Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-23

forms of indebtedness. In 1908 various
claims for damages by German residents
were submitted 10 arbitration and sl96,534
was awarded. The government paid $96,OVo
on this award, but has refused to pay the
remainder The same year protocol was
established with the government of Italy,
recognizing an obligation of $1S3,l0o, on
which payment has also been refused. Inc
French Cable Company has a claim of
500 900 for damages. Several German citi-
zens have made various demands for large
amounts through their government, when
the Dominican authorities have rejected.
The financial situation of Sano Domingo
has thus become hopeless mess, while its
revenue amounting to about S2,V0OOO
year, chiefly from duties on imported goods,
have been stolen or wasted in extravaganza
by the president and his subordinate Of
f1cials. The European powers threaten TO
seize the custom houses and occupy the
principal ports of the island. When they
notified the United States Of their inten-
tions, President Roosevelt asked them TO
hold up while until he could see what he
could do for them and he sent to Santo
Domingo Commander Albert c. Dillingham;
of the navy, who, while stationed on his
ship at Santo Domingo, had become very
good friends with President Morales.
The Present Arrangement.
Commander Dillingham;, with Mr.. Daw-
son. the United States minister, negotiated
an agreement Some call it a "modus Vi
vendf' and others a treaty. under which
that government authorized the United
States to collect its customs revenues and
turn over 55 per cent of them to its cred
itors and As per cent to the minister or
finance for current expenses In the mean
time some sort of a tribunal should be es-
tablished to determine the justice of the
claims Col. George Cotton, collector OF
customs at Iloilo, Philippine Islands who
happened to be in the United States on
leave, was sent down to organize customs
i,~aI pvaI
of cruisers and gunbOats, was instructed TO
lie around the coast and see that things
went right.
The premature publication of the modus
vivendi before it could be submitted to the
Senate, provoked criticism and opposition
and the document has since been hung UP
in the Senate. But Col. Cotton and his as
sistants have remained in charge of the
revenues and have deposited 90 per cent OF
them regularly in the New York bank until
a fund of nearly 100000 has accumu-
lated.
Tbs arrangement has been exceedingly
unpopular among the subordinate oflclais
of the Dominican government, especially
because the opportunities to enrich them
selves from the customs collections nave
been entirely cut on Hysserlcal process process
have been made by them and other political
leaders to the President, and While they
have been endeavoring to excite the sym
pathy of the members of the United states
Senate, they have also been conspfring TO
overthrow the government Of President
Morales Admiral Bradford was instructed
to prevent revolution, to preserve the peace
and to prevent the importation of arms and
ammunition for revolutionary purposes He
boarded several incoming vessels and
seized quantities of munitions of war,
which, by the way were consigned 10
former customs officials and other subordl-
mates of the government These seizures
naturally provoked even stronger opposlsIon
to Morales and to the United States The
opposition centered around a politician
named Caceras, who was vice president,
and proposed to place himefn power.
Downfall Of Morales.
Admiral Bradford's vigorous operations
frightened American citizens in Santo Do
rningo. who persuaded Col Cotton to come
to Washington and recommend change
of policy Cotton was successful, and the
Secretary of the Navy ordered Admiral
Bradford to Culebra, our naval station
east of Porto Rico, with four OF his
vessels and two more were sent to Guam
tanarno Before receiving these orders,
however Admiral Bradford created great
excitement at Santo Domingo City by send
ing the sailors of his fleet ashore for exer-
else. The people thought he was going to
besiege hte city, when he had no intention