Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-10-23
People There Want An Ameri-
Can Government and They
Want II Badly.
POPULATION AND PROPERTY
ALIKE ARE ALL AMERICAN
Congress viii Be Asked to Decide
This Winter Whether Island Be-
longs to Cuba or Us.

Havana, Oct. 23.-With the crum-
bling of the Palma government new
turn was given to the ever pictures
que Cuban administration of the Isle
of Pines This happened when the
alcalda, or mayor was removed and
a lieutenant of the rural guards was
made the chief officer of the territory.
He was governor, mayor and emperor
in all that concerned the population
of the island, which is almost wholly
American, and he was the guardian
of the property interests. amounting
to many millions of dollars. Aside
from Americans the inhabitants in
clude only officials and a small num-
ber of native laborers.
To secure more up to date form
of government the Americans on the
island appealed to Taft and Magoon.
They asked that the United States
settle the existing dispute as to the
ownership of the island by taking pos
session of it. If that could not be
done, they requested government
having at least some suggestion of
good order and justice.
The island is about thirty by forty
miles in dimension. Ii is rich in nat
II
Cuba-95 per cent of the lands is
owned by Americans.
Members of the island commission
who came over to confer with the pro-
visional government stated that the
investments of Americans on the isl
and exceeded s25,000,000 in value.
Tney said the population in summer
was about 700 and in winter nearly
1000. They made the point, too, that
many other Americans are interested
as property owners and that they will
go to the island and develop their
lands as soon as they are assured the
benefits of good government.
According to these men, Cuba has
treated the island very much as Spain
formerly treated Cuba. Heavy taxes
have been levied and the money has
gone into the national treasury A
large and expensive force of Office
holders was saddled on the island. No
improvements were made. Official
power was exercised in an arbitrary
and unjust manner.
Cases of oppression cited by the ISL
anders included that of an American
who filled a rut in the road in front
of his property and was arrested for
trespassing on public domain. They
said $4,000 was appropriated for the
education of the few children on the
island. There were four schools. One
teacher was said to average from one
10 three children, but the others had
somewhat larger attendance. Ameri-
cans VINO sought to take census of
the island were placed under arrest.
An attempt was made this year to
raise one mans tax from $45 to $500.
Repeated aud forceful protests on his
part led to the cancellation of tLe pro-
posed increase. 1t is charged that ex-
Crbitant fees have been exacted by Of
icials and that the tax laws have
been construed unfairly to the proper
~ owners in order to produce the
largest possible amount of revenue.
Cuba administered government in
this small community at a cost of $37,-
UUv year Some of the officials and
the salaries they received per month
wer: Mayor $l75, captain of the port
S1U0 and four clerks at $50, $54, and
$50, doctor of the post $50, secretary
10 the mayor $40, treasurer S45, as
Sistant treasurer So, special policeman
Tor mayor S25, two other policemen
$40 each, judge $3.50, secretary 500,
stenographer 500, interpreter SbU,
one deputy at $50, and two others at
$3S each. All of this in a community
of less than 1900 people.
Congress will be asked this winter
10 decide the question whether the isl
and belongs TO Cuba or to the United
states. Three years ago President
Roosevelt submitted to the senate a
treaty giving full title to the island
10 Cuba It was negotiated on the
ground that both politically and geo
graphically the island is properly n
part of Cuba. The senate, as the re-
suit of vigorous movement of opposi.
tion on the part of the islanders under
the leadership of Major ]. e. Runcie.
has refrained from ratifying the
treaty.
It is contended by the islanders that
the treaty of Paris ceded to the
United States the Isle of Pines Just as
1t did Porto Rico They claim that
Mckinley, Hay and the war depart
ment recognized the island as a part
Of the United States. 1t was included
in the large map of the United States
issued by the interior department. The
treasury department in customs de
cision ruled that the island was not
part Of Cuba. The Plat amendment
in 1892 held out the question of the
sovereignty of the island for settle
ment by congress at some future time
Military Governor Wood was ordered
20 continue the military government
In the Isle of Pines when he left Cuba
but he did not do so and control Of
the island lapsed TO Cuba
Now the Cubans insist upon holding
d. The administration feels that it
righttully belongs 10 Cuba. Under the
heilef. however, that il belongs to the
United States Americans have bought
and settled the island and they urge
congress 90 give them American gov
Crlment
Metal Market.
eW Work. Oct 23-COpner and