The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-04
DR.. Wix, dentist, B'dway and Main.
HONEST ADMINISTRATION IN CUBA
Striking Contrast Between the Old Time
and tho New Era.

Striking Contrast Between the Old Time
and the New Era.
From the New York Tribune.
Our Havana correspondent reports
a, handsome increase of custom house
receipts at that port. The total for the
year promises to be no less than $lo,-
O00, 900. To this sum the other ports 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 terribly from the effects OF
the war. Its industries are only begin
ming to be- restored. The tariff is only
half as high as it was. The popula-
ton is probably Is per cent. less than
it was before Weyler pursued his cam
paign of determination, and the wealth
and purchasing ability of those who
are left are reduced to minimum. And
yet the custom house revenues are to-
day about as large as they were pc
fore the war, when the industries and
commerce of the island were at their
height.
The explanation of this is simple. 1t
is offered by our Havana correspondent
in the reminder that while in Spanish
hands the customs service was nag
rantly corrupt, in American hands 1t
is efficient and honest. 1t is not agree
able to recall and dwell upon the evil
features of the old Spanish regime. Yet
they are facts of historic record, and
it becomes now and then necessary to
take them into account in order to
properly understand the present state
Of affairs. 1t is remembered that a
dozen years ago the management Of
the Havana customs house became so
bad that the Spanish governor general
had to take possession of 1t with a mill
tary force and dismiss summarily ev-
cry civil employee. Eight years ago
$50 persons were indicted for frauds,
but not one was ever punished. The
cortes in 1890 investigated the Cuban
treasury administration and discovered
that $6,500,000 had been 'abstracted"
outright from a safe, and that by
means of false vouchers frauds amount
ing. to nearly $23, 100000 had been per-
petrated. General Pando at that time
further declared that the board of pub
lie debt had committed robberies of
more than $12,0O0,000
To go no further into the catalogue
of crime, these items sufficiently remind
us how heavily the island was taxed
by its Spanish masters, and how little
good it got therefrom. To-day, under
an honest administration, it is paying
far less than it did, but it is getting
fully as large q revenue, and 1t is itself
enjoying the entire benefit of that reve-
of old. AS commerce revives and in
creases, the income from customs will
increase, and it will not, as our corre-
spondent says, be surprising to find
this source of revenue sufficient for all
the needs of the island treasury AT
any rate, the Cubans will find, as they
are already finding, that American
administration means at once lighter
burdens of taxation, a larger revenue
and far greater expenditures for the
benefit of the island and dts people
That Is a change which all can appreci-
ate and which Is chiefly to be appreci-
ated by the most substantial and in
dustrious of the Cuban people. 1t is an
advantage which was to be gained
only by getting rid of Spanish rule.
Whether it could have been gained by
establishing an Independent Cuban gov
eminent is extremely problematic, and
those who are enjoying its benefits will
do wisely to consider with great care
whether any immediate departure from
the present system would give assur-
ance of its enhancement or even of its
maintenance.