New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-05
THE CUBAN CUSTOMS.

The people Of Santiago de Cuba seem to be
much exercised over the reported order that all
customs receipts at that port shall henceforth
be transmitted TO Havana. They are holding
meetings to protest against It, and some OF them
are even going so far as to say that the en-
forcement Of it will mean anarchy and riot. II
not civil war. Their concern and protests are
not unnatural though. as we shall see Ill
founded The quasi threats Of disorder are
most reprehensbe. and 1t Is to be earnestly
hoped they receive no countenance from any
authoritative source. We say 1t Is not unnatu-
raj for them to feel apprehensions Of loss, be-
cause they have not yet come to realize fully
the difference between Spanish administration
and American administration. Under the for
mer they have for many years-indeed, for
all time within remembrance-see heavy du-
ties collected and all sent to Havana for the
use and profit OF alien off1ce-hOlders or OF the
Madrid Government, and their own city and
port left without public works or ordinary
public care That was a state Of affairs most
obnoxious to them. Its general prevalence
throughout the island was one Of the prime
causes OF Cuban discomfort with Spanish rule
and Of the ultimate revolt against 1t. 1nstinc-
lively the people associate the sending OF reve-
nue. to Havana with that hateful system. and
imagine that if this order Is enforced they will
be as badly off In that respect as they were
before the war
Such. however, will not be the case. Indeed.
It Is explained in Washington that not the
money itself but merely n regular report of re-
CENTS Is to be sent 10 Havana. But II the
transmission Of revenues to Havana Is hereafter
ordered or If from this time forward as the
dispatch from Washington seems to imply. ex-
nenditures are to be governed by the central
authorities it will not mean that Santiago
is to have no benefit from them. or Is to be
neglected or that Cuba Is to be the mich
COW Of the United States. ms she was OF
SPAIN Santiago will still enjoy the benefits she
now reioices in She will have good schools.
and police service, and improved and clean
streets. and harbor improvements. and all the
rest So will every other port that sends Its
customs receipts to Havana. The only differ
ence will be that instead Of each city attending
IN its own affairs In such respects all will he
looked after by the central administration Mt
Havana, and instead OF each serving only its
own interests all will Jointly contribute to the
interests OF all. 1t will not be merely the revc-
nues OF Santiago for Santiago. but the revenues
OF all Cuba for all Cuba. And that Will he
much better. For the prosperity OF Santiago
does not depend solely upon her own local I'M
movements. 1t depends equally upon the i'm
movement of the whole island and the upbuild-
ing OF the Industries and trade Of the whole
island. and therefore If some Of the revenue
she sends 10 Havana does not directly come
back to her for local works she will be no
loser, for the application Of that moety to the
Improvement OF other towns and cities Will In
the end profit her eatly.
1t is on this principle that customs and pos
tai revenues are In all countries administered
by the national treasury. Consider an exam
nile: The port Of New York collects some $780,
100000 Of customs duties year. or between
GO and 20 per cent OF all collected In the whole
United States Would It not be monstrous
thing to devote all that enormous sum to the
local benefit Of this city? The whole Nation
contributes to the commerce OF this port and
the whole Nation rightly shares In the benefits
Of its revenues. Or take the POstOffce as an
example: The profits OF the New-York Post
Office are about 100000 year But no one
thinks for n moment that all that sum should
no kept here fol local good. OF course not.
It is created largely by the whole country. and
80 It Ia properly turned into the whole country's
treasury. and much Of It goes to support the
nostal service In places where there are not
profits but deficits. NewYork gets Its pro-
portionatc share Of these funds and that Ia all.