The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1902-08-06


Placed 10 an Embarrassing situation.
Washington, Aug. 5.-The persist
ent and discouraging reports that
reach Washington concerning finan-
, cial and business conditions in Cuba
are tending to strengthen the feel
ing referred to in dispatches imme-
diately after the return of Gen. Wood
} that the new republic can not long
be maintained and the people of the
island will seek annexation within
year. Official figures received show
} that the customs receipts of Ha-
vana, which amounted TO an average
Of more than $4,000 a day during
the American occupation. have
dropped to less than $4,000 a day,
and have occasionally been as low as
5000,
II is not a matter of surprise that
the customs receipts should decrease,
since the Cubans have not been able
10 dispose of their sugar crop and
are unable TO buy as they would like,
and II is not surprising that the Gu
bans should be discouraged in their
efforts TO make the receipts cover the
expenses Of their government. But
this condition. il is said, has revived
the talk Of annexation among the
Cuban planters.
The reduction Of the revenues has
compelled the Cuban government to
curtail its expenditures. In doing
that IL is offsetting some of the most
important reforms inaugurated by
tho United States while in control.
II is ncglecting the sanitary meas
ures inaugurated by Gen. Wood in
Havana and Santiago, Already there
has been fear Of an outbreak of yell
low fever in those cities Should such
danger appear It would be incum-
bent on this government to inquire
why the salutnry measures had been
abandoned after the Cuban consti-
tutional convention had adopted the
rlntt amendment. That amendment
provided that Cuba shonld execute
plans 10 be mnially agreed on for the
sanitation of the islands to prevent
: the recurrence of epidemics and in
I fcctious Diseases. without any de-
sire to embarrass the Cuban govern
ment, the United States government |
must insist on the continuance of |
these plans Of sanitation as a means /
Of protecting the country from vel |
low fever. Gov. Wood stamped out |
the disease and made Havana and
Santiago ports as safe as any in the
world for communication with the
ports Of the United States He showed /
by sanitation that yellow fever could
be held in check and eradicated
The surgeon generals of the army
and navy are watching the situation
with concern The whole situation is
said TO be most embarrassing to
President Palma in this experiment
of plotting Cuba as an independent
government with expensive govern
mental machinery and reduced in
come. The whole Cuban people may
be driven to seek ANNEXATION before
congress meets in December, unless
relief comes from some quarter
For a Loan of Thirfy-Five Millions
Washington. Aug. 5.-The state de-
pnrimenf has received the following
cablegram from Minister Squires.
dater Havana, August q: THE house
has passed bill authorizing loan
thirty-fve millions. minimum rate Of
issue 90 per cent. Maximum interest
five per cent redeemable in 40
years"
Under the Platt amendment, the
United States is bound to take cog
nizance Of every action Of the Cuban
government relating TO loans Ar
ticlc .. Of that amendment provides:
's'rhat said government shall not as
sumo or contract any public debt to
pay the interest upon which. and
to make reasonable sinking fund pro-
vision for the ultimate discharge Of
which the ordinary revenues Of the
island Of Cuba, after defraying the
current expei les Of the government.
shall be inadequate
No computation has been made to
ascertain whether or not the loan
provided for in the bin which Minis
ter Squires refers to trespasses upon
the provision Of the Platt amend
ment, but it is presumed that the Gu
ban revenues can pay the interest
and provide sinking fund beside de-
fraying the ordinary expenses of the
government, as provided in the
amendment.