The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-24
GAMBLING RIFE IN HAVANA.
ARREST OF NATIVE AND OTHER
SHARPERS WILL FOLLOW.

Commission of Cuban Lawyers APP
pointed by Gen. Ludlow Has Re
Fund Farms-Cubans Wish to Sc
cure EmpIOyment-Eviden of
Weyler's Great Devastation Is
sim Plain in the Island.
Havana, July 23.-The commission of
prominent Cuban lawyers appointed by
Gen. Ludlow to decide upon and report
as to the best methods 10 be adopted for
checking public gambling, recently made
a complete report, which was referred
to Mayor Lacoste.
1t seems that the old Spanish law was
perfectly able to cope with the entire mat
ter, but that it was rarely enforced ow-
ing to the large revenue received by the
government for hospitals and other chart
table institutions from the propretors of
the gambling establishments. Gen. Lud-
low, the military governor, insists
that the fault is not with the
law or with the police, who on several oc-
casions have made arrests and seized gam
bling outfits only to have the judges
quash the proceedings and return the out
fits TO their owners. The committee eug-
gests police interference, particularly with
a certain class of clubs so-called, winch
are mere gambling he.ls. 1t does not con-
slider, however, that it would he advisable
to interfere with the legitimate clubs
where whist aud other games are played
merely as a pasrime.
Gen. Ludlow referred the report to Sc
nor LacOste. who is enthusiastic in his de-
sire to suppress the evil. Consequently. it
is expected that many arrests VIII shortly
be made, not only of the native gamblers.
but others, who are in the fed with the
sole object of fleeing Americans.
VIII. am WI lard Howard. general man
ager of the Cuban industrial relief fund,
speaks hopefully of the work being done
at the TWO rel furd farms at Cieba Mo
cha twelve miles west of Ma anzas, where
the managers nave more applications for
employment than hey have funds enough
to provide Mr. Howard says that crowds
of destitute persons come TO he farms at
daylight and beg fer a days work. None
of them beg for food and never ask for Ct
without eXplessiug a desire to pay for it
by working.
Mr. Howard a'so says that numerous
SmaT farmers in the neighb1rhOCd are dnN-
ous to obfain loans for Ire purchase Of
animals and impl ments with VIII Oh TO re-
sumo the cultivation of o her ieids, offer
ing to pay for such loans at The rate of
u per cent. According 10 MI Howard.
many who applied to Gen. wilson for as
sisrance have been referred 10 him
Gen. Wilson is great friend
and helper of the fund, and is strongly in
favor of aiding with catt.e and asr.cul-
tural implements The small farmers. In
fact, it was al his ihshgaton that Gov
| Gen. Brooke recently ca led meeting Of
| all the governors Of the provinces 70 take
| acton in the matter. Al except Gen.
Wilson objected TO the plan proposed, be
| lieVing that il savored too much of pater-
| nalism.
Mr.. Howard asserts that near the large
| cities there is little progress being made
in the cultivation of the land, but that
| further in the country the evidences Of
! the devastation wrought by Gen. Weyler
| are as plan as ever, thus showing that
| there has been no change since AprL
| when the CORES pendent of the Associated
| Press crossed the island from Santiago on
! horseback. The difficulty is Mr. Howard
says, a lack of funds. The small farmers
have not been helped except by he issues
of army rati0ns. The society desires to
| increase its funds in order that il may en-
large its sphere Of usefulness.
An organization is being formed by some
of the Spanish residents here, with view
Of securing American citizenship The
! originator of the movement claim that in
this way their property and interests VIII
secure pro ection. Many Spaniards are
willing to pay $500 each to become citizens
| of the United States.