New-York tribune., 1899-03-05

LEAVE
4 CRISIS IN LA.NAICA.
ATTEMPTS OF OFFICIALS To CARRY OUT
REORGANIZATION PLANS

Kingston Jamaica, Feb H-There now seems
,tra room for douat that This long-srnering ana
rnuch-abused colony IS on the verge u sensa-
tional political crisis. which may inNoN" pooHS"eH.
The events that have led up 10 the present silu'-
tion are so well known even to the American pub
lic as not to call ;or much detailed explanation IN
England they are thoroughly understood ana their
approaching sequel is looked for there
In general terms. owing directly and almost
wholly TO the treatment Of the colony by the I'M
perial Government in recent years. particularly IN
the matter OF marketing its products. it may now
he said that Jamaica, in common with the other
british possessions IN the West Indies is virtually
bankrupt Unable meet lis growing liabilities,
the colony necessarily looks 10 Great Britain Tor
financial aid and the Colonial once through Mr.
Chamberlain. has answered as II has 10 BARBADOS
and the smaller islands. that aid can be extended
SOLELY on condition that the imperial Government
shall control the jamaican finances hereafter. Ihat
would involve a change OF the constitution. the
,asirnation OF representative institutions and the
acceptance Of crown colony government
Jamaica j. not prepared 10 concede this. prefer
ring TO face it, financial crisis boldly and 10 meet
# I'm some other way. That other way is obvious.
and has been clearly pointed out to the Govern
lncnt II IS to begin drastic scheme OF rotren'h-
ment in the too expensive administrative estao-
ushments The revenue is not SO much depleted
that the country could not hold its own through
the crisis II the intolerable burden Of oyer-admn-
istration were modified.
GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION.
As under the present constitution the elective side
Of the Legislature controls the haances-provlded
a majority Of nine Of the fourteen representatives,
vote solidy for against any financial meas
ure-the Government has realized that at the com
ing session this policy of retrenchmont would be
forced upon II. TO meet this II has taken timely
action 1t has begun a system Of retronchment
that has completely set the country by the ears
and raised an outcry which should reach the hearts
Of the English people.
In the first piece. the salaries Of all petty Of
fcials including office messengers Government
building employees and courthouse cleaners. have
been reduced 20 per cent. giving saving IN
amounts ranging from 10 to 80 a year This has
evoked a storm Of indignation and sarcasm. The
coUTemptlble pitifuIness OF the thing almost
obscured by its absurdity. Only the more far
seeing understood TO what II wss leading
The issue has Just been reached I'm thus act
Ing. the Governor OF Jamaica. Sir Augustus Hem
ming and the Privy Council were deliberately
playing with the people But now they are acting
seriously and last week cam he frst blow; IKE
paid district medical officers. who are attached
TO the civil Service Dec"nse & lmty 'a1hor ~
have been summarly discharged without notice
among whom are some VINO nave occupied theII
pIsts sesides this orders have been issued TO close
some of the most important parts Of the island.
PREPARING TO ENFORCE DEGREES
,s vet this drastic exhibition Of tyranny has not
oeveloped the storm Of popular protes, which mus
certainly follow. but the Government has antici
mated the reaction. The people knowing that. afei
all through their representatives they hold the
,urse-strings and that the Legislature must meet
next month might have possessed their souls in
uatience But the Governor yesterday Issued the
warrants converting the Council for March II. anC
-. tho same time let IL be understood that his
Intention is to avail himself Of his constitutions
nrerogative to Increase the Official side of th'
fiouse so as 10 give the Government a clear ma
ioritV There Is elective seat vacant. the oc
cupant OF another is out OF the island. and thirc
seat Is not TO be occupied this season.
Thus the Government Is prepared to force th'
coi,ntry under the pretence OF constutionalism.
accent the contemplated change OF cOnstii utOn
But II is not without the gravest significance tha
a general mobilization OF the entire military forces
was ordered simultaneously with this announce
ment The mobilization began this morning d
Port Royal
This really means that the loyal colony Of ia
maca H. 10 be cOerced and terrorized into surren
dering the constitutional Government which II Re
fuses 70 sell for mess Of pOttage. Whether thu
scheme Of political spollatiOn Will succeed or no
without grave and highly sensational crisis re
mains be But many who know the tempe
Of the people are inclined 10 think that II IN
project is carried the people will answer Will
Uidespread riot. despite the threat Of troops.