Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-24
VIGOROUS MEASURES ARE To BE
ADOPTED IN HAVANA.
SPANISH LAW BROAD ENOUGH
ALL THAT REQUIRES TO BE DONE is
TO ENFORCE 1T.
Great Good Being Accomplished by
Cuban Industrial Relief Fund
Many Spnniards Are Desir-
GUS of Becoming Amer
lean Citizens.

HAVANA, July 2S.-The commission of
prominent Cuban lawyers appointed by
General Ludlow to decide upon the report
as to the best methods to be adopted for
checking public gambling, recently made a
complete report, which was referred to
Mayor Lacoste.
1t seem that the old Spanish law was
perfectly able to cope with the entire mat
ter. but that it was rarely enforced, owing
10 the large revenue received by the gov
eminent for hospitals and other charitable
institutions from the proprietors of the
gambling establishments. Occasionally the
governors would enforce the law and all
gambling would stop for a few months,
only to break out again and be carried on
with more freedom than before. The COM
mittee recognizes the fact that gambling
has now assumed proportions which it is
desirable to check and sets forth in its re-
port that the Spanish law only requires the
cooperation of the police to bring about
the desired reform. General Ludlow, the
military governor, insists that the fauit is
not with the police, who, on several occa-
sions, have made arrests and seized gamb-
ling outfits only to have the judges quash
the proceedings and return the outfits TO
their owners. The committee suggests Do
lice interference, particularly with a GER
tain class of Clubs" so-called, which are
mere gambling hells and are frequented by
many persons. 1t does not consider, how
ever, that it would be advisable to interfere
with the legitimate clubs, where whist and
other games are played merely as a pas
time. but only with those which are run
as gambling hells and for profit only of
professional gamblers.
. General Ludlow referred the report to
Senor Lacoste, who is enthusiastic in his;
desire 10 suppress the evil, believing that
citizens. The mayor declares that he will
exercise TO the fun the powers vested in
him Consequently it is expected that
many arrests will shortly be made not
only of the native gamblers, but of others
who are in the field with the sole object
of fleeing Americans.
Many gamblers with unsavory records
are In the city, among them being Ameri-
cans, Mexicans and men of other nation
alfties. If the judges do their duty it is
expected that the city will shortly be puri-
William Willard Howard, general man.
sser. of the Cuban industrial relief fund.-
speaks hopefully OF the work being. done
at the two relief farms. at Cieba Mocha
twelve miles west of Matanzas, where the
managers have more applications for en-
ployment than they have funds to. pro-
vide. Mr.. Howard says that crowds of
destitute persons como to the farms at
daylight and beg for a days work. None
Of them beg for food. and applicants never
ask for It without expressing a desire to
pay for 1t by working.
Mr.. Howard also says that numerous
small farmers in the neighborhood are
anxious to obtain loans for the purchase
of animals and implements with which to
resume the cultivation of their fields, offer
ing to pay for such loans at the, rate of
many who applied to General Wilson Tor
assistance have been referred to him. Gen.
eral Wilson is a great friend and helper
aiding with cattle and agricultural imple-
ments the small farmers. In fact, it was
at his instigation that Governor General
Brooke recently called a meeting of all the
in the matter. All except General wilson
objected to the plan proposed. believing
that 1t savored too much of paternalism.
cities there is a little progress being made
In the cultivation of the land. but that
farther in the country the evidences of the
are as plain as ever. thus showing that
there has been no change since April, when
the correspondent of the Associated Press
crossed the island from Santiago on horse
back The difficulty is. Mr.. Howard says,
lack Of funds. The small farmers have
not been helped. except by the issues of
crease its funds in order that it may en-
large its sphere of usefulness.
An organization is being formed by
some of the Spanish residents here with a
view of securing American citizenship. The
originators OF the movement claim that in
this way their property and interests will
secure protection. Many Spaniards are
willing TO pay $500 each to become citizens
of the United States.
American banking methods are becom-
ing extremely popular with the merchants
of Hafana, there now being on deposit
with the North American Trust Company,
fiscal agents Of the United States in Cuba
over A,op0,0o0, exclusive of the government
funds.
Several alleged counterfeiters have been
arrested on the charge of issuing spurious
silver dollars. The coins. which, IT is as
serted. were made by the prisoners. were
produced by primitive methods, being cast
in plaster of paris molds.
The local papers unanimously complain
of Mayor Lacostes order directing the clos
ing of the stores during the evening. Owing
to the intense heat which prevails in the
afternoons. ladies, the papers assert, find 1t
impossible TO do their shopping before the