The Washington times., 1906-05-20
THE VESUVIJ-S PLAYS

IL
THE VESUVICS PLAYS.
The banana republic Of Costaragla
has. practically. two capitals. The one
officially recognized is San Mateo. sew
enty miles in the Interior. But, during
the hot season. from May 70 October.
the entire administration removes to
Puerto Rey, whore the sea breeze rem
ders the pursuit Of business and pleas
uTe possible. Custom had so estab-
hshed this annual hegira OF the ex-
ecutlve that a commodious government
building had been erected on the beach
al Puerto Rey FOR the use Of the pres
ident and his Official family during
their sOJourn. Thus Puerto Rey claim
ed, with reason. equal honor with San
Mateo as capital Of the republic.
II is during this season that Puerto
Rey may actually be said 10 live. The
pleasure-loving people make II one
long holiday OF amusement and re-
Joicing- F1estas, bales. games, sea
bathing, professions, and small thea
ters contribute 10 their enjoyment.
The famous Swiss band Of forty
Pieces plays in the little Plaza NacionaI
every night, while the fourteen car
riages IN Puerto Rey circle in funeral
but complacent procession. Los Indios.
looking like prehistoric stone Idols.
come down from the mountains TO ped
die their handiwork in the streets The
people throng the sidewalks. chatter
ing. careless. happy stream OF buoyant
humanity. Preposterous children. with
the shortest OF ballet skirts. gilt wings
and grimy. bare legs, howl underfoot
among the effervescent crowds Epe-
Naf ffWwF l. h. -
party. on the 18th day OF May, attend
ed with ponnp, show and public demon
strations OF enthusiasm and delight.
But now, this year. though the mid
die Of May was almost come. the heart
of the people was not stirred 10
the customary Joyous preparation.
Throughout the entire republic there
seemed 20 be spirit OF silent discon-
tent The administration Of President
zarilla had made him far from a
popular idol Fresh taxes. fresh import
duties. and. more than all. his toler-
ance Of the outrageous oppression Of
the citizens by the military had render
him the most obnoxious President
since tDe despised Alforan. The ma
jorlty OF his own cabinet were out
OF Sympathy with him. The army.
which he courted by giving II license
10 tyrannize. had been his main. and,
thus far. adequate bulwark
Bat the most impolitic OF the admin
isjration's 8 moves had been when II an
tagonized the Vesuvius Fruit Company
OF New Orleans. an organization plying
twelve steamships. and with a cash
capital something larger than Costara-
gua's surplus and debt combined.
Naturally. an established concern ike
the Nesuvius would become irritated
at having a small. retail republic with
no rating at all attempt 10 squeeze IL
So. when the government proxies ap-
piled for subsidy .hey encountered a
polite refusal The president retail
ated by clapping an export duty OF
one real per bunch on bananas
thing unprecedented in fruit growing
countries But the VesuviUs Company
had built costly iron piers and wharves
at three points along the Costsra-
guam coast. The cOmPany's agents
had erected fine homes in the towns
where they had headquarters. and the
company had invested large sums in
banana plantations and timber lands
Of the republic. 1t would cost an i'm
mense sum IL Il should be compelled
TO move out. The selling Of bananas
from Vera Cruz 20 Trinidad was three
reals PeT bunch. This duty OF one
real would have fallen as a loss upon
the growers, but the Vesuvius seemed
to prefer Costaragusn fruit. and they
continued to buy IT. paying four reals
without murmur-
This apparent victory deceived his
excellencv. and he htngered for its
fruits. An cnlissary requested an in
terview with representative OF the
company The Nesuvius sent Mr.. Fran
zoni. d little. stout. cheerful man. al
ways whistliBE Verdi. Senor Ortiz.
secretary 10 the minister OF finance.
attempted the sandbagging In behalf
of Costaragua-
Senor Ortiz opened negotiations by
the announcement that the government
contemplated the building Of a rail-
road 10 skirt the alluvial coast lands
After touching upon the benefits such
an Improvement would confer upon
the interests of the Vesuvius. he
reached the definite suggestion that Il
contribution to the roads expense OF
10000 pesos would not be more than
an equivalent to benefits received.
Mr.. Franzoni denied any benefits
from the contemplation OF a road He
was authorized. however. to offer A
contribution of 500 to the contem-
plstors-
Did Senor Ortiz understand Mr..
Franzoni to mean five hundred thou
sand7