The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-27
ISLE or PrNEs TROUBLES.
Complaints which May Cause . Senatorial
investigation.

WASHINGTON, March 2o.-The Morgan reso-
luton providing for an Investigation OF 'he
political conditions existing on the Isle oi
Pines Ia based on numerous compialnts &c
ceived from American settlers on the isiaho'
One OF the most serious OF these coulpiaihte
ia In regard to the alleged Ill treatment Oh A.
Il, Moerke. a citizen Of Iowa. VINO asserts
that he went to the island on the assurances
ofthe War Department that II was and woGlo
remain American territory" Moerke opened
a general store and paid the Cuban tax or
license fee up to July / 1905, when IL was IN
creased by 30 per cent. on account Oh 'ne
bonds issued to pay the Cuban army hoerAe
says, in a letter to Mr.. Morgan:
Il refused to pay any Part of the same. as my un:
Outstanding is that General Wood had o oisuno'
understanding with the Cuban Government that inc
Isle Of Pines should remain as q DO Idefo govern
ment until the United States took charge OF same.
In fact, maintain that under the Platt Amendment
and under the Cuban Constitution they nave no
rights on the island"
Moerke's refusal to pay the tax did not re-
suit in his losing the job OF postmaster az
Columbia under the Cuban Government put
on the morning Of February 81 hve rural
guards went to his shop, In which the posi-
office was, and demanded a 500 bond lot MS
appearance before the Cuban Magistrate at
Nueva Corona. He refused to give the bona
and was arrested. the guard promising. now
ever, to get him back FROM Nueva Corona IN
time to attend to the mail which was due In
the afternoon. When Moerke was a~rraigned De-
fore the Magistrate this dialogue occurred;
The Judge-Do you recognize my authority a.
Judge OF the Isle OF Pinesl
Mr.. Moerke-Under the circumstances and pres-
ent status OF the Isle OF Pines I do not CONSIDER
that you have any legal status on this island.
On receiving this answer the Judge be-
came furious" and sentenced Moerke to pay
a fine OF 500 or suffer imprisonment FOR 100
DAYS for contempt of court. Moerke refus-
ing to pay, the Judge cut the penalty In half
and sentenced him to jail for fifty days. After
his incarceration six rural guards searched
Moerke's house and shop. and IL Is alleged
that they removed considerable property.
some Of which belonged to Mrs. Moerke.
Moerke appealed for adviceto the Postmaster
General, but received no reply from him.
Another case Is that Of James VI. Steere.
once a Republican State committeeman In
Florida, who had the misfortune TO be APP
pointed custodian for certain goods seized
by the Cuban court on the Island. When
the goods were TO be delivered to the Cuban
Government Steere demanded the rent due
for storage. amounting to sl0.So. Being
promised payment "manana." he delivered
one lot of the goods. but refused to deliver
another until the money was paid. For this
he was arrested on a charge OF malversion OF
public property. Later he turned the goods
In question over to the court. Oh the Judges
promise to see that the stora GO charges were
paid. However, Steere's prosecution was
not discontinued, and he got word that he
was to be taken to Havana. tried and SEN
fenced to Jail for six years. He has not been
m al aithar