Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-30
prices at such q figure that the officials
could not afford 20 buy.
Must Pay for Being Americans.

~e@NSs = ~ AoA DelAB
Indeed, there are two sets of prices al
over Cuba--one for natives and the other
for Americans. Tho hotels of Havana
double and treble their rates during tho
winter. In the height of the season they
make Americans pay IS and upward a day
for the same accommodations that C,uhans
receive for 81 during the summer Al such
times one can only live on the American
plan, and TX he would have extras at table
he pays through the nose. Tho Cuban or
Spaniard gets his rooms on the European
plan, and his payments are moderate. IN
most of tho cities the cab rates are fixed
They are reasonable and the service Is good.
This Is the case Inside OF Santiago but OUT
side the city the cab drivers put on exorbi-
tant rates, In the city the fares are some
thing Ike dollar an hour. Outside, IL tho
customer is an American, 81 Is often de-
manded. especially II bargain has not
been made beforehand The other day a
young American was charged an outrageous
price for drive outside Santiago. He re-
fused to pay 1t, and one of the city police
men, who was probably a friend of tho
driver, said that the money must be given
or the man go to the police station. The
young American replied that he would go
TO the police station, and did so, taking
the policeman and cabman with him. The
already received 50 that day from ono
American, Si2 from another and SIS from 4
third for a similar service, whereupon he
was fined $40 for overchanginR and unon
his objeeting another fine of $40 for con-
tempt of court was made He was then
forced to let the American go free upon lila
paying 90 cents per hour above the regular
city rates.
In the Santiago Prison.
Speaking of the police brings me to n
visit that 1 paid yesterday to the prison
of Santiago, 1 was walking from the har-
Dor to the plaza. About half way between
the two / passed fine building with the
II.
There was "a policeman In fun uniform on
the front steps and other policemen inside
l entered, called upon the superintendent
and by presenting my card was granted
permission to so through the establish
ment.
1t is the most luxurious prison I have
ever visited. Its spacious rooms run around
hollow court, and, We're 1t not for their
crowded condition, they would be quite as
comfortable as those of the Hotel de
Venus. Its second floor rooms have gal
leries or covered porches fifteen feet wide
running round them, looking down into the
court. These form "A promenade and loaf
ing place for the prisoners. AS I walled
through them L found scores of convlcts
seated in cane chairs rocking back and
forth In the breeze as they laughed and
chatted together. Here two were playing
checkers there one was writing at a table,
and further on others were lying In ham,
mocks and snoozing away. There was y
BARRIERS chair on one porch, and in 1t a
prisoner was being shaved by a fellow
prisoner. Indeed, the iron bars were the
only signs of a prison.
As l walked around the gallery with one
of the officials 1 stopped now and then
to look In at the wards. All are filed with
beds of different kinds. Many of the pris-
oners have woven wire cots with COM
forters spread over them. l asked whether
this was not rather luxurious for criminals;
whereupon the jailor told me that the city
provided iron bedsteads and board benches
only, but that the convict who wished bet
ter accommodations could get them. Any
one who has dollar or two can buy n cot
with wire springs; the selling of such cots
police.
Feeding the prisoners is another per-