Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-20
SAN TO DOMINGO QUIET
Rumor of Trouble OiSCredited
by Minister McCreery.
NO BASIS FOR REVOLUTION
Prosperous Conditions Since United
States interviewed in Affairs.
GOVERNMENT HAS THE FUNDS
Island Regarded as the Richest Of
the West Indies-Growth
Rapid.
GOVERNMENT HAS THE FUND!
RY WILLIAM L ClrRTlS

/
minister to the Dominican republic, who
is here on leave. does not credit the cable
| grams from Jamaica about revolu
/ tionary movement to overtime the Do
minican government. He says there is no
! d'scontent among the people. and since
,he present administration came into
power there has been no organized oppo-
sition. A few insignificant demonstra
! ticns have been made from time TO time
i ~ disappointed politicians, but none
/, OF them has been of any importance.
, When a politician loses his office or fails
to obtain what he wants he manifests
his dissatisfaction by collecting his
friends and supporters and getting a few
guns and firing them of. The latest dem
| onstration of this kind was made by
Gen. Camacho. formerly governor of the
! province of Monte Cristi. who wanted
| to get back into power and thought that
! was good way to do il, but he failed.
Mr.. McCreery says that Gen. Ramon
! Caceres, the president. has brought the
country to a condition of peace and in
dustrial activity, and Is attracting for
| eign capital to develop the marvellous re-
sources of the island. Caceres succeeded
President Morales in December, 1907,
when Morales left the island and is now
| supposed TO be residing in ST. Thomas.
Caceres was vice president and was for
merry governor of one Of the provinces.
| He was gallant soldier, a man OF eN-
cellent reputation and force OF character.
| Last year he was inaugurated president
for second term of six years and has
! five years to serve.
Cause Of Prosperity.
The peaceful and prosperous conditions
in Santo Domingo are almost entirely due
to the intervention Of the United States
in the financial affairs of that republic
In 1905. Several foreign governments.
particularly Belgium. Italy and France,
| having lost their patience because of the
made demonstrations of force to compel
payment. By the invitation of the Presi-
dent of Santo Domingo. the United States
stepped in and assumed the responsibility
of a receiver in bankruptcy.
BY treaty negotiated by Secretary
Root, everybody concerned agreed that
the customs should be collected by Amer
leans appointed by the President Of the
United States, and that the sum OF $780,
600 month should be deposited with the
Morton Trust Company of New York
for the benefit of the creditors while the
balance should be turned over to the
financial department. for the support of
the government. This plan is working adj
mirablS. The effect has been peace and
prosperity due to the restoration of con-
vivendi with the United States began
April 1, 1905 A treaty to the same eff
feet has been in operation since August
/, 1907.
Collections Accounted For,
The customs duties are regularly col
lected," said Mr.. McCreery, and depos-
tied with William Z. Pulliam, formerly in
the customs service in the Philippines,
who is assisted by j. II. Edwards and
nine deputy receivers stationed at differ
ent ports. They were appointed by the
President Of the United States, and work
in cooperation with native collectors OF
customs. The personnel of the service is
almost entirely Dominican. but the money
is paid over to the American receivers
who deposit 1t with the Morton Trust
Company, fiscal agents CT the creditors
of the country. The proceeds are applied
to the payment Of interest upon $2OOOO,-
90 In bonds which were issued under the
treaty OF 1907 to fund all outstanding
foreign Indebtedness and to acquire oner-
GUS concessions that were burden to the
country.
The trust company also reserves a GER
tain amount monthly as q sinking fund to
redeem the bonds al maturity forty eight
years hence. The customs houses are re-
ceiving modern equipment; merchandise Is
dispatched with remarkable prOmptness;
complaints are considered by the Do
going on smoothly.
Government Not Hampered.
1T was thought at first that the with
holding Of so large a sum as xlOO.O 600 a
month would make the administration of
the government difficult, but the result
has been to increase the revenue so that
after making the payment Of 81 10000 a
year against its Indebtedness the share
of the government is greater than ever be-
fore. and It is therefore in a position to
formulate definite plans and to continue a
definite policy looking toward the devel-
opment of the vast natural resources of
the republic.
1t has acquired the railroad from Puerta
Plata to Santiago. forty-two miles, and
has extended II some distance. The Sal
cedo branch of the railroad from Sanchez
to La Vega was inaugurated early in o.
Domingo city is being considered by for
eign capital. The government has pur-
chased several onerous wharf and ware
house concessions, and has reduced the
port charges from $2 TO 70 cents a ton,
thus encouraging shipping. 1t has en-
gineers in the field in Monte Cristi and
Aqua provinces. making surveys for irri-
cation systems. The mouth of the Ozama
river has been dredged and vessels can
now unload at the wharves. The streets
of the capital have been much improved,
the sewers have been extended and public
buildings repaired.
lone of the greatest needs of the coun-
try Is wagon roads. over which products
can be brought to market in carts or
wagons instead Of on muleback, as at
present. The government has begun the
construction of q road between the CAPT.
tai and San Christobal. three miles of
which a:e macadamiZed. When arrived
I'm Santo Domingo I'm April. 1907. the drive
to the legation was like Horace Qreeley's
famous stage ride. Now / drive over the
same road with real pleasure. I have
travelled over much of the country on
horseback. The Dominicans are hospi-
table and kindly. brave and generous
Once the foreigner who goes among them
gains their confidence they are like the
friends we leave at home.
Richest Of West India Group.
"Santo Domingo Is the richest Of the
West Indies, and after Cuba the largest"
continued Mr.. McCreery. Since the DAYS
of its discovery by Christopher Columbus
II has been called The Queen OF the An
titles Cacoa has become the principal
crop Sugar comes next. I have seen
sugar cane that has not been replan ted
in ten years. The sugar Is shipped to the
United States. Tobacco comes third me
Dominican government Is endeavoring To
improve the seeds.
THE conditions of soil and climate war
rant the confident belief that with i'm
proved methods Of cultivation the tobacco
will equal the finest leaf PineappIes,