The evening times., 1899-01-18
RELATIVE TO CUBAN
COASFING PERMITS
Report of the Collector of Gus
toms at Havana.
Curious MisconeeptiOn as to the
Oath of Allegiance.
Iaa.e enforcement of The Revenue
Collection Laws Under the
Spanish Regime.

Assistant Secretary of War Meiklejohn
has made public today an abstract of re-
cent report from the collector of customs
at Havana relative TO coasting permits and
other matters connected with the custom
affairs of Cuba.
II appears that a curious misconception
exists al Havana relative to the Cuban
coasting permits and the status acquired
by Spaniard or Cuban who takes the oath
Prescribed therein. There are also others
who 90 not realize that the oath is not one
of allegiance but OF remuneration of allegi-
ance. The taking of il and the accom-
panying surrender of previous registry or
national document under which the vessel
has sailed leaves the owner and master
men without country. They become Gu
bans that is, citizens of a country which
has no government of international recog-
milton in the full sense. but of which such
government is in posse. The blue and
white flag prescribed for coasting vessels
under the new regime is the nearest ap
proach to a national flag that has yet been
recognized. When the object lesson that is
now being taught is better learned, these
citizens of no nation, and this flag which
represents no nation, will become endowed
with all the dignity that viii come from
International recognition.
Meanwhile The oath and the flag viii
bring about an absolutely necessary initial
condition. Those who take the cath be-
come absolved from all allegiance except
an unsWorn allegiance 10 themselves and
the island OF Cuba. And when the real
spirit which should underlie this unsworu
oath has sufficiently manifested itself in
the formation OF Cuban national charac-
ter, they viii become. il is thought, enti-
tied TO a positive flag in lieu of the pres
ent negative ones. AS il is now under
stood, there is no one on the island at
present who can authorize private ves-
sci TO ny the American flag. The vessel
either has the right or must acquire il as
prescribed by law. No restriction is plac-
ed upon proper trade whether vessels are
owned by SpaniardS or Cubans. engaged in
trade. upon the revival of which every
thing depends. The owners live in Cuba
expect TO die there and all their interests
are there. There has not vet been heard
Of a single instance where Spanish own
er was unwilling 10 take the oath and sur
render his Spanish registry. But of ne
cessity they can learn but slowly OF what
Is required by the new regulations
One great necessity of the situation is
TO avoid the mere appearance of things
evil" The Spanish laws as 10 collections
OF revenues are perfectly good. but in
their application the subordinate officials
were. be says. accustomed to daily receive
intimation from The mead 10 pass goods o
rich and influential men that owed monrl
to the treasury for customs dues The,
know this was the result of bribery. How.
ever honest they might be at the outset
they felt that they were only carrying
water In sieve. No wonder if all becam,
tainted as the result of absolute hopeless
ness. If nothing worse. To counteract this
every man is made TO feel that he is al
actual and efficient guard of The treasury
Property for the troops is free of duty
But he has the inspectors examine a ship
load of lumber for the quartermaster a
carefully as a load of merchandise for
private merchant. Otherwise they Woul,
all say: oh, yes; il is the old trick tn
officials are smuggling for their owl
benefit -
A graver problem. it is believed, is be
fore the people of the Unit ed States thai
the mere collection of certain amour
OF money and the scientific adjustment o
these collections 10 the power of the sew
eral industries TO bear the burden an
thrive under il. IL is to so organize al
important bureau of the Administration
.snd one which I'm the popular mind is no
the synonym of official corruption tha
its daily operations shall be daily lesson
in honesty; that its employees when the,
walk the street shall be pointed out a
men whose integrity needs no other guar
antee than the custom house uniform
and, as a necessary consequence that
shall be a model branch of the Admins
tration, such. that. when turned over {,
new government. ii viii simply be i'm
possible TO use IL for purposes of corrup
tion without reorganizing it for that pur
pose. And this must be done, if success
fully done. with native Cubans. Col
Bliss says that he does not de!ude hfmsel
with hopes of too rosy hue. While b.
does not know what attitude nternationa
policies may ultimately compel his Gov
ernment to take, he is forced TO the con
clusion that its present attitude is that o
a school teacher giving lessons in self
government He has one class in tn
school and one problem. and, though no
over sanguine, he believes he can succeed