The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-06
The Gable Companies Demand Damages for
the Cutting Of Their Lines
ORDER AS TOREVENUE RECEIPTS
Work Not Stopped
TO Excitement Over
This Refrigerated
for the Army Getsa an
Who Handled it..Beef Butch n
Caused

lie improvement and threatening to
throw thousands of Cubans out of en-
ployment, it may be authoritatiVely
stated that any excitement existing in
Santiago is due to a misrepresentation
of the war departments order. It
seems to have taken for granted that
the order contemplates sending all
currency collected for customs to Ha-
vana and thus cutting off the goVe~-
or of Santiago province from IT, zrn-
ployment of local labor. The fact is
that the officers in charge of customs
at the various ports of entry are mere
ly ordered to make weekly reports to
the collector of customs of the island
at the chief port and all transactions
at the sub port over which he may
have jurisdiction, with copies of en-
tries of merchandise duly certified"
The customs from all the ports of the
island are to be used for the better
ment of the condition of the Cubans,
not only in Havana and Santiago but
elsewhere. Expenditures will be di-
vided as equitably as possible SO as
to relieve distress existing in various
quarters and to make this relief CORE
spondent as nearly as possible to the
emergency.
So far from the war department con-
templating any curtailment Of the re-
lief work in Cuba, an order already has
been issued to the governor general,
directing him to furnish work to every
able-bodied Cuban applying for it at
a fair rate Of weekly wages, measured
by Cuban standards. The order sug-
gests that the best lines of employ
ment are in sanitary works, road i'm
provement and municipal works of va
riouS sorts. Il is intended to offer a
chance for TaT?lu.erative work to all
who are able tC take advantage of it
and to cut off The gratuitous distribu-
! ton OF rations among those natives
able to work for what they eat. The
employment ccrtemplated will not be
offered, however. to any resident of the
island who retains his allegiance to
] Spain.
| SITUATION IN SANTIAGO CRITI-
CAL.
Santiago de Cuba, January 3.-Meet-
| ings were held at all the political clubs
last night and wen the most conserva-
| tive people, those favoring the annex
| alton of Cuba to the United States,
| were astounded at the orders from Ha-
| vana for the Capitalization of the Gus
| toms money there. The past forty-eight
| hours have completely altered the sit
| uation of affairs here. The province
| had gradually settled down and was
| contented with the order of things pre-
| vailing, recognizing the benefits con-
| ferred. Now there is a complete change
| and there is no eXaggeratiOn in saying
| that the situation is critical, that a
| spark would set up a blaze which
| would plunge the province into insur-
| rection. 1t is generally admitted that
if 1000 men were suddenly discharged
| from the public works such action
| would probably cause a revolt which
| it would be hard to Quell. Major Gen.
| eral John r. Brooke, the governor gen
eral Of Cuba, is apparently ignoring
| General Leonard Wood, in command
and is cabling direct to his subordi
mates. He has ordered the acting col
lectOr of customs to bank no money
and the commanding general of the
province has ordered the postoffice t.
close several minor offices, includ
ing Songo and Bayamo, PRACTICAL.
shutting off the mail of the regiment
there.
| DR.. Castillo will accompany Genera
| Wood to Washington, representing th
British interests in Santiago, to la.
these matters before the president
l General Woods work here is nov
more thoroughly appreciated by tn
| CubanS.