New-York tribune., 1909-12-25
ZEL1TAS SYSTEM.
Leli6d Tribute on IN IN Mic
0r0cuH.


Nanssus. pee 1S-Ths rnsgnirus. of IN.
psrsonsl sacrifice involved n TIE over
throw q Zsla.-s ~ shown by ~. statement
that he derives rom various moncpolies
ana financial ventures a revenue q s.oo.-
Co silver SEQ United States money!
month
In the building ~ the champ De Mars
which houses the Ministry of Wsr Zelaya
con6pcted The rnonopolies q alcohol. TO
hhc-o cattle petroleum hides. gambling.
soap. candles. ice and drugs and lumber
for railroad fuel and ties. From these
QUARTERS hs slso controlled the local
monopolies existing along the Atlantic
coast and covering trshic IN sEuardisnte.
leaf sn6 manufactu tobacco. cocosnut
groves. sestfoirs snd turtle nshs~iss
In sddition 20 these. he controls TIE dock
privileges - fhe piers % Corfnto. Gransda.
san Jorge. Monkey Point. San Miguelisto
end ~ Bluff. and the lease % the national
railway and - the national steamship
lines
Through some peculiar framing ~ ths
customs laws - also hensfrs from pre-
ruiunE on the expectation of coffee. luIn-
Der gold. hides and rubber. and from
duries - from 10 % - per cert or imror-
tarions ~ su Forts 81 manufactured srti-
clss
Among ms other known interests sre
rh~ street ciesninE Of ManaFua. done ~
contract, the sugar refinery OF san An
tonic. TIE planning mills and the sale ~
properly - or by the government he also
eEarrs share IN sU concessions granted
~ rhs government in this manner. is a
large stookholder IN the concessions grant
- 10 the Blushslds Company, James
DietIl-k, Guichors, SalaEar. Emery, and
numcer Of mining concessions. The sys-
ten is So perfected that no land owner csn
devote ms property 20 the raising 81 Eugs-
cane or tobsc cco without the authorization
~ ths trusts cresred snd controlled by zs-
lava
on Tho Atlantic -ios zslsya has operated
through the business house q Lopez 3
Martinez. Lopez = . cousin Of his and f.
T held in ial by the reyoluronists. Through
4 thiE house alone he las received profits %
4 3 80 o. Ssaoo American money
The raflvs.s and steamers ~ tho ~ouu-
~ are managed for him by hts psrtner
Julio West. q Swiss The contract for
4 the CONSUMPTION % the railway from san
4 NIiEuelisto 10 Monkey Point. which no con
! trolls through West. costs the government
! se09o Tnited Stsfes money = month. The
. country has already disbursed $50 80 I'm
the last three wears on this line, and only
4 four miles ri it have been built
The national finances have also been used
/ for his enrichment. The system here has
/ been Tor Zelsva 70 underwrite the govern
I nsnt honds 81 lsrge discount and then 20
/ dispose % flenl 10 bankers 81 81 rer cent
uroht
II is couservstively estimated that he sp-
7 propriates 65 per rent % an customs dues
by the simple process % compelling pay
ment through purchase OF government
bonds with which he only is supplied. and
. which he sells az 81 per cent above par
after having bought them al ~ per cent
4 discount.
Then. again. Zelsya operates q plants-
fion n the champ de Mars which tire SOL
F diers o. the garrison work for him An
other he owns iu partnership with the com
nlander of The peuitentiary. and they divide
tho profits. the labor being convict labor.
f for which They 90 not ps~ Through a
. drainage svsteu' ~ MsnsSus. End IN sim
flsr manner 20 holds the coutrs~t for the
. clothing and equipment % the army.
Zslsya maintains = special Once fo- dis
7 COUNTING salaries 81 state ernplcvss. paving
them 20 per cent Of their claims and retain
ing 81 per cent commission. To render This
effective the treasury is maintained slpsvs
4 IN sn empty condition
Fverv governor - . province har the 81
f elusive privilege ~ trading IN ciFsrs cigar
ertes and tobsc Coo. The local privilege -
trsfic in Hgusrdienfe. snd the licensing -
I gsnef ~ chance. and is compelled 20 turn
over 10 Ze'ara n per cent ~ the proceeds