New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-08
CUBAN SHIPPING IN A FIX.
STEAMSHIP LINES OF THE ISLAND WISH
TO FLY THE AMERICAN FLAG.

Havana. May THE owners of the principal
Cuban steamship lines met to-day and resolved
10 send two representatives to Washington
with request that the companies be allowed 10
nv the American flag, or, II that be impossible
to have a distinctive fag so as to be able 10
engage In trade with the United States and
iother countries Seniors Cosmo de Herrera and
f, Blanco. acting for the estate of Count de Mon
terra and in the interest of the Herrera COM
pany. will probably be the deputation
The Herrera company owns twenty steamers
and the Menendez company six. three OF which
were built in Philadelphia at cost OF s2ooooo
eoch The sum of S3.OO0.0OO is invested in the
cteomers of the companies represented at TO-
davis meeting. These steamers used to trace
with San Domingo. Porto Rico. Jamaica. Mex
leo the Southern States and the Canary ISLANDS,
and those of the Herrera company made regular
trims 10 San Domingo and Porto Rico Now the
owners Of both steamers and sailing vessels OF
which $50 are Cuban assert that business Is
being ruined because 1t is confined to coast"ise
trips Two American lines are doing large
coastwise business. yet Cuban vessels cannot go
among the West Indies or to the southern
States The Cuban schooners, for instance
could do q carrying trade In cattle. lumber ana
-four with Savannah Mobile New-Oreans ana
Galveston. but Washington forbids
With the sale OF the Spanish floating dock
steamers will have no facilities for making re-
pairs here and. as matters now stand. they cam
not dock in American ports.
The feeling Of the steamship people that tneE
are unjustly treated is shared by the eh'ie
commercial class in Cuba and particularly in
Havana, this is the fourth port in polh' u
,mnortance on the North American Atlantic
aO1a 10
able to transship TO the West Indies and Mex
leo. and 1t is regarded as quite possible that'
under the bonding system, Havana may be
able TO do an extensive business with Central
and South America. But this will be impos-
able unless the companies have a flag that
will be recognized abroad
An organization Of the American attorneys In
Cuba has been formed with James McLeary as
president He was formerly Attorney General or
Texas. and served as the first Mayor of Santiago
after the American occupation. The attorneys
claim that having been duly admitted 10 prac-
'tice in the courts OF the United States they are
eligible 10 practice here at least so long as the
military administration is continued. To this
the Cuban lawyers interpose strenuous objec-
tons saying that many Of the Americans do
not understand the language the laws or the
methods of practice. and can have no more right
20 follow the legal profession here than doctors
have to practise medicine until they snail nave
passed the tests prescribed in Cuba. The Cubans
also suggest that many Of the Americans who
seek clients here left their country for their
country's good.
After the election Of officers the meeting adj
,journed until Friday next, when definite course
OF action will be agreed upon Many non pro-
'fessional Americans do not believe the asprants
will be allowed by the military authorities TO
practise here without the necessary local quail
fications, knowledge of both the Spanish Ian
and hpin
The local papers crticise the new postal regu-
latons for requiring a knowledge Of English on
the part Of Cuban applicants. and yet legalizing
\ the employment of Americans who do not know
y Spanish. -y.r-,.-,
4 The police are severely condemned by the press
for raiding low dives" while overlooking the
gambling that goes on at all the wealthy clubs.
The papers say that Havana is a branch Of
Monte Carlo"