The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-23

~ bsa1s raass1 uDen stones above the
- this house. which I have Described
frum notes made IN the hut itself. there
vere eight children. .hree OF them stark
naked. and one ct the three was Ave
years old. Il was deformed. and could
only crawl over the floor in ifs nakedness
All the children were exceedingly lean.
although their heads and eyes were
COED
Caar nave Gardens.
A I looked about this hut which belong
"a 70 the poem Of q rich ccffee planter.
asked tho owner why he did not have
garden. He replied that the planter did
not allow his labcrers 10 have gardens. for
then they could raise what they wished TO
eat and would not have to buy at his
store.
BY inquiry found this was so aimos,
everywhere. These people are surrounded
by good land. but they dare not use it.
Many OF them may be working among the
bananas all day. and At the close have to
take the tin disks they receive in pay and
walk . mile, perhaps. 20 the touch me"
stores and buy the bananas which they use
for their evening meals. The streams are
full OF Ash. but they are not allowed TO
fish In them. because the waters belong TO
their masters. They win be arrested IL
they steal vegetables. and they dare not
cut a stick without tho consent OF the rien
for whom they work.
Taxing Men for Chairs.
II was for long time a wonder to mo
that there was no furniture In the houses.
I found only few rude beds and now and
then . hammock or 50 In the huts OF tho
better class. It. was very rare to see a
table o. q chair. asked ono man why
this was 80. He replied that the possession
Of chairs largely increased his tax rate.
Said he.
IT once bought two chairs and brought
them home. and for q time my wife and
myself enjoyed them after our hard days
work In the field. Then the tax assessor
came along and wanted TO increase my
taxes three pesos. / asked him why. ard
said / had just tho same possessions on
which had been taxed before. Blu; ne re-
piled: You have furniture now. See these
chairs and that table. You have become a
rich man and must pay moro taxes.
Then said I, II 1 did not have this fur
niture my taxes would be the same?'
Yes he replied.
"'An right said I. I will Ak it, And I
took the two chairs and table outside and
smashed them to pieces"
This system of taxation prevailed
through q great part OF the country. ard
today the poems are just beginning to real
ize that they can buy little furniture and
not be taxed for II. A number OF the men
who have been working on the roads for
the government were told this by their
American overseers. They came back
again and again to ask II 1t was really true
that they could buy chairs for their homes
without being taxed for them. They were
told they could get all the chairs they
wanted. They then asked II they could
have one for each member Of the family.
ane were delighted when the reply was
Yes
Surprised at American Money.
The poems have not yet gotten over the
sensation OF receiving actual money for
their work. They have been paid In lh,z
way by the Americans. and at first t sur
prised them exceedingly. The men WHO
worked at Ponce and on the south coast
sad they had never seen so much money
before. They commented on the value Of
the American dollars. which were worth
more than their own dollars. and today
they are happy at being paid In cash. Dur
ing this spring the government officials
have had 1l.ooO of them at work upo1 the
roads. This was to help the people as much
as To help the roads.
The greatest care has to be :aken. how