New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-04
tFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAUJ

republic of Ssnto Domingo. This may be stated
on the highest authority. That the United
States may find it expedient to take temporary
charge Of Santo Domingo, reoraanizo its gov
ernment pay off it's Indebtedness and replace
IntoIerable conditions with a safe and sane gov
ernment, precisely was done with Cuba. is
not only possible. but probable. 1t is also pos
sibls that, in return fer thus acting as Domin-
ican receiver. the United States may acquire
the use of a coalins station on Samsna Bay.
Under an arbitraI award of July IL 1904 the
United States empowered. in the event of
default of certain prescribed payments on Amer
lean claims, 10 assume control, through fiscal
agent. of the ports of Puerto Plata. Sanchez.
Samana and Monte Christi. Puerto Plata has
already been taken. and the others will be in
the near future. The only remaining ports OF
the republic are Santo Domingo City and Ma
coris the receipts from which are pledged in
payment of bonds held chiefly by French and
Belgian citizens.
The revolutions Of such frequent occurrence
in Santo Domingo usually due to the efforts
Of the revolutionists TO acquire possession of
the ports which will soon be administered by
the government and American custody of these
sources of revenue will, therefore. effectually
prevent further revolutions.
RADICAL REORGANIZATION.
4ile assumption Indl lHe GIltSu OtdIeS N'ltr
after undertaking the administration Of the
four ports named, go further and assume tenn
porary charge of the entire Dominican admins
tration with the hope of establishing it on
sound and busfnesslike basis, is Occasoned by
the hopeless insolvency of the present regime,
the tyranny Of militarism which dominates the
republic and the constant danger that Euro
pean creditors may be driven to evaporation
and their governments feel called upon to do
the work which can be better done by the
United States and which. if performed by this
country. would be unattended by danger of for
efgn complications In this connection it may
be said that the State Department has reason
to understand that temporary American admin
istration OF Dominican affairs would he vel
coined by the European nations whose subjects
are creditors of the insovent republic.
1t will be remen bered that on January 81 last
a protocol was signed providing for arbitration
TO settle the method of payment of certain
American claims. The amount of these claims
was fixed in the protocol at S4,J0o0Op gold. in
full indemnity and for the REIMBURSEMENT of
the claims of the San Domingo Improvement
Company of New-York to all rights and prop
erty of the San Domingo Finance Company the
Central Dominican Railway and the National
Bank of San Domingo and all other claims or
the New York company against the government
Of Santo Domingo.
The arbitrator selected by the United States
was ex-Secretary of the Treasury John e. Car
isle Don Manuel de ]. Galvan was selected
bv Santo Domingo. and these selected Judge
George Gray of the United States Court OF Ap-
naa1s The arbitrators rendered their decision
on July ii. 1904.
AMERICAN AWARD.
The award provided, in substance. that the
total debt. s4481 ,25O, was to bear interest at q
uer cent; the principal and interest were to be
Iiauidated by monthly payments OF S37,5Oo dur
ina the first and second year, and by monthly
payments of S41,666 SO thereafter, until the entire
amount was cancelled; payments TO De made m
cold or in it's equivalent in exchange, the debtor
to pay the charges of collection II exchange was
used; to meet those payments the customs re-
CENTS and pert dues of Puerto Plata, Sanchez'
samana and Monte chrst were to be set apart
the United States was to appoint financial
aoent to receive the payments; in default Of
psynnents in accord with the terms OF the de-
cision the United States was empowered 10
take CHARGE of the port Of Puerto Plata, collect
the customs and port dues and devote them to
the payment of the obligation; should the re
ceipts at Puerto Plata prove inadequate the
United States empowered to take posses
sion of all of the other ports suecessiVey' m
cudne any new ports which might be estao-
Iished north of t8 degrees as minutes north
latitude, until sufficient revenue to carry out
the terms Of the decision secured. The
salary and expenses of the financial agent were
to be paid by the Dominican government
LEvYING THE REVENUES.
Before arriving at their decision the arhitra-
tors carefully investigated the entire finances
of the republic. including the indebtedness TO
Europeans estimated future revenues allowed
for a proper and economic administrations OF
Dominican affairs, and then fixed the sum OF tho
monthly payments. their decision being uuant-
NOUS.
Although the ports Of san Domingo and
Macors. in the southern part of the island. are
the more profitable. The arbitrators assented 10
the arrangement which devoted tho receipts Of
these ports to the payment of the European
debts without going into the priority of the
spective claims, primsrily because IT was mani
fest that control of the north arn ports Of this
country would put q stop 10 the continual
revolutions which have proved so disastrous
10 the welfare of the republic of Santo Do
mngo. No revolutions have occurred in the
south, and those which have occurred in the
north having had for their almost invariable
object the possession Of The customs and port
revenues which might be collected In that sec
tion it was believed that some sacrifice could
be properly made to insure tae peace % the
republic.
AGENT TAKES CHARGE.
In accordance with the decision John T Ao-
bott who was Minister 70 Colombia during
President Harrisons administration. was ap-
pointed financial agent of the United states.
and went Immediately to Puerto Plata to re-
oeiva the payments AS had been feared. the
first payment was defaulted. ana In September