
Demonstrated
IN COLLECTOR DOyALDSOy'S REPORT
An Excellent summary of the stu.
ntiOn-A Definite Currency For
Cuba-Dinercnt Sources
of Revenue.

ntion-A Definite Currency For
cuba-Dinercnt Sources
of Revenue.
SANTIAGO. Sept 23.--By the courte-
sly Of General Lawton a press corre-
spondent was yesterday afforded an op.
portunity to peruse the report issued by
Customs Collector Donaldson. covering
the transactions Of the custom house
at Santiago during the period between
July is and Sept. !. The report, which
was forwarded 10 Washington yester-
day, covers six closely typewriter
sheets and deals voluminously with the
work Of gradually reorganlzing this
most important department OF the ca
pitulated territory.
Summarized, the report states that 81
steamers with an aggregate tonnage Of
1880 tons and % sailing vessels Of an
aggregate tonnage Of 1889 entered the
port during the period named and that
y steamers and IS sailing vessels clear
ed. The discrepancy between the num-
Der Of entries and clearances is ac-
counted for by the fact that many gov
eminent transports did not report for
clearance at the custom house The
sum OF Sl07,7S3 was collected from va
rious sources and payments were made
OF Sl3,l0l for sanitary and similar pun
poses, city police ana municipal sala-
ries, salaries OF custom house officials
and miscellaneous expenses.
In the absence OF a bonded warehouse
system no entries for warehouses were
made. This matter could not be dealt
with until after the departure Of the
Spanish troops. but recommendations
for Its adequate treatment will be pre-
scented as soon as practicable after the
present report is submitted and gem
eral warehouse win be established at
Santiago entirely under the customs
control, instead or as during the former
regime, under control Of the depostos
mercantiles.
After reviewing the various sources OF
revenue. Collector Donaldson estimates
the annual income OF the province of
Santiago at$2.15O, 900. He makes n strong
plea for the assignment OF a revenue
cutter for continuous employment ia
these waters in the protection OF the
revenue, the assistance of vessels I'm
distress, the enforcement OF quarantine
laws and the protection Of wrecked
property
The question OF a dehnitive stable cur
rency for Cuba is dealt with. Duties at
present are paid in gold coin of the
United States, rendering necessary daily
estimates and computations of compar-
ative values, there being no absolute
standard Of a circulating medium, and
confusion has arisen, particularly in the
matterof the interchangeable value of sill
yer coins Of the two countries. Attempts
have been made by local financiers to
secure conventional agreement that
Spanish silver coin be exchanged for
A md frnlF rlH.lst
but as the intrinsic value and exchange
value Of the respective coins did not
correspond the attempts have not re-
suited In even temporary benefit. AS a
preliminary step TO the dlsposing Of the
matter IL will be recommended as soon
as practicable that authoritative In
structions be issued that duties be coll
lected entirely in American gold.
The revenue collected has been found /
sufficient to cover all the administra-
tive expenses Of Santiago thus far au-
thorized. Other resources disclosed in |
the archives Of the Office are available
for the unexpectedly increased ex-
penses. These resources are estimated
at $165, 900 yearly for Santiago city and
for other towns in the province at SlS,-
156.
The report closes with a manifest of
the numerous sources of public revenue.
The sums authoritatively collected and
duly accounted for would more than
suffice to support in an adequate man
ner all the expenses of administering
the province even II the rates OF as
sessment were reduced in view of the
impoverished condition OF this portion
of the island. The lower rates Of duty
specified I'm the schedules prescribed
have resulted in greater revenue re-
ceipts during the period covered By the
report than were found I'm the records
OF the office during the corresponding
period, when the extreme rates OF duty
specified In the Columna del derecho
dlferencial OF the former tariff were in
force. The fact that the revenues col
lected have been primarily devoted to
the prompt payment of approved sal
aries and TO authorized disbursements
incident TO local administration instead
OF being devoted 10 other purposes has
produced excellent results, not only I'm
relieving pressing individual results
but also by providing in u legitimate
manner, by the immediate distribution
Of certain amount Of currency. for
recommending business transactions in
the community and the reopening OF
many avenues of employment
General Lawton was greatly pleased
with the report and on its reception
paid high compliment to Collector
Donaldson.
Spain ClinEs 20 the Philippines.
MADRID, Sept. 28-The ministerial
newspapers protest against the suppo-
sition that the United states win keep