New-York tribune., 1909-12-20
SPAIN'S BAD MOVE
San Sebastian to Become an
other Monte Carlo.


King Alfonso has so many well-wishers
I'm this country, people who have watched
HIS career from infancy to manhood with
sympathetic interest that IL is a pity that
no official denial should be given TO the
story according to which the Spanish gov
ernment has definitely concluded the negO-
tfatiOns granting to a syndicate OF foreign
fnanciers a concession to erect a large
public gambling establishment at San Sc
bastian. on lines almost identical with that
or Monte Carlo The syndicate Is 70 pay
a rent OF 100000 year for its privileges.
and in addition thereto a considerable per
centage OF it's profits are to be turned into
the Spanish treasury. Roulete and trente-
et-quarante are to be the principal games.
and with the prospect OF the opening OF
the casino in the spring Of 1911 several
hotel companies are paying large prices
for the neighbcring land In view OF this
latter fact it is 10 be feared that the story
cannot be denied. and that the negotiations
which on former occasion were blocked
by the Queen Mother. Christina. have at
length proved successful
This is all the more to be regretted as
San Sebastian owes most of it's importance
and its vogue, both in Spain and abroad.
TO the fact that II is the favorits summer
residence OF the royal family and the cen
tire of court life during considerable pOr-
tion Of the year. That san Sebastian
should. therefore. become a second Monte
Carlo and that a great temple OF roulette
and trente-et-quarante. attracting the well
dressed scum OF the civilized world. should
be In full operation within a stones throw
Of the summer homes OF the two Queens
and Of the young King. will convey the i'm
ressiOn that Alfonso is a cOnsenting party
TO the transaction. and will place him n
the eyes OF many in the same UnsavOry
category as the odious Prince OF Monaco.
That the Spanish government occasionally
takes the bit between its teeth and runs
counter to the wishes OF the monarch. in
voking the written and unwritten law OF
the constitution TO induce him 20 yield 20
its views. is matter of common knOwl-
edge. There is no doubt that If he were
to take on himself. constitution or no con.
stitution, to annul the concession for the
conversion OF his summer residence into a
second Monte Carlo he would receive the
Endorsement OF all the best ard most repu-
table element. both in his own dominiOns
and abroad.
The cOncessiOnaires include NJ. Narquet
who has achieved much unpleasant nOtOri-
ETY. in connection with his gaming estab-
lishments at OsteEd and his differences with
the Belgian government in relation thereto.
When some months ago il was announced
that he had secured an interest In the
Monte Carlo business there was a con-
siderable Outcry among the steady patrons
of that place. since they feared that he
would succeed in introducing there the
manOeuvres which excited so much indig-
nation at Ostend among the frequenters
Of his place there That NJ Marquet should
EeVr
at San Sebastian may be taken 70 mean
that the new gambling establishment there
will not even be able TO furnish its Gus
toners with the guarantee OF fairness
which was until recently the one saving
grace OF that plague spot OF Southern
Europe. namely, Monte Carlo
OF course. il may be said in excuse for
the Spanish government that it is terribly
in need Of money. The treasury IS called
on TO face all sorts OF expenses for which
there are no funds, even on paper and the
estimated revenue does not represent any
thing like the real figures since the people
are so everburdened with imposts and so
impoverished that taxation remains To a
great extent unpaid. No more striking
illustration of the condition OF affairs can
be furnished than the fact that the interest
OF the national debt alone represents a tax
VI - ~ Hcdu LOF every man. woman and
child in the kingdom this being entirely
independent OF the impOsts needed to defray
the cost of the army and navy and Of the
government administration To all this
must be added the heavy cost OF the recent
military operations at MelfIla, where some
thing like 5000 or 1000 troops have been
engaged against the MOors
Old Blanc and his syndicate OF profes-
sional gamblers and crOupiers not only
extricated Monaco and its reignins house
from debt, but also relieved the population
from the necessity of any further payment
of taxes. defraying all the expenses OF the
maintenance OF the reigning house. OF the
administration of the principality. of public
roads. public buildings. public works pub-
lie instruction and even OF the Church. bv
means of the ill-gotten profits derived from
the gambling tables. of course. such a
prospect as this is in some respects invit-
ing TO the tax-ridden, bt-burdened peouIa
of Spain. But pecuniary advantages OF
this nature always carry with them an
uncanny blight and a number OF the
smaller countries of Europe among them
the tiny Republic of San Marfno. have ALI
turned a deaf ear to temptations OF this
character; and II would be a source OF
lasting regret II nation with so gIOriOus
and chivalrOus a past. and with so hopeful
a future as Spain. a country with enormous
resources still latent and undeveIOped. were
10 sucCumb thereto.