The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-29

CEatiNe POSITIONS elsewhere Il week
decree was issued stating what was g
fact-that there was no export tax on cattle
and that none should he eXactcd; however
the customs officials We're ordered to take .
careful description in writing Of every steer
exported and send it to the Ministry OF
Commerce in Caracas. In few days the OBJ.
ject of this decree became apparent. Instead
Of the former secret exactions the trade and
the traders were blaCkmaied to death by
due process of law. The herd arrived and
the chartered ship was alongside the wharf
ready to receive them when the Custom
house inspectors appeared on the scene
They Were armed with printed blanks, upon
which there were places for twenty six en-
tries. Each one of these blanks related only
to single steer. What was the color OF
the animal and how much did 1t weigh
There was black patch on lite hind quar-,
tiers. One of its horns was broken. How had
that happened? In a fight. or through the
carelessness of the transportation COM
panies? Now. was the steer red or was y
dun colored? Did it have switch tail? II
not. what ia q switch tail?' Often there was
difference of opinion upon all these ques-
tons. and the Custom house people IN me me
traders to help them in the performance Oh
their new duties.
MERELY A SUGGESTION.
1t took an hour and a hah.to pass the hrst
steer and then the chief inspector said 10
the exporter: Don't you think it would be
better to 20 back to our old system OF = a a
and said TO. Mind you, 1t was only 81 g
gestion.' said the inspector suaVely- Il
think it would expedite Matters 1t GER
tainly would have. 1t required eight DAYS 20
load 100 steers on the first steamer that
came. 1t could have been done in ei"ht
hours. The demurrage on the delayed ship
cost the exporter s1.sO0. 1 have no details
as to the cost of subsisting his herd in the
town during the days of delay. but as he
had to pay for his water. for his shelter aud
his pastures ana for the herders. it must
have been heavy. When the next ship came
along the exporter was only too ANXIOUS 10
submit to the old system of blarknail at
81 head. However. the trade could not
stand this last .exaction. and it was soon
found that. while steers cost quite thiro
more in Mexico and in Yucatan than they
do in Venezuela, still. owing to freedom
landed more cheaply in Cuba. and so the
cattle trade with Venezuela died as sud
denly as il h"i oris'nated
A STRANGE SITUATION.
I was present only few days ago at an
impromptu meeting of cattle owners to dis
cuss the situation, which is. in a word. that
there is no possible outlet or market for one
people eat meat there. but the owners do not
market it. The officials send word to the
owners that. owing TO, the unsettled con-
6iition of the country, they must not try to
bring their cattle to market. And when
this order is given not all the gold in the
world would hire drover to take herd to
the market town. He knows very well that
IL he did so he would be shot from behind
a bush by some barefooted bandit in the
name of the Government or of the revolu-
together in harmony. only the consumer
must pay high. During the recent block
ade of Venezuelan ports. and while the capt.
tai was beleaguered by the revolutionists.
there was no dearth Of meat, at least in
Caracas. The arrangement arrived at was
amusing and significant of conditions. The
owners: on pain Of sudden death: were not
allowed to sell their own cattle, but the
soldiers did The revolufionists would go
to the ranches select the herd they wanted.
and drive them to the limit of their terri
tory Here they would turn them over to
the Government troops, who would drive
them to Caracas and sell them on the mar
ket, the proceeds being equally divided be-
tween the two bands, and as. like other
thieves. this class Of Venezuelans are fear
full that IL they should fall out honest men
might get their dues. there is no friction
over the transaction. The money is equally
divided. the utmost consideration Is shown
to every one except to the lawful owners
of the cattle, who. driven away from their
ranches and seeking refuge in Caracas, have
often the experience of paying triple prices
for their own heeves. without having the
satisfaction of pocketing cent by the
fransa ctinn. -