Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-25
CUBA NEEDS THE MONEY NOW
Government Of the Island Republic Has
Big Deficit in Sight.
PEOPLE IN EARNEST ABOUT PERMANENcY
Hope TO Maintain Their Independence
and Are Using United states
as n Model for Their
Administration.

A. w. Gumaer Of st. Paul, MINI, who
during the occupancy Of Cuba by the forces
Of the United States was deputy collector
Of customs and deputy immigration in
spector at Havana, is in the city on his way
home from the island. Mr.. Gumear re-
mained in charge Of the port at Havana
until June 10. giving instructions to the
native officials after the flag came down in
May, and sailed from Havana July s.
Speaking Of conditions on the island he
said:
"The gravest thing which confronts the
new government is the question Of finances.
It looks rather quixotic for 1900, 900 people
on an island to think Of establishing a per
manent republic, but the Cubans have en-
tered upon the work with a will. They are
modelling their laws upon those Of the
United States. and are putting into force
laws which the temporary government by
this country did not deem expedient. At
the occupation of the island the United
States laws governing customs and immi-
grafton were gradually enforced with slight
notifications. After May 20 these laws
were not only continued, but a radical Chi
nese exclusion law was passed. This law
is even more strict with reference to the
return Of Chinese denizens Of the island
who have returned to their native land than
the aws Of the United States. and there
are several important Chinese merchants
now in Hong Kong who win have trouble
in returning to Havana.
Money the Main Question,
with all of their efforts the question Of
raising funds ito pay the expenses Of gov
rnmen is dinicult Of solution. Tho
budget for the current year Is approx
rnafoIv 600 mn mn hill a. 49, -
United States officials could do In a year
was to raise SIS, 900. 900 from the ordinary
sources. In this extremity some of the
members Of the Cuban congress are looking
toward the establishment Of a national lot.
terry as a source Of revenue. For centuries
during the Spanish regime a lottery was
maintained by the insular government, only
being suppressed by the United States
forces. The returns from that lottery werC
sufficient to make up the deficiency In the
budget, but President Palma may not con.
sent to the operation Of the game OF chance
He has lived In the United States for thirty
years and has become AmericaniBed in the
best sense of the word. A short time aftel
the Cuban government was established pri.
vate parties, including the publishers OF al
Of the newspapers Of the city, established
lotteries, the winning number to be the last
three figures Of the daily customs receipts
at the port OF Havana. This continued fol
several weeks until President Palma
learned of it and he issued IN order for
bidding the publication of the daily re.
ceipts. thus putting the private lotteries
out OF business for the time being.
Americans I'm Island.
eth customs receipts rave fallen of
considerably since the new government
took charge Of the island, due in no small
measure to the removal of United StateI
officials who contributed largely through
their personal demands for American goods
to the imports OF the island. At the pres.
emit time there is only one force Of Amer.
leans in the island and, that Ia under the
control Of Mr.. s~teinhart. who was chic
clerk under General Wood. He is preserv-
ing the records OF the insular government
Of the American forces and is giving to the
present government copies Of all papers
that are desired. 1t Is impossible to say
how long this force Of clerks will be con-
tinued. but probably for a year or more