Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-04-11
TMs HAVANA ousroaa HOUSE.
AMERICAN nsraoDs WORK 4 wonpEn-
rUL REVOLUTION.

what ths Custom House Ia Havana
wss under Spanish rulc need mot b told
ct length. Every one knows that e was
TIE place from which corrupt captain
generals and other high ofIiclals were
supposed 10 obtain the largest share Of
their stolen wealth, some Of which I'M
doubtedly went 70 Spain for dlvision
With other men. II tbere wss any
strictly honest transaction within lie
~slis tt Vas the exception, not the rule.
TIE place had Z whitening influence upon
morality In business life. Il was uSclean,
In moro ways than one from top to bot
tom. Mr.. Robert p. Porter, who drew
up the new tariff, said Of the so-called
tariff which was Ia force that it "was
made by Spaniards for Spain, In the
Interests Of The Spanish.
Il was 10 such On atmosphere and
under such conditions that Colonel Bliss
took hold Of bis work. He kept the old
force 1t work 90 far - possible. He
opened new bureau Of audit at once.
With the advice Of Mr.. Donaldson he
established an entry division, . liquidat-
Ing divislon, 40 exporting division, and
several minor divisions and departments,
one Of which Was bureau OF statistics.
He placed the bookkeepers In q differ
ent room from the cashiers; he set mp
gates In the place 90 that the clerical
force should not come In contsct with
the merchants and their agents, who
overrxu the place. He opened the doors
Of hls own ofiice, 90 NJ to be accessible
TO every man who could have any bush
ness with him. He set up checks and
balances TO prevent stealing. He start
I'd iu 20 collect the duties 10 the very
6rst case that came up. He worked
from eight O'Clock In the morning until
twelve o'clock at night. He and Mr..
Donaldson saw every merchant who
came 10 them. With their own hands,
more than once, they went over the
routine OF passing . consignment Of
goods through the custom-house. They
drilled the clerks--and Il was such .
task and they saw that the money re-
ceived WAS counted every night aud lock-
I'd up Ia an antiqusted safe, but with =
squad Of soldiers near by TO guard II
night and day.
Que great lesson To be learned from
American administration will be- that Of
integrity In business affsirs and the value
of honesty In public Office. Il will cause
stability 10 business. This sdministrA-
ton will also finnish an object lesson 10
the sacredness of public trusts. The
Spanish officials simply could not under
stand why Colonel Bliss kept force OF
men on duty until after eight O'Clock one
night to rectify q discrepancy Of elk
cents. That was some more American
foolishness.
Another great lesson--and perhaps the
most mportant--relAtes to the civil re
form side Of the American management.
Il would simply have been impossible 70
conduct business had the old idea Of loot
10 public place by spoils politicians been
put In force 10 Havana. Doubtless many
Cubsns, who hsd their eyes on the Gus
tom house a. field for loot, "a Il exist
I'd under the Spanish regime, were dis-
appointed nc the new state Of affairs. IL
wns we'll for this country that II had
this necessary reform In actual existence
when IL went Into what might be called
the colonial experiment. Mr.. Donald
son pointed out to me that England had
TO learn the value OF such . System after
she began her colonial work, and at fear
ful cost. violate no confidence when
ssy that 1t IL the nrm conviction OF Mr..
Donaldson that II the SYSTEM Of fitness
and merit, without regard to politics,
works we'll 10 the civil administration OF
xffslrs In Cuba at n time when the eyes
Of the world are on that management, II
must have 4 reflex action upon such
matters ut home. IL will not be neces-
sary for Secretary Alger TO send men to
Cuba to work In the customs service for
the sake solely Of satisfying some mans
political pull. One Of the officials sent
down there WAS brought back under
criminal charges. Colonel Bliss snd Mr..
Donaldson can get along very we'll with
honest help thst can be secured on the
ground.
do not give statistics OF the operation
OF the neW service Ia Cubs. largely be-
cause the daily newspapers hSve slready
done that, and because such material
all add very little TO the real story that
I have tried TO tell. The clerks that
hsye been retained have been trsctsble,
energetic and honest 10 the main. When
military occupation ends. probably some
attention will be called to The faithful
service of civilians during the trials ~
this reconstruction period. More than
one civilian from the States has died
heroic lily In the public servics 10 Cubs,
Puerto Rico snd the Philippines, ss Mr..
Donaldson pointed out In . speech at =
dinner In Havana, and there has been no
pension, no salute ut the grave; and for
those who face danger nov there has been
no advancement In rank and no increased
pay from time to time. Truly there Is =
civilian side 10 the military occupation
of the Island Of Cuba.
Meanwhile Havana rubs her eyes and
msrvels at the sight Of honesty 10
the custom house. That Il reslly the
only complaint to be made against the
new management and against the hard
worked, patient, straightforward army
officer that supervises it.-HTper's
Weekly.