The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-10

thlng, when revolution starts, Is to seize
a custom house-to get control of port.
mat Is the nucleus, the source Of supplies.
| With the United States in control Of all the
/ ports no attempt to seize one Of them
is likely TO be made. Besides, there is no
armed force anywhere In the country that
| know Of"
You spoke about the elimination of graft
from the ports on the north coast that are
rivals to Puerto Plata, the port you have
been administering; just what do you mean
! by that?' Judge Abbott was asked
1 mean this, he replied. Since the
port OF Puerto Plata has been admins
tered under the arbitral agreement of July
IA, 1904. IL has been administered strictly
in accordance with Dominican law. This
has resulted in an increase Of the customs
revenue for the same volume Of imports
and exports, amounting TO fully 80 1-3 per
cent. more than when the port was adj
ministered by the Dominicans and to a GER
tain extent irrespective of Dominican law.
In other words, the elimination of graft
has increased by about one-third the reye-
nue. from business transacted. Now the
other north shore ports, Sanchez Monte
Crsti and SANTANA have been admins
tered according TO the old regime OF
grating. Importers, through the grating
system were able to dodge the law in many
ways and TO reduce their customs EXPENSE
The consequence is that when those who
were in the Puerto Plata territory found
that the law was enforced at that port they
diverted their imports to Sanchez, Monte
Cristi and SANTANA This has reduced
the business done at Puerto Plata by
very considerable percents &c. In Novem-
Dor the customs receipts of Puerto Plata
we're, in round numbers. 600, in Deem
Der $1,000 and in January $4,000.
Legitimately the receipts OF Puerto Plata
ought to be fully $4,000 month"
But since the American Government
took possession OF all the Dominican ports
save Puerto Plata. under the protocol Of
Jan. 20 is there not a change in this respect
and is not Puerto Plata getting the business
legitimately due TO it?' Judge Abbott
was asked.
Not as yet he replied. There has
not been time. You sec, the protocol was
not signed until the Goth. That only gave
about ten days 70 prepare, for the ports
were turned over on Feb. 1t was irnpos-
sibie 10 make changes in custom houses
IN so short an interval The Domn-
lean employees there had to lie retained
because there was no one 10 take their
places SO the old routine must go on until
the changes can he made in methods Of
doing business and in the personnel OF the
force. The change in the personnel can
not be made on the spur Of moment.
II is case CT lack OF material.
i spoke OF grating but | ought. per
haps. 10 add that good many Of the Do
.ninican customs officials probably do net
themselves know what the Dominican
laws are. The merchants know what
those laws are, however. and arc in a posi-
ton to take advantage Of Official ignorance
o them If they choose TO do so. At Puerto
Plata the importing merchants not only
found that tho laws we're fully known but
that theYpwere enforced. have no doub.
that under our administration of the other
ports the laws will be enforced in them as
we'll Then Puerto Plata will get the bust
ness that legtimately belongs to 1t.
Now, ns TO the validity or invalidity Of
the protocol with or without ratification BY
our Senate or the Dominican Congress or
both, l have no opinion whatever to express.
All do is 10 state the facts. which are that
| have been administering the Tort Of
Puerto Plata "a representing the United
States under the arbitral award Of July IL.
looi; that under tho Dillingham; Dawson
protocol Of Jan, 20, 1905. Minister Dawson
on Feb ] took charge Of g.. 20 Dominican
ports save Puerto Plata and Monte Cristi.
and that on Feb. negotiations for taking
Monte Cristl "a well we're in progress.
that there was newspaper discussion Of
the validity Of the protocol and that the
protocol is evtraneous TO the arhitral agree
ment under which | was acting. Those
are the facts. and beyond tho facts l have
no comments or opinions 10 offer
AS to the discussions in the Dominican
newspapers concerning the validity Of the
original protocol they We're in the form
Of anonymous communications; were
written over noIus dc plume, But Of course
the Government knew tho real names Of
the authors The law down there requires
that the real names OF those who write in
the newspapers over mons dc plume be
turned in 10 the Government