New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
FINANCES IN A SNARL.
RESTORING SAN DOMINGO's SHATTERED
CREDIT-AN ALMOST HOPE
LESS TASK

LESS TASK
San Domingo. March Q (SpeciaD.-An interesting
talk with Thomas MacLelan disclosed the fact that
he Is strongly IN favor OF American occupancy
He is Scotchman. and is general manager of the
railroad running from Sanchez to Las Vegas. There
sixty-three miles of railroad In ALL and It is
owned by the Baird nobility of Scotland. During
the revolution the people of Sanchez tore up the
railroad track to keep the insurgents from getting
into the city. and the insurgents at Las Vegas
up that end 10 keep the soldiers of the Government
back, and between the two not much of the rail-
road was left. The heavy rains carried off most
of the bridges and the railroad is laboring under
difficulties
Mr.. MacLelan is at the capital asking settlement
of the claim for damages arising out OF the
ton. He is able and has the bluntness
characteristic of his people. 'I left Scotland thir-
teen years ago a Monarchist" he said "and am
more of Monarchist than Still 1 recognize
that there is difference between a republic and
a monarchy where the government is honest and
Intelligent 1 think Europe for great many years
has recognized the inviolabity Of the Monroe Doc
trine and that the West Indies and Central and
South America must yield to American influences
tell the politicians of my town that the United
States will control San Domingo inside of two years
and that they will be glad of it, but of they
do not believe me. AS am not agitator am
allowed to express my opinions with impunity.
THE DOMINICANS NEED A RUDDER.
What the people need here is a power behind
them maintain order and protect life and prop
erty and there Will be wonderful progress. What Is
exasperating Is the failure to meet contracts
When contract for 5000 ties cannot expect
to get more than 10000 When employ men TO do
certain things we expect them TO be half done.
That is the generally outside. With my
ployes. there is full service rendered and the men
take pride in meeting my expectations They are
sober and Industrious when properly trained and
render efficient service. Our line passes through
the most fertile land In the world most of 1t
cultivated and apparently unowned When come
to build an extension however. find half
dozen people with titles to the same property ask
ing damages
Sanchez the town OF which I president, is
the most Industrious city In the republic. and
think my efforts have led the people to be proud of
their thrift and education. We have good schools
and instructing the masses. We under
many disadvantages in the management of our
railroad. Every time pick UP a piece of coal
have to pay some kind of tax II. There
is the import duty, the Wharfage, the ghterage
the carriage and on until the coal costs US
three times the price in the United States
sidering the cost of transportation. These obsta-
Giles have TO contend with and stin make our
road pay
WHY JUDGE DURHAM SUBSCRIBED.
Judge Durham. at one time United States Consu!
ct San Domingo and later Minister TO Hayt and San
Domingo under the Harrison Administration was ct
the capital at the same time Mr.. MacI.elan Mr.
Durham is administrator of the Consuelo sugar es-
tates Macoris and has claims against the Govern
ment arising of the currency question. When at
one time the French claim being pressed the
late President called uDon Mr. Durham for assistance
in meeting the demands. Mr. Durham knew that a
refusal requests of this sort was usually
followed by q death a fire in the sugar cane
and he gave draft for $4,000 in gold and took
$4,000 OF Dominican paper money in exchange. He
has the paper money yet. During the recent ex-
citement over the French claim Mr. Durham sub
scribed 800, Dominican money to the popular fund
but the heirs of the Bass estate (American) of
which he is administrator, cabied subscribe
nothing. probably thinking that Sl2 900 gold was
more than their share This action has been very
unfavoraby commented on by the Dominican pa
pers Judge Durham said;
IT am OF those proverbia Philadelphia
lawyers, and | do not way OF the present
financial difficulties of this Government. All the
cultivated soil is taxed away of sight by the
export duties here and the import duties of the
United States and further taxation is possible
The Improvement company has control OF the reve-
nues TO its loan and II pays the Government 500 =
600 a month on its budget which is sufficient 10
meet current expenses. Now. what is the remedy?
l confess do know; popular loans and sub
scrptons Will exhaust the patriotic spirit OF
the people The foreign capital that came into this
republic came without thought OF political intrigue
but recognized the fertility OF the soil and the pos
sibites AS a result of that honest investment
foreign capital and foreigners bear all the burden
OF taxation That is practically attempt TO drive
foreign capital out of the republic and take a
step backward In the National progress. Here are