New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-30
GOODS WHICH PAY NO DUTv
| sMUGGLERS CARRY ON ACTIVE TRADE
IN SAN DOMINGO.

San Domingo. Aug. 20 Cspeciap.-The new ad-
ministration in San Domingo has many obstacles
to overcome. The late President, on his annual
tours, scattered paper money right and left. The
money was almost worthless but there was the
semblance of liberality. Now that American gold
has been adopted the basis of the currency,
wholesale liberality of this is not polite end
President Jiminez has refrained from the two
dollar-oill generosity of his predecessor
A more serious question involves the import du-
ties President HeureauX a genius in his way.
To the improvement company OF New-York which
held the bonds and collected the customs he pro-
fessed the greatest energy in preventing snug
Cling. To the business men he said, Get in all
the goods you can free of duty" This advice,
hdential was generally followed few days later
by request for loan of a few thousand or a few
hundred dollars in gcld according to his private ad
vices as to the prosperity OF the merchant. He had
spies everywhere and knew the accuracy
OF his information There is doubt that he made
smuggling a necessity to profitable trade. and the
suppression OF 1t is of the present difficulties
The Cibas Valley with Santiago the centre OF it.
contains almost one-half the population of the
public. Santiago is reached by paths up the val
ley from the Haitian frontier and over these paths
come pack trains with struggled goods The Hal
uan duties are lower than those Of San Domingo
as rule Are many smuggled goods sold here?'
was asked of a San Domingo merchant We'll. not
nearly so many as formerly, but you know" he
said alphabetically. I'VE have to meet our competi-
tors"
HEADQUARTERS OF THE TRADE.
Dazabon is the most prosperous city on the Hal
tan frontier Across the river the boundary line
is Juana Mendez. Cape Haiti, few miles distant
is the Haitian port Of entry. Along Manzanio
Bay TO the east numerous lagoons and jnIets
accessible to sailing vessels of light daft and
from each is a bride path to Dazabon. To the
south is long range of mountains painless and
apparently inaccessible amid which the boundary
line is hopelessly lost. There are Government Of
nclalS vrbO oarfor afr duty
scientiously, but the fact remains that at Dazabon
immense quantities of goods cross the frontier free
Of duty. This, OF course affects the ports along
the north coast and similar practices probably pre-
vail on the southern frontier. The San Domingo
Improvement Company, from it's New-York office.
asked for information this subject recently,
and w. A. Donaldson, the representative of the
company at Porto Plata, made investigation
and report He said:
The records of the Monte Christi Custom Honse
show steadily decreasing revenues In 1897 the to-
tai was s6 ~ ~ in 1899 only s846S 81 The business
striking contrast with the prostration at Monte
SShFlstL During my stay in Dazaboh on the mar
numbers of country traders farmers and others
products without paying export duties when :ev-
1aIe ana OF obtaining in exchange supplies of ar
lower rates of duty imposed thereon under the
duty at all. being intended for expectation to the
sister republic.
The remedy for this Mr.. Donaldson suggests is
CustOIn mousse at DazaDon, an adjustment or duties
to correspond with those of Haiti and frontier
patrol. On this subject he says:
While l of the opinion that the direct collec-
tons at Dazabon will Justify Of themselves the ad-
dtional expense of this special service Importance
should be given to the collateral influences eXer-
clSed upon the operations Of all the ports and dis
tributing centres within the influence Of Porto
Plata. Success along these lines would probably
induce both administrations on this island TO come
70 an understanding for mutual customs protection
against demoralizng practices which gradually
tainting commercial circles, public officials and all
classes of both countries. If the national interests
CONCERNED would not consent to a neutral zone
similar TO that constituted along the Rio Grande be
tween Mexico and the United States, a system can
readily be devised by contoint action OF the
republics to contain the essential features of an
adequate warehouse system transportation in
bond, with proper manifests and landing certih-
Gates Of the delivery Of the transit goods to the
ultimate consignee.
HARD TASK FOR GOVERNMENT
Santiago merchants admit that smuggled goods
are coming into the city the Haitian frontier
They have none. as rule. but they know COM
petitors who have. This question is one which the
present Government finds hard deal with All
the merchants admit that they paying more
creditable condition for the new administrator.
From Cape Haiti eastward there are however.
Limonade, Fort Liberte, Esteso Balza Pllnta Fozo
Punta Luna and Cayo. On the San Domingo side
are Ell MORO Punta Russia. Isabella. La Isla
Blanco, Suhet. Guzman and Maimon. On the Hal
tan side bride paths lead to Dazabon and Gurabo.
On the San Domingo side the paths lead to the
main road to Santiago. None of these plaCes are
vessels. At Isabella recently goods of the value Of
s1,lOO were seized lesson to those engaged in
smuggling.
AMERICAN FILES IN ENGLAND.
From The Iron Age.
III.