New-York tribune., 1905-08-12
AIDING S4NTO DOMINGO

Santo Domingo has now made an appeal 10
us TO help il In turn and not only every principle
US bids us respond to the appeal. The condi-
tions in Santo Domingo have for number of
years grown from bad TO worse until recently
all society the verge Of dissolution
Fortunately just at this time a wise ruler
sprang up in Santo Domingo. who with his COL
leagues, saw the dangers threatening their be
loved country, and appealed to the friendship
of their great and powerful neighbOr 10 help
them. The immediate threat came 10 th em in
the shape Of foreign intervention. The previous
rulers Of SantO Domingo had recklessly incurred
debts and owing TO her internal disorders she
had ceased TO be able TO provide means OF pay
ing the debts. The patience of her foreign
o-g5;+,re had hacOpea Avbaustad laasr
one foreign nation was on the point Of interven-
ton and was only prevented from intervening
by the unofficial assurance of this government
that it would itself strive to help Santo Do
mingo in her hour of need OF the debts incurred
some were just. while some were not of char
acter which really renders II obligatory on,
proper for. Santo Domingo to pay them in full.
But she could not pay any of them az all unless
some stability was assured
COLLECTION OF THE REVENUES
Accordingly the Executive Department Of our
government negotiated treaty under which
We to try TO help the Dominican people to
straighten their finances. This treaty is
pending before the Senate, whose consent 20
it is necessary. In the mean time we have made
temporary arrangement which will last until
the Senate has had time to take action upon
the treaty. Under this arrangement we see 10
the honest administration Of the custom houses,
collecting the revenues, turning over 4b per
cent To the government for running expenses
and putting the other 55 per cent into safe
deposit for equitable division among the vari-
Gus creditors. whether European or American,
accordingly as, after investigation their claims
seem just
The custom houses offer wellnigh the only
sources Of revenue in Santo Domingo. and the
different revolutions usually have as their real
aim the obtaining possession OF these custom
houses The mere fact that We are protecting
the custom houses and collecting the revenue
with efficiency and honesty has completely dis
couraged all revolutionary movement while IL
has already produced such an increase IN the
revenues that the government is actually getting
n1ora from the 45 per cent that We turn over TO
n than il got formerly when II took the entire
revenue.
This is enabling the poor harassed people OF
SaDto Domiugo once more 70 turn their attsn-
tioD 10 Industry and to be free from the curse
81 irterTninable revolutionary disturbance II
ofsars IN all bona fide creditors American and
Furopean the only really good chance TO obtain
that 10 which they are justly entitled, while IL
a, return gives TO Santo Domingo the oniy
orrortunfty OF defence against claims which II
o,,,ht not TO pay--for IL II meets the views
~ the Senate we shall ourselves thoroughly ex-
anime all these claims. whether American or
foreign and see that none that are improper are
raid Indeed. the only effective opposition 10