Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-08-07
TALK or ANNEXATION RENEWED
CURANs ARE BECOMING GREATLY
DISCOURAGED OWED CON-
DITIONS.
PLANTERS READY TO GIVE UP
CUSTOMS RECEIPTS ARE FALLING
OFF AT A REMARKABLE
RATE.

Washington, Aug. 3.-The economic
conditions in Cuba are causing uneasl-
ness in administration circles.
h customs receipts at Hanvana are
no longer reported daily, and this Is salo
to be due to the fact that they rave talleh
off heavily in the last two months. While
Col. Taskar Bliss OF the United states
army was in charge of the Cuban Gus
toms the average daily receipts amounted
to Sal, OOO, and it is reported that they
have fallen of to less than one-quarter
OF that amount and On some days nave
reached 5000. There are other rumors
regarding Cuban customs that are dis
turbing and there is some anxiety
over the new republic lest President Pal-
ma and his associates in the government
Become Discouraged
and give up the effort to keep it going
In q conservative way.
Gov. Gen. Wood left a number OF Amer
lean officers in Havana to aid the Cuoans
with their experience in handling the GUS
SONS service and the sanitary regulations.
These officers have nearly all returned to
Washington. They are not inclined 10
give their reasons TO the public, but they
have reported to the war department.
Several clerks who remained for a time
in Havana are also back in Washington
occupying less important positions and re-
eeiving less salary than they had in Cuba.
They are not allowed to talk.
1t is not a matter ~ surprise that the
customs receipts should decrease, since
the Cubans nave not been able to dispose
Of their sugar crop and are unable TO
buy as they would. And it is not surpris-
ing that the Cubans should be discour-
aged in their efforts to make their re-
ceiots cover the expenses OF their govern
ment. But this condition is said TO v
revived the
Tall of Annexation
among the Cuban planters. 1t Is pre-
dicted by some Of the officers who were In
Cuba with Gen. Weed that before con-
gress meets next writer there viii be a
strong movement for annexation in Cuba,
Just as the.e was In Hawaii a few months
after the independent government was In
augurated. The planters have been so
much discouraged by their failure TO Sc
cure recipr ocity with the United States
the they are talking annexation. 1t Is
not through animls toward the present
Cuban government, BIT with the hope OF
saving themselves from bankruptcy n
ruin that they seek annexation. The re-
du cIion OF the revenue has compelled the
Cuban government to curtaii its expendi-
lures, and 1t is doing this in some Of the
most important reforms ~inaugurated by
the United States while in control.
Yellow Fever Outbreak Feared.
1t is neglecting the sanitary measures
inauguratsd by Gen. Wood in Havana
and Santiago. There is already fear or
a new outbreak of yellow fever in those
stiles, and should such a danger appear
IT will be incumbent on this government
to :r.ouire why the sanitary. measures
have been abandoned after the Cuban
CONSTITUTE onal convention had adopted the
Plate amendment, which provided that
Cuba should exscJte plans of sanitation
to be mutually agreed upon for the sani-
tatiop of the island to prevent the recur-
renee 81 epidemic and infectious diseases.
Without any desire to embarrass the
Cuban government, the United States
must insist on the continuance of these
plans of sanitation as a means of pro-
tecting this country from yellow fever.