The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-30
RECEIPTS RISE AT HAVANA.
EFFECT OF THE INQUIRY INTO TIE
CUBAN CUSTOMS FRAUDs

Tho Record at the Custom House Beaten
Don. Wood Has Not Passed Upon the
Dady Contract - spanish Immigration
Unab.ted-Probsble Cabinet Members.
specfdi Cable DsspatcA to TIE suS.
HAVANA, Dec. Ex-Governor General Woods
action In reference to the granting OF contracts
for a long term by the Cardenas ayuntamiento
has been miscontrued here In regard to it's
effect on the Dady contract. Gen. Wood did
not intend to pass upon that matter In his de-
sision. He simply wanted the Cuban people to
deal directly with contracts extending over q
term OF years and amounting practically to
concessions. and he had In view the fact that
the present ayuntamientos, which were APP
pointed By the military authorities. will be
without power after April. when ayuntamientos
will be elected by the people. He believes that
Il will then be time enough to take up such
matters. For the present he wants the ayunta-
mlentos to 60 to work and clean up the towns
and get into position to pay for future i'm
proyements. Gen. Wood is not touching the
pady business. He has other matters OF moro
importance to attend to.
The receipts at the Custom House yesterday
we're 500. 800. the largest In the history OF the
island. The impression prevails That the
present investigation into customs matters
has assisted In Increasing the amount Of duties
collected. Until the scandal. importers had the
benefit OF every doubt regarding the classiflca-
tion OF their imports. to say nothing OF the ABB
so,ute frauds that were perpetrated in the
matter. For once undoubted honesty 10 pre-
Willing in every department. as q re-
suit OF the searching investigation that
10 being made. Every invoice for
Q year past is being examined for
evidences OF fraud. as II 10 only in this way
sk.t al MI ~ thrn,, gh
all the departments, can be uncovered. The
officers In charge OF the prosecution Of the ac-
cused employees say there is no doubt OF their
conviction as the methods employed necessl-
tated the signatures OF the accused. and the
papers bearing these signatures are now in
possession OF the prosecution.
The suspension Of the order transferring Col.
Richards has caused much qualification here,
His grasp OF affairs as Adjutant- General has
made him essential to Gen. Wood coming a.
the latter docs into new field.
Commenting on the circular recently issued
b. the Cuban Planters Association and advo-
eating Spanish i'm migration. the Diarto De la
Marina says that the planters attitude meets
with universal approval. 1t adds that an i'm
migration once. Is urgently needed to aid
immigrants IN obtaining employment. The
Planters Association is endeavorlng to estab-
The immigrants at present are largely depen-
dent on chance In finding employment. and
they are at tho mercy Of labor agents, who
charge q commission TO both employers and
immigrants. The latter are often forced to
accept mental work In Havana, owing to the
fact that they do not know TO what part OF the
Island to 90 to obtain work suitable for Thorn.
The Spanish immigration 10 undated. and the
necessity OF adopting some measures for the
protection OF immigrants ia becoming urgent
It's probable that the Government will take
action as soon as Gen. Wood disposes OF moro
pressing matters.
The newspapers take II for granted that
Senores yillalon. Estevez and varona will be
members OF Gen. Woods Cabinet. and also
that Alexandra Rodriguez will be Secretary OF
the Treasury. The last Is a friend OF Gen
Gomez lit develops that this slate Is correct
It will be we'll received. The comments OF the
Lucha. Dario de Ia Marina and Discussion are
favorable. II Is gratifying TO Gen. Wood and
his friends that the Discussion 10 we'll disposed.
rs It Ia the organ Of Senior Capote. who was
displaced by Gen. Brooke from the post oil
Secretary OF the Government.