Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-23
MEASURHNAND MEN
.se
The Stock Phrase Now Heard
-. i9 Cuba.
REDUCTIONS NECESSARY
- y
ALSO MEANS TO GET IN MONEY
FOR EXPENSES.
W.. a -
Some Opposition is Developing in
the Congress, but It VIII 7a'T7
Not Be Serious.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

ject of measures and men. Every newspa-
per has a view" Every individual has an
opinion. Every official has policy. 1t is a
wilderness in which, If President Palma
were not a clear-headed man, he soon would
be lost But in spite of the difficulties he
is threading his way through the maze OF
perplexities like an experienced statesman,
and is not trying to do too much at a
jump.
In the first place, there are measures for
economy in administration. These have to
be, If the new government is to keep within
Its decreased income. The decreased in
come is inevitable for at least a year until
reciprocity is arranged with the United
States and a safe return can lie counted on
from the customs receipts.
Cut in Salaries.
For fortnight more, Enthusiastically
speaking, the new republic will be running
on the basis Of the American military adj
ministraton, but beginning July i. the new
budget, which is being arranged, will go
into effect. Already many cuts have been
made in salaries. One ban-American
who has been drawing very good pay for
three years, met me yesterday, with face
yard and half long DO you know"
he complained, what they are doing?"
did not know. and did not care particularly,
ance. They have cut me down from $50
month to $40" he said, land 1 won't
stand It."
AS the place he holds is not a skilled one
the new government will have no trouble In
finding some one to take it at $40 month
This much was impressed on me when l
saw a large number of people waiting in
the corridors for chance to offer their
capacity.
Another Cuban who for three years had
revlled the American administrat ton be-
cause OF Its failure to give him high
priced position, which he claimed was due
because of his services in freeing Cuba.
sailed Sunday for Paris. All along he had
said that when the "tyranical grasp of
the Intervening power was released, free
cuba would reward him fittingly. The re-
ward was proffered in position which pays
S12o month. The Disguised patriot who
wanted something at $1,000 or $1,000 a year,
told me that he, made 500 a month in
Paris and, he could get more out of life
there than out Of $125 In Havana So he
has gone fully satisfied. that republics are
ungrateful, but no longer holding the United
States responsible for the Cuban republics
iaiiure to estimate him at what he thinks
he Is worth. a4- 90
While many cases Of this kind are found
and while there will be horizontal reduc-
tons by the Wholesale in the mass of gov
eminent employees, what happens in older
countries also is happening in the new re-
public. Sometimes, economy is practiced in
one direction In order to cover up extrava-
gance In another direction.
The minor employees have their grievance
in this matter and point out Instances of
what they claim is faveritism and reckless
expenditure. 1t is in the foreign relations
that this tendency is most marked, though
thus far there has been little legislation
enacted fixing salaries for legations and
cOnsulates. One of the members. Of the
government said to me that they were not
worrying and were not sensitive because
Spain and Germany and other countries
have not yet formally recognized the repub-
lie of Cuba. When they do" he said.
that means that. In spite Of ourselves. we
will have to establish a good many foreign
legations on scale Of expenditure which
we cannot afford We are willing to have
this put off as long as possible"
Measures to Get in Money.
+ While the immediate measures of Presi-
dent Palma's administration are to classify
and reduce the expenses of running the gov
eminent and establish tnem on a different
footing than the dual one which obtained
under the American military authority, they
also are forced to consider means of getting
in money on permanent basis. Some agi-
tation has been felt for a restoration of
what is called the tariff of '07. This is the
old Spanish tariff, with it's preferential
schedules. Then there is an agitation for
free trade, or purely revenue tariff These
questions will be brought to focus within
the next few weeks, all depending on the
legislation or failure of legislation by the
Congress Of the United States.
Measures for fomenting the natural
wealth OF the island likewise receive much
atteitnon. Actually they are propositions
for government aid to better the Industrial
conditions and develop resources. Some of
them would be very good If Cuba had a
surplus in the treasury and did not know
what to do with it, Others of the proposi-
tions are based on the knowledge that in
he hDS 1nEo
and on that account must negotiate some
kind Of a national loan. But back of them
all is the necessity for finding markets for
Cuban products.
measures President Palma has certain
measures of Cancellation. These relate to
men-tO individuals or to personalities as
the Latin phrase has it.
The first measure of Cancellation is to-
ward the race of color. The possibilities of
the color question in Cuba have been dis
cussed so frequently that I do not care to
go into 1t now beyond reiterating the con-
viction often declared that with tact and
patriotism there need be no race question
For those who think that the blacks of the
island may be arrayed in hostility to Presi-
dent Palma 1t may be worth while to re-
call that the black province of Santiago was
the which rallied most strongly to his
support, while the white province Of Puerto
Principe or Camagney was the one which
opposed Palma even to the point of casting
its electoral vote. against him. Senator
Bravo Correoso. the leader of the nation
ais, who are the dominant party in San
tiago, and whose. partnership is made up
| largely of negroes, Is how in that province,
making speeches IN Endorsement of Palma s
| administration. ,.,-,
Measuresoof Cancellation.
While this is tine general situation as to
| the race question: sit does not change the
| passing fact that President Palma has
| found 1t desirableto adopt measures of con-
Citation for the raare Of, color. A delegation
| called on him sople time ago and pointed
out what was charged to be discrimination
1t may be guessed that one cause of
complaint was that the negroes were not
getting their sharfsef the Offices Impartial
| judgment would have to be given in their
| favor. They have a proportion of represen-
| tatives In office which includes some very
| prominent men, yet the proportion is not a
| large one.
President Palma saw the point and now
more negroes are being appointed Some
| other determinations also are receiving at
| tention. and where remedy is available it
| Is applied. All these are measures of con-
With regard to men who have influence,
1