New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-19
CURRENCY TROUBLES IN CUBA.
HOW DISHONEST MERCHANTS s"INOA1A
IGNORANT CUSTOMERS.

,.,.- - cub. Ian io-Since January l the
,rr-ercv crestion has assumed an entrey nv"
phase and Is causing people gooa oeal u ..
On that date an order issued from the CuStV'"
House went into effect, that on ana from 'Ha' &c,
customs duties would be payable IN AN'e o-.'ts
money Had the order rested there no no' - -.
have been done but unfortunately 10 1acli''@,e
Matters for the merchants and business men, II
stated that snanlsh gold would be accepted a. inc
rae NJ S4S9 the ceuten This had most olsds"oo'
eject throughout, the city, IN fact throus ~
entire province because all the s1nah SUI
say tina. now that the American EoNe'1'i''-' 80
lowered the value OF the Spanish eenteh tney can
only take IL al the same rate whereas PM. " -, 80
order IL was passing for civic uses loI 20 "a
merchants sav fhev were enGeavoring 10 get ii1
o. what they have for fear that another ofueI VIZ
be issued cutting Il IS or 70 cents Ho'e -. -
smaller merchants are mostly an lsHOi CO. -.
men end X is impossible 10 convince tno''
there has beeA absolutely no change eHcePt 80,
as the Custom House is concerned, ano t"A' 'o
,sra,,., 4, ,cceDtable IN Spanish gold al the %
valuation -
An Instance Of the working OF the currency Qu
Ton is the following: Yesterday a laoorer o. '-o
Sanitary Department. as ali oiYH employ es d"
paid of In Spanish gold He received rum ~
bank six eentens He took one OF them 10 A'oie
whore ne owed 30 cents. The stoTekeePsI =" o.
ing him change said that by order Of President
M,Yirlev ne would have 10 deduct is Genus ~
change this and in changing gave MS ih~A g
god piece The next store he went 10 ne tenoeIeu
the a. lr changing he told again that MI
Mckinley had SAID that out OF the 81 must be oe-
Quoted Is cent, and in giving change the store
keeper gave the man 81 gold piece lie Went
from there 20 the market 10 buy some suPPiisS'
and was again told that 10 cents should be TAKEN
out CT a g sold piece; that 10 get ms 80 so'u
piece changed. which had been given MN repre-
seruAs s.. cost him exactly 70 cents. -
This is not en- isolated case by any means an
% course II could only happen with very isho''''
r,en. AT the same time It must be taken into con-
siaeration thar considerably over half the popu-
aton are unable 70 read and write. so that II Will
be seen how very easy IL is for the stores 10
sHindle these people.
The foreign business houses were anxious lO' Inv
continuation Of the Spanish currency Tor ire pie'
ent but now that the situation has become so com
plicated they would infinitely prefer an order ptaC
basis, having the employees paid IN American ooi,
!sIs AS matter Of fact. the Island - rca'is D
an American currency basis. while AZ the SAM
ume all employees outside the military are pa4u -.
spanish gold. which they pracuca4iy nave u 81
c!ScOunted 80,
The North American Trust Company, the iseal
sgtIt OF the Government. never mas accepts" 80
spanish money except In the feceipts from -
cestom House which have been used 70 pay r' o.
az The civil departments OF the Government, ~
company would not accept II at any rate OF eaS So
count II would cash mans cheek ioI, say; 80
N Spanish gold and II he wished 10 dePosit tne
zane and place II 10 an account ne was unanr ,nS
20 SO and had to go out and make the best terms
coinage ~
It vas unfortunate that the Custom House ADDED