The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-05-14
Concessions to Express
Companies AnnuIled.
AnTl-AMERlcAN SENTIMENT
Exports No Longer May Be Withdrawn
in Bond From Customs House.
President to Be Appealed To.

the United States doing business in
Cuba win appear In Washington to en-
ter most emphatic protest against the
anRuiment of the concessions given
them by Governor General Brooke dur
ing the American occupancy.
AT the beginning of the American
Government Intervention, there were no
express companies in Cuba, To secure
the necessary and highly important de-
yelopment Of an express business, Cen
eral Brooke gave to the express COM
panIes the privilege of withdrawing
goods in bond from the custom houses,
thus materially expediting the handling
of commerce between the United States
and Cuba
Big Express Business.
This advantage was seized upon by
the large majority OF the American ex-
porters. AT the present time. the bulk
OF American exports to Cuba go through
the express companies.
On Saturday, May 6, Collector Des-
paigne, of the port of Havana issued a
peremptory order of forty-eight hours
notice. that is. from Saturday TO Mon
day. annulling this privilege. Naturally,
the express companies were up in arms
declaring that this summary procedure
would not only practically destroy their
business but would seriously curtail the
volume OF American exports to Cuba.
They further contended that this
abrogation was a direct violation of
Article " of the Plat amendment, as
follows:
All acts OF the United States. real
lied IN Cuba during the military occu-
patton, shall be ratified and held valid,
and all rights legally acquired by vir-
tue Of these acts. sb1ll be maintained
and projected
1t should be understood that any or
der OF the military governor of Cuba
had all the effect OF law, and thus pro-
: teeted by the Platt amendment, became
absolutely binding upon the Cuban
government. Consul General Steinhart
supports the contention of the express
companies and his report on the matter
Ii on its way to Washington.
Export Statistics.
American exports TO Cuba, according
to the message of President Palma TO
the Cuban congress- Increased from 40ls
per cent, IN 1865, To 421a per cent IN
1904 the first year under reciprocity
The figures published by the United
States Bureau of Statistics show a much
larger increase.
The discrepancy is accounted for.
proba bly,. by the inclusion in the bureau
report Of the export TO Cuba of many
millions in gold. the proceeds of the Gu
ban bond sale in the United States
President PalTna's figures are correct
and strfkingly disappointing TO Ameri-
can interests. considering that the re-
duetion in the Cuban tariff on Amer:-
can goods ranges from 20 to 10 per cent.
II is feared that the action OF the
Cuban customs officials in abrogatfng
the express companies. privilege will
more than wipe out the slight gain in
american imports, and give a most Sc
rious setback to American trade with
Cuba. PROMPT ana energetic actor. on
part Of the American Government to
maintain the legal right OF the express
companies Is expected
ihis favorable action is in sense
foreeasted by the peremptory move Of
President Roosevelt. which appears in
the State Department note of March 10
TO the Cuban government. relative to
the sanitation of Cuban cities.
Provisions of Treaty.
It will be remembered that Article
sof the Piatt ana 9ndlnent. embodied in
the permanent treaty nxing the mutual
relations OF cuba and lie United States.
IS as follows
The government of Cuba shall carry
out, and. so far as necessary, amplify
she plans already drawn up. or others to
De mutually agreed upon. for the santa
ton Of The cities ard towns Of the ISL
and, with q view 70 preventing d recllr
Fence OF epidenlics ana infectious dis
eases, thereby protecting the people and
the commerce Of Cuba at the same time
That the commerce and people OF the
southern ports OF the United States ara
safeguarded'
The State Department note calls at
tention in emphatic language TO the
obvious fact that the Cuban govern
ment has no option IN the matter. and
is bound by its constitution to carry
out the plans and contracts fully bre-
pared ana entered into by the military
government.
Though the Cuban republic has been
IL full operation since May 20. 1852 al
most three years ago, this paragraph OF
the Platt amendment has been permit +
ted TO remain dead letter. despite the
fact that the Cuban government has a I
treasury balance 10 its credit of many !
millions of dollars. and has ample /
revenues for the purpose.
Cuban Sanitation.
The Cuban congress passed the neces-
sary measure Of appropriation for the
sanitation Of Cuban cities the last week /
In April This bill was vetoed by Fresi- +
dent Palma on May 5
Herein lies an interesting side light
on Cuban politics. The bill passed by +
the congress placed the disbursement of t
the sanitation funds In the hands OF the
municipal authorities. president Palma's
reason for vetoing the measure as
given in his message 60 Congress. was
that the disbursement ana control of
these funds should remain III the hands +
of the federal government
The real reason OF the veto is said 10 {
have been his fear that If the munich
paifties were permitted to disburse the
funds they would be used to strengthen /
the anti-Palnla political machine. while +
If his administration were permitted To
control the disbursement he could build
up and strengthen his own machine /
which is now being worked with all the /
skill of astute politicians In favor Of his I
reelection.
It is unfortunate that at the present I
skxzsa President p5 lima ebntUs Sfpaf4e