The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-20

INK IutlI ANNNhNAbh FNaAAAe NAeNANN- -
own Constitution, and 10 Article ii. Of the
Platt amendment. The Vaccinations OF
loan sharks who are specializing In soldiers
claims arc orowding Cuban legislators very
close 10 the danger point Of American inter
ferenoe-
The scheme known az the 'IntehoT loan
Is assuming a definite shape, and 10 IL pro-
oeeds, as II now threatens 10 do, Cuba VIII
violate her constitutional provisions and
burden her taxpayers With a huge obhga-
uon, with benefit 10 few excepting foreign
Insurers and their associates.
Cuba's interest account on the 81, 100000
loan placed last year is 81, 10000. The
amortization fund, which begins In 1910
will add q ,o7O 900 year to that Provision
for this u made By stamp tax which now
Yields q, 900, 900, and exoites a decided pro-
test from those who have 10 pay II. Tbs
leaves a surplus Of $500 bill recently
reported from committee TO the Cuban
House calls for the creation Of a new loan
Of $50 900 bearing per cent. Interest
This would call for tl7O, 900 q year more than
the revenue now available. To meet that,
the hill proposes the use Of S per cent. OF the
customs revenue as a guarantee. The
amortization Of this loan iS left In the air.
The only reference made TO II In the bill ap-
pears In Article XII, which provides that:
conFrsss reserves the hight 70 determine the
conversion Of this debt for another, e. wei - 70
proceed Tor decided when amortization shan be
determined upon. a. par before or after the date
Of the repayment Of NE loan made viii Aeasrs'
SpeyeT Cfor SS,oooI0O0.
This measure Is referred to, locally, a.
the indefinite internal debt the word
sindehnite' being used In the sense that no
l. - Nsa
This Is tantsmount to a recognition Of ma
tionsl inability TO provide for the discharge
Of the debt as well as for the payment Of
interest The bonds are to be issued to the
soldiers, payable Ato bearer In payment
Of unreasonable claims, the greater portion
Of which have already been Transferred, at
from 20 TO 80 oents on the dollar, 70 specu-
lators While no direct charges are made,
/ It 10 inferred that the approval shown this
scheme by some Of the legislators Is not
due entirely TO spontaneous patriotism, or
| 10 a burning love for thousands Of veterans
OF the revolution whose military activities
we're confined to areas which were never
visited by the Spanish soldiers.
The entire proceedings in the matter Of
| the payments to the army have been not a
| little discreditable and fair share Of them
| have been distinctly Scandalous. President
Palma waves his hands in the air, rubs his
eyes, and asks what he can do. Had he
| set his face as sternly against this looting
! Of the pockets Of his taxpayers for the ben
eft Of alien spectators as he did against the
| lottery bill, and as he once did against all
| forms OF national extravaganza, he might
have stemmed the tide which now threatens
! 10 overwhelm his administration and to
| bring his country into contact With that
| Platt amendment which was so offensive
70 the Cuban people, and which may now
have TO be evoked 10 save them from Mr..
| Palma's own weakness.
Another instance Of Presidential weakness
appears in Mr.. Palmas recent signature OF
the bill providing for the purchase by the
nation Of the Tacon Theatre. for $500 900.
This property was bought a. a speculation,
In the early day Of the Intervention. for a
! sum little In excess Of $500 900. II has not
proved a profitable investment, and the
| sale TO the Government Is said TO be due 10
| the political influence Of those who desire
to dispose Of it. The purchase entails not
! only the original cost OF the building. but
as we'll the maintenance Of a theatrical en-
terprise Of exceedingly doubtful returns,
Mr.. Palma has signed the purchase bill
despite his expressed disapproval Of such
/ a use OF funds which were needed for other
and more useful purposes.
third appropriation which Is being
actively contested Is the proposed payment
Of a three year subsidy Of t2oo $50 a year to
the Cuba Railway Company. This enter
| prise has not proved the financial success
/ expected by its projectors, and they have
asked the Cuban Government TO take care
Of the interest on s. ,s7S 900 worth Of their
! bonds for three years. The road is Of un-
| questionable value in the economy Of the
| island, but the question Is raised whether
! IL should not work out its own salvation
through purely business channels instead
Of drawing for assistance on Cuba's already
burdened national Treasury,
Those who are disposed 20 gibe at Cuba's
financial follies should bear in mind the fact
that some Of her most serious offences are
ohargeable 10 American account, The
Hobbies Of the Cuban Congress are the haunt
Of Americans urging their pet schemes and
trying TO get something out Of Cuba Prom
inent in this group are representatives Of the
Louisiana rice planters seeking to obtain
an increase In the Cuban duty on nee. Cuba
buys two or three million dollars worth Of
nee per year, and Louisiana naturally wants
such market. Although she gives the
United States a preferential rate on the
article Of 10 per cent. reduction on the
regular tariff rate, this does not equalize
the price Of the Louisiana article and the
much cheaper product Of Saigon and
Raugoon.
The present rate Is $40 on go pounds.
It is proposed 10 raise this 10 t2.7S, which
would be the tariff on other importauons,
while the American goods, under the reel
prooity treaty, would pay only ti.6S. an
advantage Of one-hah a cent pound. Com
pldnt lie made that this would greatly in
GREASE the cost Of an important staple Of
consumption TO the Cuban people. Coupled
with the movement are thinly yelled threats
Of injury 10 the reciprocity treaty in the
event Of Cuban refusal 10 extend this favor
70 American interests
While the methods employed are different,
the entire situation makes It quite evident
that a goodly number Of Americans regard
Cuba, very much as the Spaniards did in
earlier days, as an institution 70 be run for
their special benefit. The influence which