The times., 1899-04-19
MEETING OF THE CABINET.
The Mortgage Question in Cuba the
Chief Topic Discussed.


The many important questions before
the Administration were left untouched
at the Cabinet meeting yesterday and the
two hours of the session were given up
to the consideration of the mortgage and
loan question of Cuba. Secretary Alger,
who recently returned from the island.
advised his associates of the true condition
OF affairs among the farmers and planters,
and gave a full history of the investigation
made by him. Secretary Alger, while at
the different Cuban ports, held number
of conferences with both the debtors and
creditors of the island. In view OF the
warfare which has existed in Cuba for so
long, the farms and plantations in most
sections of the country which were in
vaded by the armies. have been devastated,
and are in such condition that great at
tention aud time will be required in order
to restore them to their former productive
condition.
The plea set forth to Secretary Alger
by the farmers Of the island was that the
payment of mortgages and their accruing
interest be delayed. to allow the planters
time to accumulate money with which TO
live. resume the cultivation OF their farms.
and conveniently pay off their indebted
ness. The time asked for was six years
during which the interest on the mort
cages and other loans should be allowed
to accumulate. The whole situation. from
the planters standpoint, has been placed
before the President by the commission
last Saturday. and was exclusively print
ed in The Times. Secretary Alger learned
from his Investigations that the creditors
in Cuba, the greater part of whom are
Americans were perfectly willing that the
farmers should be given a reasonable time
in which to place themselves in position
to pay of their indebtedness in full The
creditors appreciating the condition of the
soil at the present time. and knowing that
should they foreclose their mortgages the
farmers would be compelled to relinquish
their property in lieu OF payment. would
rather wait year or two to be paid in
cash in full than to have the expense and
trouble of cleaning and cultiyating the
land anew.
As "A rule Cuban farms carry very heavy
mortgages, which were based ON land val
ues at the time the island was in a state
of prosperity. At the present time. in many
cases, the loan on a piece of property
nearly equals its value. Secretary Wilson
was unable to advise his associates as to
the length of time required TO place the
land in productive condition, and the
necessary period to cultivate crops. Presi-
dent Mckinley, acting on the advice OF At
torney General Griggs. has already eX-
tended the time of payment to May /. 1900.
II is not believed by the Cabinet officers
that this will give sufficient time for the
farmers to reach satisfactory stage OF
progress. II VIII require about eighteen
months, according to Secretary Wilson. for
the Cuban planters to reap their first har-
vest of sugar cane.
Secretary Aiger proposed plan by which
he believes the time of payment on mort
cages could be properly adjusted. He
agrees with the President that there should
be an extension of one year allowed on all
loans and then proposed that commission
be appointed, TO be endowed with authority
to make further extensions in individual
cases where the facts warrant it, His sug-
gestion was rot accepted by the ether
members of the Cabinet. Mr. Mckinley
whereby all would be treated alike and the
commission wouli be di p2nssd with. After
the two hours discussion the question is
still held in allegiance. and will be con-
sidered again at the next session.
Neither the Philippine nor Samoan ques
ton was broaehed at yesterdays meet
ing.
In the opinion of Cabinet officer Presi-
dent Mckinley will not issue a call for the
extra %, coo volunteers to be sent to the
Philippines In the event il is found neces-
sary to e-enforce General Otis beyond the
regulars available for the service. it is
probable that Mr.. Mckinley will take ad-
vantage of the many Offers from State or
ganzations to utilize their regiments as
! whole for service at Manila.