The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-02-04
Against the Isle Of Pines
Treaty Amendments.

Pines over 10 CUBAN authority ana
government.
The recent uprising of American
citizens in that island-Americans
whose money and enterprise have
made the island what it is to-day
served TO bring to :Ae attention of the
whole country SONS idea of the condi-
lions under which American enter
prise there is laboring, but it is doubt
full if many people fully realize what
wrong will be committed if the pres
ent de facto Cuban rule is allowed to
become permanent.
In connection with this phase of
the situation, Edward p. Ryan, dele
gate of the American people on the
Isle or Pines 10 Washington, has al
dressed to congress the following APP
peal and protest which is worthy of
a careful perusal by everyone who
wants the facts in the case. Delegate
Ryan says:
1t has come to my knowledge that
representations are being made from
Cuban sources to the effect that there
is comparatively a small number Of
American property owners on the Isle
OF Pines who have their titles TO land
recorded according to the old Spanish
laws now in vogue in that Island un
Ger its present alleged de factO Cuban
government This allegation. even if
II be true. would be of comparatively
little importance because it in no wise
indicates how many Americans have
bona fide holdings Of real estate in
the Island for which they paid their
cash.
Few Americans are willing to pay
eXhorbltant sums TO have. their land
titles recorded under the old Spanish
system. They believe, under Ameri-
can law, that contracts for deeds. or
other uhrecOrded instruments convey
ing title, would serve as ample secur-
fty until such time as the prevailing
laws under American authority could
be brought to some degree of simple
ity and the fees of recording titles
could be reduced to figures some
where near commensurate to the ser
vices rendered.
1t costs the people of the Isle of Pines
from $4,000 to $4,000 to record an or.
binary real estate title under the pres
ent laws in force. In the United
States warranty deeds could be re
corded for two or three dollars, con
veying a guaranteed title. 1t costs
hundreds of dollars TO record some /!
deeds under Cuban laws, and there
are instances where in small holdings
II would cost more to record the deed /
than to purchase the property.
We can produce the names of at /
least two thousand American citizens /
Who own property in the Isle of Pines /
We challange any one to produce /
the names of one hundred actual Gu /
ban citizens who now own property /
on the Isle of pines no matter what /
the Cuban official record of deeds may
show. |
PropOrtionately nine-tenths of the
real estate OF the island is owned by
citizens.
This comparatively large purchase
Of property was due to the assurances
Of officials Of the War Department that
the Isle of Pines would be retained .
under American Jurisdiction These
assurances were made often and to I
many people. who either had pur-
chased or were intending to purchase
real estate in. the island / would
venture the assertion that without
such assurance not a dozen OF the
now living there could have
Teen induced TO give up their homes
IN the states and go to the Isle of
Pines. even as prOspectUrs under sal
ary. much less take the risk of invest
in property which they knew would
be subject to Cuban jurisdiction.
Ii is quite generally understood now
that argument is being advanced 70
the effect that the Isle of Pines should
be coded to Cuba by the pending
treaty so amended by provisions and
that American interests
would be protected on the island
desire. as the chosen representative
Of the American citizens on the Isle of
Pines, to enter my most earnest and
emphatic protest against any such
pan.
As I understand the scheme pro-
posed by Cubans. it includes the adj
of the island as a colony
d Cuba after its cession to Cuba in
he pending treaty, on the part Of the
United States. Such a plan would be
In utter failure and would operate to
out" pretty nearly all the
American property holders on the
sland
We could not have anything to say I
rhatever, about our government as a
,clony of Cuba or as part of Cuba,
lnless we Tenounee our American I
which very few if any I
# us. would be willing to do. We !
,Ould not vote without first swearing !
allegiance to Cuba. We would. then be
subject entirely TO the caprice of Gu !
ian officials. Our experiences during
he past three years with them, in !
rite of the fact that they dia' not !
ave any right under constitutional Z
aw 10 rule over us. have been such as !
q prove to us, beyond even a reason ,
bic doubt. that We would be subjected \
o all sorts Of devices and schemes for /
he eXtOrtiOn of money, some or all of I
7hich might never be RENTED to 2
ither the insular or the Cuban treas
ry, and which certainly would not be
expended for the improvement or
enefit of the island. should we pass !
rrevOcably under Cuban rule. We be- G
eve that il would be a grating gov 4