Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-31
HEADS Topped OFF
MAGOON MAKES MANY CHANGES
IN CUBA.
Cuban People Ignorant of the Real
Conditions-May Blame
This Country.

dispatch from Havana says: Cuba s
| congressional establishment looks like the
Prado after the hurricane struck it, leav-
! ing six trees standing out of a Thousand
| The cyclone of reform hit the house and
senate yesterday leaving twenty employees
out of ia in office. The cause of the storm
| was Major Ladd's report that the treasury
faces a prospective deficit of many millions.
| Its center is now over the government de-
partments, and if Governor Magoon keeps
on there will not be enough officials left in
them to start another revolution.
Governor Magoon thinks he has begun
fairly well in cutting the senate employees
from fcrty-eight to ten and the house en-
ployes from siXty-six to the same number,
net saving of more than 100000.
Major Laid is still probing into the
treasury's affairs and finds the total bonded
Indebtedness of the island $4SO71 Goo. This
is made up of s. 900 junta bonds, $685.
005,Oc0 army bonds Qirst half and So 500
G'S army bonds Second half, the first half
known as the Speyer loan, of which the
Cuban government bought S1,001,0Oo, and
which Major Ladd has found were right
fully included in the governments general
assets Interest on the junta bonds and
the second half army bonds are provided
for in the budget. Interest on the Speyer
lean is more than met by internal taxes,
which are not likely to decrease, SO Cuba s
bonded Indebtedness is cared for and calls
fc1 no special economy.
Where Cut Must Come.
1t is special appropriations for public
works, railroad subsidies and extravagant
improvements in road districts that will be
cut off and unnecessary clerical help in
the public service dispensed with to leave
balance in the treasury. When We Ameri-
cans go away the difficulty in doing it is
to appoint 1900 liberals to 5000 moderates
places that must be reduced to 1900 and
yet prevent both sides from starting a
revolution.
No one doubts that Cuba will in time re-
cover from the cost and effects of her last
revolution, but that it will take time is
clear from an exhaustive study of her
finances and careful computations made in
conjunction with her best informed treas
ury officials.
The Cubans are fond of saying that at
the end of the former occupation the
Americans went away leaving them more
than two millions of debts and in the
treasury only SGG0,G00 which they could
find. With their marvellous prosperitv dur-
ing the four years between Intervention.
and the very large sum, more than 81 200
GJ0, found on hand by the returning Aneri-
cans, 1t will be only natural for them to
make worse accuse tons if thew succeed to
ar empty treasury and a deficit. What the
situation is realized it will be impossible
to convince them that the Americans are
not 10 Diane.
Receipts Have Fallen,
Ihey nave no conception of the black
ness or the outlook, for which they alone
are responsible. It's early revelation NAV
help TO make them see that the actual
cost OF revolution is not confined to the
money paid out to put it down, nor to
the sum charged by the assignee Uncle
sam. for temporarily administering the
Cuba could easily pay If revolutions did
not have other results. One is the re-
duct1on OF revenue receipts, and it Is here
that the cost has come that may leave a
burden on an unsuspecting people. Add to
this legaliZed expenses of governmental
machinery, unacceptable and extravagant
beyond belief. and other special appropria-
lions that approach prostitution OF p11hlic
funds. and it is clear that the unwilling
American administrators are not charge
able with the predicament into which
Cuba has, by her own conduct Of her af-
fairs, allowed herself to drift.
1t is the Americans who have now to
wrestle with the problem of making fad
ing revenues meet enormous fixed expendi-
to lessen. Their only hope is that here
and there they can prevent expenditure Of
appropriations, and that revenue receipts,
through confidence in their presence, may
increase. The first is difficult because the
budget must be followed or there will be
the possibility of a charge that the Ameri-
cans are interfering in the affairs of Cuba
beyond the limit set by President Roose-
welt, which was that of simple administra-
ton under the islands laws. The an
nounced intention Of early withdrawal
by the Americans makes any substantial
increase in revenue probematical. Yet
something must be done, whatever Is said
hereafter in thankfulness or ingratitude.
Forced Rebels to Dispense.
Major Theodore P. Kane. commander Of
the mariners stationed at Ctenfuegos. has
sent in a report to the effect that on Oc-
tober 81 he was informed that a serious
uprising was on foot. He at once posted
strong guards at the entrances to the city.
with orders not to permit armed persons
to pass in or out. He then went recon-
noitering and in the town Of Caunnao,
four miles to the northeast, he found Col.
Toledo at the head Of mounted and UNI
armed body of hundred former insur-
gents.
Toledo said he had organized for the
nurpose Of resisting threatened attack
by the moderates Major Kane explained
that these fears were unfounded and ad-
yised Col. Toledo to disband his men ana
send them back to their homes. This ad-
vice was followed. similar gathering
near Sancti Spiritus also was dispersed.
From Matanzas come further complaints
Of the threatening attitude Of bands Of
armed negroes in that vicinity, but no
overt acts have been committed