Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-12
AFFAIRS IN CUBA.

Indianapolis News: The reports as to the
health Of Havana and Santiago continue to
be Of the most encouraging nature. The In
telligent and thorough cleaning OF the cities
and the other sanitary measures adopted by
the present authorities are having their
effect, So far there have been very few
cases OF yellow fever With proper precau-
tions there is no reason. one would think,
why Havana and Cuba should not be as
healthy as Galveston and Texas
Philadelphia Record Payment to the
Cuban troops Of the SS,000,0 600 gratuity from
the United States government will begin this
week-frst to the troops in Havana province,
and thereafter to those in other departments,
ending with Santiago The largess will be
shared by 10000 men. so that each Will re-
ceive S75. 1t is not much; yet each recipient
Of this amount must first surrender all arms
and war-like equipments in his possession,
and this means the practical disarmament Of
the island population at comparatively
trifing cost The gratuity is in effect an eX-
change Of federal cash for the guns and
cartridge belts of the former Cuban IN
surgents. Viewed in this light it seems TO he
a very clever stroke of business. dis
armed population may be kept in order with
very few battalons of armed troops.
Philadelphia Ledger: 1t is undeniable that
there is strong party working for anneXa-
ton. Business interests, foreign syndlcates'
capital from this country and property holl-
ers. are among the powerful influences az
work for stable government. FROM the
interior OF Cuba and from many points out
side of the large cities daily budget ol
bandit news comes to Havana. Euerrni"s
and hushwhackers are numbering, burning
and levying tribute upon Industry. Caplth
lists go to Havana, look over the ground, ana
decide to wait. Business halts, enterprise
is checked and prosperity lags on lts way
The annexationists argue that satisfactory
conditions will never be reached until tne
United States sets all doubts at rest by ae-
claring that its sway has come Tor goou'
New York Tribune: Our Havana corre-
spondent reports handsome increase OIL
custom house receipts at that port. The
total for the year promises to be not less
than SO 900, 900. To this sum the other
norris will add two or three millions, making
in all a decidedly handsome revenue Tor an
island of Cuba's size and present condition.
The island is of course, still suffering ter
ribly from the effects OF the war. Its IN
dustries are only beginning to revive It's
commerce Is only beginning to be restored
The tariff is only half as high as 1t was
The population is probably 20 per cent less
than it was before Weyler pursued his cam
raign of determination, and the wealth ana
purchasing ability of those who are le1t are
reduced to a minimum. And yet the Gus
tom house revenues are today about as
large as they were before the war, when the
industries and commerce OF the island were
at their height.
Washington Post: A loyal American, ed
itor of newspaper in Havana-Mr Thomas
r Dawley, the head of the Times OF Cuba
has lust been arrested, with the prospect OF
being thrown into prison by order or
Cuban Judge. He has not been confronted
by his accusers He goes to Jail without
trial and he will remain there at the caprice
of a local judge-not a Cuban. but FIJI
pino-who holds a commission from Spain
This Judge has decided that he must pay
large sum. on complaint of certain discred-
tied 'employes-men who have been dis
charged by Dawley because of dishonesty
and incapacity and theft. There has been
no trial no attempt to bring out the facts
II is a question between an American en-
nloyer and a Cuban defaulter, and the en-
nloyer goes to Jail without inquiry, without
opportunity TO defend himself-unless he
pays blackmail to the scoundrcls who ROBBED
him and the judge who pronounced sentence
1t would be interesting to know now long
our military authorities intend to sacrihce
American citizens to the brutal despotism
which they were sent to Cuba to destroy.
Our advices from Havana fairly reek with
! instances of like nature.