The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-04
UNDOING WOODS WORK |
Surprise in Washington at the
Havana Hold-up Order.
NEWS TO THE PRESIDENT
Secretary Gnge Thinks There Is q
Missnke-Much Criticism of the De-
velopmcnt Compliance Would
Create Trouble in SantiaGo-Thc
Governor On His Way Here.

Considerable surprise was occasioned in
the Administration circle yesterday by the
newspaper dispatches from Santiago re-
latiDg to an order supposed to have been
issued from Havana that all customs re
ceipts be senta to Havana each week. 1t
was found by al comparison of notes at
the Cabinet meeting that no such order
had emanated from Washington, and that
neither the War nor Treasury Department
knew anything OF an intention on the part
of the Havana authorities to promuigate
such an order. Il is believed to be posi-
BILE that there has been a misunderstand-
ing.
Secretary Gage. said of the matter last
night: Such an order, If it were issued
would be entirely military matter. origi-
mated by the military government OF the
island. The most that anyone in Wash
ington would do would be TO suggest the
advisability of such a plan. This has not
been done, however.
1T was suggested by the Administration
few days age. that it might be advisable
to have the revenue officers in the different
parts of the island make weekly report
to Revenue officer Bliss, the general reve-
nue. officer at Havana. This order may
have been misconstrued somewhere.
1T is possible that it is desirable for
some reason to focalizc the revenues OF the
island each week at Havana, TO be dis
tributed later, as the needs of the different
sections make advisable. l may say at
least that 1 know nothing of that kind and
that the newspaper dispatches were a sur
prise here.
1T is not TO be wondered that the Gu
bans should be somewhat sensitive about
such a matter after their past experience. -
Whether there has been mistake ut
Havana or by General Wood at Santiago,
the supposed new regulation is
undoubtedly causing much dissatisfaction
at Santiago, and may lead to a serious d S
turbance of the excellent condition of af-
fairs under General Woods government
Dispatches from Santiago make it very
plain that If the revenues are to be sent
! to Havana each week, as stated, and not
returned. the great work of sanitation and
general municipal improvement inaugural
ed by General Wood will have TO be aban
doned. There are 10000 Cubans employed
on this work in Santiago alone, and they
would be thrown out of employment and
become objects of charity again or seek
the hills and become bandits perhaps.
1t is realized that one of the chief
! abuses in the Spanish government of the
| island, hated most by the Cubans, was the
Capitalization of all the revenues at Ha-
| vana. The larger part of this public
money was wasted and appropriated TO the
| private uses of the Spanish officers there
and much of the remainder went to enrich
| the Spanish treasury. Little if any ever
| found its way into the local financial sys-
| tenn of the island again.
| Robert p Porter, who has Just made his
report on the British government at ia
maica, draws the comparison between this
| Spanish method and the English method oil
devoting the revenues of Jamaica to the
island itself. He draws the conclusion
| that the difference between contented ant
prosperous Jamaica and poverty stricken
discontinued Cuba was chiefly due TO thi!
one difference between the two govern
ments.
The dispatches from Santiago state tina
the business men generally there, the Sai
| Carlos Club, and the Supreme Court arr
very much dissatisfied with the order
which they eonstrue to mean that Americ;
intends to apply the Spanish system.
II is stated in the dispatches that th'
coming of General Wood TO Washington
is undoubtedly 10 protest TO the Govern
ment here against the order. II may b.
stated on excellent authority that Genera
Wood will probably find before he reach -
Washington that there is not to be a re
that up TO this time no such intention ha
been formulated by the Administration
although it is quite possible that the Wa
Department may have quietly instructe,
General Brooks TO demand 4 concentration
of all revenue moneys conveniently at on
place.