The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-11
administration OF
Government OF Cuba

was established by the United
States on July 1s, 1885, and termin-
ated on May 10, 1907.
At the close of hostilities In Cuba, the
military authorities found the Island Il
country in state of devastation and
rum both as to it's political organization
| aswell as its industrial condition. With
out precedent to guide and many of them
without previous experience In state ar
fairs, the officers of the United states
| army at once undertook to set up form
of government which would provide sur
ficent revenues for the immediate needs,
and which might be developed into a
| stable and lasting system
How we'll they succeeded may be best
| shown by a summary of the fiscal affairs
covering our stay in the Islands.
From July IS to December 81, 1898. reve-
nues were collected amounting to five
hundred and twenty thousand dollars,
mainly from duties on imports and mu-
nicipal taxation, and these revenues were
used for defraying the extraordinary ex-
penses occasioned by the condition OF al
fairs.
On January 1 1899. there was estab-
lished in Cuba sixteen custom houses.
| that at the chief port Havana, and others
at the principal supports of the Island
These offices were fully equipped from
| the outset, and q uniform tariff was OBJ
served in the assessment Of taxes and du-
| ties. These rates were generally about
| the same as those which obtained In the
United States The principal changes IN
| the tariff have been the gradual reduction.
of duties on exports from time to time,
until April 1st, 1901, when these duties
were entirely abolished.
| Postoffices were opened throughout the
| island, and native postmasters We're ap-
pointed. More than 300 postoff1ces were
established, Mt the greater number of
which the officers were bonded and IN
connection Herewith money-order sys-
| tenn was inaugurated both for domestic
and international business. A free deliv-
| cry system was also established in all of
| the largest cities, as we'll as railway post
| lines, and in many instances star routes
| in the interior and country districts, CIV
! ing to those even in the remotest places
the benefits of a regular mail service.
There was established a department of
finance, presided over by q general treas
urer and six provincial treasurers, one
| for each province. Subsequently, these
provinces were re-districted and formed
| into eleven so-called fiscal zones. These
| officers conducted the assessment and col
lection Of conveyance, inheritance, COM
mercal and Industrial taxes, and ad-
ministered internal affairs, municipal
schools hospitals, public works. foster
ing industries, and stocking farms and
plantations. Thousands of brood horses
and cattle were purchased and resold to
the natives on easy terms, enabling them
| to resume work which would not other
| wise have been possible.
The number of school houses provided,
| nearly equal those In this country for
corresponding area.
| There was constructed telegraph line
connection with the principal cities
throughout the island, which, together
| with the construction and repair OF
bridges, have been of invaluable benefit to
| the inhabitants. Among the most notable
achievements in this connection may be
mentioned the concrete turnpike running
from Santiago to San Luis, distance OF
about twenty -four miles. This road was
| planned by and constructed under the d.
rection of General Wood, under the i'm
mediate supervision of Lieutenant Mat
| thew E. Hanna and Captain s. d. Rock
enbach. This road, crossing the noun
tains is considered by experts as prob
| ably the finest mountain road in the
world 1t gives access to a wonderfully
| fertile section of country, which before
| had, as its only means of communca-
tion with the outside world, indistinct
mountain trails, which were impossible
during the rainy season, or nearly half
the year. AS a sanitary measure the
streets of many of the cities were paved,
and extensive systems Of sewerage con-
| structed.
The harbors of the island were greatly
improved; and an admirable system of
buoys and beacons was established, gov
| ernment warehouses and docks were re-
paired and constructed. and regulations,
conforming to those In vogue In this
country. governing the harbors of the
island were established.
The total revenues from all sources COL
lected during the occupation was fifty
seven million two hundred thousand dol
lars, and the expenditures therefrom fif-
ty-fve million three hundred and seventy
thousand dollars the remainder having
been turned over to the republic Of Cuba
at the time of the withdrawal of United
States authority, May 18th, 1902. All ex-
penditures were made with view to con-
tributing to the greatest good of the peo-
Pile there, and throughout the entire per-
riod of American occupation the affairs
We're conducted solely in the interests OF
and for the benefit of Cuba.
More prominent among the items of
revenue are the following;
Receipts from import duties
Fiscal year 1899 .........,....S 6.4l3, 66S IS