New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-04
I TO FREE SANTO DOMINGO.
THE UNITED STATES NAY REPLACE MILITARY DC
VI ~A~. T4TORSHIP WITH 4 REPUBLIC IN FACT
Interests of European Creditors To Be Safguarded T. Pose,
Declines to Purchase Accep Permancnl OseneraLin

OHc % hopeless BANKRUPTCY. unless there A
radical change in the system OF collecting rev.-
nue. and great reduction % current expenses.
FANTASTIC FINANCE.
In support OF these statements and - show
ing that under proper management a condition
OF solvency and even prosperity could he at
tanned. the following facts are set forth: At
present large portion Of the legally coIlectios
revenue never reaches the national treasury.
Losses from direct peculatiou and contrabaud
are large In the month Of August the nominal
receipts Of the port Of san Domingo were s96.-
COO. but less than half paid in cash. and ar
the end Of the month the government was with
out funds 10 meet current expenses. 20 say
nothing OF meeting the expenses Of the Belgian
French commission. which II had guaranteed.
and the payments OF European debts promised
Since 1900 the government has collected S.
100000 Of which only S7G0OOO has been paid
on its Indebtedness, and OF that amount all but
100000 paid before the middle Of the year
1902. The government has disbursed in or5f-
nary administration. OF which more than - Per
cent was salaries. usurious interest and bonuses
10 local merchants. for period of four years
and nine months. average Of $4,000 -
year a total OF Ss.O75OoO
OTHER FOREIGN DEBTS.
The European debt Of the Dominican Repubio
is now practically under the control OF the Bel
resents the Belgian. French. German and Hot
land bondholders The face value OF their hold
ings is practically S13,OOOOOO but an agreements
was reached In 1901 by which the bondholSsrs
agreed to accept 30 per cent OF the face OF ths
bonds If the Dominican government would make
monthly payments OF S25S;I;i 80 IN lieu OS IN
terest. The customs receipts Of san Domingo
City and OF Macoris were pledged 10 this Pgr-
pose but in 1902 the agreement was neglected"
~fr>
can be satisfied ny payment Of S6195 1853 - and
$4,000 interest due prior 70 1901.
INTERVENTION WELCOME.
In the event of the United states taking entire
control of the republic. the customs receipts or
these two ports would doubtless be devoted to
carrying out this agreement and, the certainty
of the European bondhoders that they would
receive their money would doubtless cause their
respective governments and the Belgian French
commission TO welcome such an arrangement.
CIVIL CHAOS
In explanation of this frenzied finance. II must
be remembered that the republic OF san Do
mingO has an estimated population of $4,000
people about one-twelfth that Of Ne'v-Ycrs
State; that il has an estimated Of 1s.o45
square miles. about one-third that OF Nev-fork
State: 10 govern this diminutive people there ars
president and his cabinet. including seven
members. each the head OF department. each
OF which costs the nation $4,000 a year. The
State is divided into twelve provinces ~ order
to afford a prctext for twelve governors. their
staffs and retinues There are also ffty-thFee
minor. OF communal governments; twelve agTt-
cultural inspectorships and more than sixty
alcaldes. or mayors. each with subordinate off-
Cials and companies Of soldiers. Engaged IN
collecting annual revenue of 81. I00Oto there
are board OF accountants. five IN number: a
general accounting office. eleven sub-treasuries'
eight custom houses and fiscal agency for pay
ing foreign bondhoIders. the financial establish
ment alone costing $4,000 year. There are.
moreover. thirty-eight Judges for 6ooSo0 peo-
pie
ARMY OF COLONIES.
The military establishment consisting OF an
army and navy. costs approximately S4s"ocs1
a wear; but this is useless TO put down nsur-
rections so that there is also maintained a
complete system of military government In ad-
dition 10 the civil which is supposed 10 preservs
order and suppress revoIts but which actually
confines its Iabors 70 occasionally erecting a
b,iI5ing for the commandments de arulas'
- rar+icfpatins in a military celebration. In
order ~ provide for the vast overPIus ce
"coro,e1s.. and other officers Of high rank and
NJ, the army IS divided into fragrnentary seg-
lions which render it useless in time Of need
CARNIvAI. OF GRAFT
Tho exclamation of these peculiar conditions
= ,bat Ssnro Domingo although nonnally a
rerublic. is in fact military dictatorship fns
President generally acquires his position a. ths
cs,,l+ Of a revolution in which he proves Jhs
most powerfuI factor in controlling. not the ns-
tfves but the army. Practically all the officials
enumerated above are the personal appoirtees
Of the President. whose obligations. when hs
attains power compel him 70 take care of his
friends Judging by the past, the chief object
of each administration is 70 mulct the people 90
the largest possible sum before there OccuTs 4
revolution which elects a President and
inaugurates a new division Of the spells.
REAL STRENUOUS LIFE
Under these circumstances politics is a.
tended with certain amount of danger. bur no
more than seems 70 add zest which appeals
70 the tastes of the inhabitants Agricultural ,
and commercial pursuits on the other band.
are unatrractfve as they exist only 70 be uia1s
the prey of the government, and tire oppressed
tiIler OF the soil OF small merchant no soouer
resains his conlposure after the last 'revolu-
tion" than he Immediately aspiTes - gam corr
troll Of the government. that he may Sc even
with his prosecutors This spirit. moreover, 81
not confined To those who aspire 20 be Presi-
dent bur is partaken OF by every iuhabitant %
moderate ambition who invariably works with
envy Of the local alcaGe or other official
THE FATAL DISEASE
we'll posted citizen Of san Domingo suu'-
ming up the woes of the republic says We
have no census. TO surveys. no roads. 10 s0ot
ports: no instruction. - rAr cent % cur POFula-
ton being nllterates. no farmers no sailors. 10
professional men: no trained soldiers but hua-