The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-11
We TAKE OYER MONTE CRISTI
1UT custom HOUSE THERE NOW
~ Our POSSESSION.

,cctions at Puerto Plata We're More
rnon sunIclrnt 20 Meet That Award.
W.surSGroN. Feb Announcement
snade to-day that under an arrangement
md. ,y Rear Admiral Charles D. Sigsbee,
commanding the Caribbean squadron, the
TnitaJ states Government had taken charge
~ tho custom house at Monte Cristi, Santo
Dom.azo Tho explanatory statement was
added ,ha, this action was taken under
,lo torn. of the arbitral award rendered
rlv - 1904. and not under the terms OF
,to DMtrsham-Sanohez protocol Of Jan.
., 1915 which the Administration pre-
,i,u.ly announced had been rejected.
The transfer Of the Monte Cristi Gus
,,r, h..-e to the United States Govern
,,en, - # particular interest. in view OF
tho statement made in THE SUN to-day by
hJra J3ln r Abbott the United States
financial agent at Puerto Plata, that the
c,.,or- receipts there for November.
Dscs-oser and January were s45 coo, $5l 900
and 5000. respectively No question has
arisen A. 10 the right OF this Government
10 the possession Of the Puerto Plata Gus
tom hou-e under {, arbitral award OF
I,lv "A 1901 but it may now be asked why
,pe Monte Crist custom house was also
transferred to American authority when
tbe receipts at Puerto Plata were sufficient
10 meet the monthly payments to the United
states fixed by the arbitrator.
The decree Of the arbitrators directed that
the principal and interest due the Unite
states for the benefit of the San Domingo
Enforcement Company Of New York and
i,s assoeintp organizations should be paid
in monthly ns.allments Of s37 500 each FOR
the first two years and Sal 6o6 monthly there
after. This two year period will not expire
until Sept l. 1898 II was provided that
II the Dominican Government failed to
pay the sum due in any month the American
financial agent should have power and
authority to take possession Of the custom
house at Puerto Plata.
In accordance with this rrovison, Finan-
cial Agent Abbott assumed charge OF the
Puerto Plata customs, as he had the right
10 do. The arbitrators further provided
that in case the sums collected at Puerto
Plata should be at any time insufficient TO
meet tho required monthly payments.
-or in case of other manifest necessity, or
II the Dominican Government shall so re-
qulre the American financial agent should
be empowered 10 exercise at the sanchez
SANTANA and Monte Crisu custom houses
and any custom houses within certain
limited area the same rights as we're given
with reference 10 Puerto Plata.
Judge Abbott said in THE suS interview
that more than s3L5oo had been collected
each month during November, December
fa1,t. r., -
tive slater ats, Judge Abbott's among them,
iAat all custom houses in Santo Domingo
are now in the possession Of the United
States, and accepting as true the Govern
ments admission that Monte Cristi is the
only port 10 addition to Puerto Plata whose
customs are controlled by the United States,
why therefore. it is asked here, is it neces-
sary 10 administer the Monte Cristi GUS
toms when the collections at Puerto Plata
are more than sufficient TO meet the terms
OF tho aTbitral award
The only official explanation is con-
tanned In a statement given out this evening
by Commander Albert c. Dillin CHAM. who
returned here to-day from Santo Domingo,
tAat the Monte Cristi custom house was
taken over by the United States with the
Commander Dilliugham's statement was
backed up by officials having authority to
speak for the Administration with the asser-
ton that the transfer OF Monte Cristi to
American control was done under the
terms Of the aroitral award and not under
either the protocol of Jan. 20 or the new
protocol which is 10 be submitted TO the
Senate for ratification. No explanation
was forthcoming. however, of the reason
for taking over the Monte Cristi customs
when the receipts at Puerto Plata were
slaicien, o meet the payments fixed by the
arh.tntors.
All money collected at Dominican Gus
tom houses under the arbitral award
must BE- turned over to the Dominican
Government after s37, 800 had been deducted
70 pay the claims Of American citizens,
ana not one penny of it can be used to
liquieate the Indebtedness Of foreign credi-
tors II Is apparent, therefore. accepting
Ju1ge Abbott's figures as correct. that this
Government has taken charge Of second
custom house when the first furnished
more than enough revenue TO meet the
terms Of the arbiral award under which the
Government claims it is operating. For
WHOSE i"ntht the extra money u TO De used
or applied has not been disclosed
"AAe Sla,e Department officials were
not wiling to he quoted with reference
u Judge Abpotts remarks. they had
Commander Dillingham; prepare the fol-
loving statement which was given to the
pres
keferring 10 the article on Santo Do
inngo IN to-day's ISSUE Of The NEW YORK
Sun ]. having just returned from Santo
Domingo. am In a position TO deny the
statement made by Judge Abbott that the
custom houses Of Santo Domingo we're
taken over by United States authorities
On FEB / OF 2 under the preliminary Dill
nnghNn-Sanchez protocol Of Jan. 20, or
NAT they had been taken over on the 9Th
The day ! left Santo Domingo. and have
POSITIVE information that they have not
been taken over since.
Judge Abbott left Santo Domingo two days
heiore lii No action whatever has been
takel hy the United States authorities
under ne protocol OF Jan 20 The only
custom house now occupied by the United
h'ai"- is hat of Puerto Plata which was
lahrn possession Of under the terms Of the
AVIAN i0 the arbitration case OF the San
D}m.r ~ Improvement Company of July
winch wis done some weeks ago, and
lhat Of Monte Crisu. viii h / am informed
- 'aNan over pcaceIbly to-day without
i1eu3n aHd with the consent Of the Domin-
IeHl Government
Inc statement Of Commander Diling-
dH That The custom house at Monte
ei4,N vas taken over By the United
S'4ie' With lie consent Of the Dominican
'f''NiHrnt ls particularly interesting.