Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-08
CUSTOMS HOUSE PICKiNGS
Chief Cause of Friction With Spanish Au-
thoritiAs at Havana.
High Officials VIII Pay Themselves,
but Put on Their
Employees.

! Customs 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 flag
| is still flying in that part of Cuba, Is never
theless conucession that was made with
| regret. 1t is now the clear purpose 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 of complaint. Private advices, how
| ever, are to the effect that this is not be-
Ing done Since the protocol was signed
and the blockade raised the customs re-
ceipts have been larger than in peace times.
| This was due to the large amount of goods
which had been waiting chance of ship
ment to the port.
Only High officials Paid.
Nobody connected with the government
in Havana had been paid for months except
the higher officials, who were able to pro-
vide for themselves. AS the present Gus
toms officers and other officials know that
their tenure is very short, they will make
the most of it. Instead of the employees be-
ing paid they are still kept on promises
When the United States takes control it
will probably be asked to pay the arrear-
ages OF hundreds of late employees of the
Spanish government who will be entirely
without means, and if 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 insult
ing in their refusal to permit the landing
of the supplies without the payment of du-
ties. 1t was in the power of Captain Gen
eral Blanco or of the autonomst cabinet
which is still nominally in authority to
have RENTED the duties. Instead they re-
fused and are putting every obstacle in the
way of distributing the food. 1t is under
stood that the commander of the Comal
wanted to bring the supplies back to the
United States rather than pay the duties
but he was overruled in Washington.
Not Looked on With Favor.
The plan of having Havana the last place
to be evacuated by the Spanish ops is
not looked upon with favor, though Il is in
measure the only feasible method. The
troops in the central part of the island can
all be mobilfZed at Cienfuegos. the south
coast 1t has railroad communication with
all points wh.re there are Spanish garri-
sons. In peace times a line of vessels also
ran directly between Cienfuegos and Span
. ish ports. 1t was here that the Spanish
steamer Monseratt brought her cargo of
arms and supplies for Captain General
Bianco after hOStilites broke out 1t VS.
thought that the vessel would try an! run
iuegos before patrol was established on
ne south coast. Several ships which had
lain i'll Jamaica ports are said to be avail
able for transport service from the south
coast of Cuba.
VIII Try to Delay Evacuation.
There is a feeling that in order to get the
benefits which still accrue from the con-
troll of part of the island the Spanish au-
thorities will interpret the understanding
as 10 immediate evacuation in their usua!
manner, and will want till spring 20 get
sixty or seventy thousand troops back TO
spain. 1t is hardly probable that the
American military commission will tolerate
the delay. While lack of facilities may be
claimed, it will be found on investiga ton
that there are plenty of ships which can b.,
Gtlilzed Tor transport service. A line be-
tween Havana and Barcelona which
though managed under the Spanish flag
was owned by English capitalists has a
number of vessels available. The French
lines are also in position to furnish trans
ports.