Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-04
Angry Owes the Order Regarding
Customs Receipts.
CAUSED BIZ A ngAPPRgHENsION
Money Not TO Be Sent to Havana,
Only Statements.
THE SITUATION EXPLAINED

.oH-N law LIE VIDA, JdHutlS
ings were held at all the political clubs
last night, and even the most conserva-
tive people, those favoring the annexa-
ton of Cuba to the United States, were
astounded at the orders from Havana for
the Capitalization of the customs money
there.
The past forty-eght hours have COM
pletely altered the situation of affairs here.
The province had gradually settled down
ana was contented with the order of things
prevailing, recognizing the benefits con-
ferred. Now there Is a complete change.
ana 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 Instruction. 1t is generally
admitted that if one thousand men were
suddenly discharged from the public works
such action would probably cause a revolt
Whlch II would be hard to quel
MAJOR General John r. Brooke. the gov
erhor general of Cuba, is apparently ignor-
ing General Leonard Wood, in command
here, and is cabling direct to his subordi-
mates He has ordered the acting collector
OF customs to bank no money and the
commanding general of the province has
ofuered the post office to close several
minor offices, including Songo and Bayamo,
practically shutting off the mail of the
regiments there
Dr. Castillo will accompany General Wood
70 " ashlnston, representing the British in
terests in Santiago, to Law these matters
before the President.
General Woods work here is now more
thoroughly appreciated by the Cuhans.
misrepresentation of the Order,
hesaraihg the sensational reports from
santiago mat the whole province had been
4hhdiheu py the recent order of the War
Department concentrating all customs
money in Havana" thus threatening A
stoppage of all public improvements and
threatening to throw thousands of Cubans
out OF employment. it may be authorita-
lively stated that any excitement existing
in Santiago on that subject is due to a
misrepresentation of the War Departments
order.
1t seems to have been taken for granted
that the order. contempiates sending all
currency collected for customs dues to Ha-
Nana ana thus cutting Oft the governor of
santiago province from the employment of
local labor. The fact is that the officers in
Charge of customs at the various ports of
entry are merely ordered to make weekly
reports to the collector of customs of the
Island at the Chief port of all transactions
at the SUPPORT ener which he may have
jurisdiction withqeopies of entries of mer-
chandise Gully certified -
1t Is pointed out that this does not con-
template thes traffsfer of money. but is
merely a very natural method of keeping
the records of thei customs collections cas-
lily accessibieSin "a given place, whence the
War Department can promptly secure
whatever information it may desire.
To Better Cuban Conditions.
1t is we'll understood that the customs
from all the ports in the island are to be
used for the betterment Of the condition of
the Cubans. This does not mean that the
expenditures are to be confined to Havana
or Santiago or any other single town but
plans will be- submitted from the various
III
and with his apprbyal will be put into ex-
ecuuon, the expenditures being divided as
equitably as possible, so as 10 relieve the
distress existing in various quarters and
make this relief correspond heIriy
possible TO the magnitude of the emer-
gency.
+ 1t is further pointed out that ii would be
just rs equitable for the port of New York
TO retain all the customs funds collected
there for cXpe nditure in the island of Man
haitian as it would be for Havana or San
tiago or any other town in Cuba to gobbe
all of the customs receipts for expenditure
Within its own borders.
No Cur.aiiment of Relief.
So far from the War Department contem-
plating any curtailment of the relief work
in Cuba, an order has already been issued
to the governor general directing him, in
substance, 10 furnish work to every able
bodied Cuban applying for it at a fair
4dIt VI "cShiS "dStSg ny SiDJil
standards. The order suggests that the
best lines of employment are in sanitary
work, road Improvement and municipal
work of various sorts.
1t is intended 10 offer a chance for re-
munerative work to all who are able to
take advantage OF it, and to cut off the
gratuitous distribution of rations among
such of the natives are able to work for
what they eat The employment contem-
plated will not be offered, however. to any
resident of the island who retains his allie
glance to Spain.
Payment of Cuban Troops.
The plans far formulated by the War
Department do not touch the payment of
the Cuban army, which has been urgently
requested by General Gomez; but this mat
ter is now under Amusement, and il may be
said that it is not improbable that the War
Department will hold that it has quite is
much right to apply the income of Cuba to
paying off these men and thus giving them
IL new start in life as 1t has to employ la
borers on public works with the same gem
eral end in view.