Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-15
CUBA BOBS Up As
SOURCE OF WORRY
AFFAIRS OF ISLAND REPUBLIC
ONCE MORE ATTRACT ATTEN.
TON IN WASHINGTON.
MENocAL GOVERNMENT
GIVES CONTRACTORS BAD DEAL
Dredging and Harbor Contracts Held
by Americans Suddenly Terminated
and Machinery Lies id!e-Ports I'm.
provsment Company, With British
Backing, Has Cause for Complaint.


Backing, Has Cause for Complaint.
Especial Correspondence
Washington, Oct. 15.-Cuban affairs
are once more attracting attention in
Washington. No year is apt to pass
without the shadow Of American in
PREVENTION casting itself athwart the
procession of events and this year is
no exception, tho it is always to be
borne In mind that much of the inter-
vention talk proceeds from quarters
where the wish is father to the thought.
American contractors in Cuba. or
who have taken contracts in Cuba, are
aroused now over the fact the Cuban
government is alleged to be giving
them the worst of it. They have pro-
tested to the state department and a
good deal of trouble may come out Of
it,
Complaint Is made that President
Menocal, of Cuba, has practically con-
fiscated the property and annulled the
vast interests Of those who had in
vested money in the Ports Improve
ments Company. This complaint is
loudest at the very time when Presi-
dent Menocal is trying to secure an
additional loan Of $15,OO0.OO or more
for the republic. He convened con-
gress in extraordinary session Oct. to
authorize this loan and reorganize the
army. Menocal belongs to the con-
sentative party. which IS said to be
disorganized, while the liberals have q
majority Of the congress. The liberals
contend the action Of the president -
unconstitutional and are threatening to
prevent any action by breaking \
quorum.
compiainants Given Opening.
The situation in which President
Menocal apparently will need all the
aid he can get to float loan, the
American contractors whu are inter-
ested in the Ports company are bent on
making the most Of their opportunity
to bring about a settlement of their
cause. They insist that unless the in
vestors are given justice, It will mill
tate against the efforts Of Menocal to
secure a loan.
The Ports Improvement Company
was organized about three years ago
to secure a concession to dredge va
rious important harbors Of the island
and build great docks and sea walls.
AS far back as 1873 the Spaniards con-
ceived such d project, blu: millions OF
dollars went to favored officials in
graft and there was little public i'm
proveincnt The Ports Improvement
Company proposed to do the work on
"a systematic basis. 1t was organised
with capital Of 100000. Concession
was secured in 1911 thru an act Of the
Cuban congress signed by President
Gomez. then head of the government.
The concession was approved by the
state department here, after modifica-
tons The Ports Improvement Com
pany was then reorganizej with cap
ital of $10.000,000 and bond issue of
like amount was authorized.
Machinery Lies Idle.
Contracts were let for the work and
stupendous preparation made. Under
the concession, an import tax on all
merchandise entering Cuban ports was
imposed. Great American contracting
firms including Snare ard Triest, of
New York; Michael ]. Dady, Of Brook
Ign; Macarthur Bros. Il Co., Of New
York; the Bowers Southern Dredging
Company. Of Galveston, and others Sc
cured contracts and moved immense
dredges and other contract work equip
ment TO Cuban waters. They now
have a great amount Of such equip
ment lying idle in Cuba. Much work
was done and today nearly half the
great eight-mile concrete wall which
was to enclose the harbor Of Havana
is completed. Millions of cubic yards
Of mud and stone were taken from
the nine harbors which. under the law,
were to be dredged.
Inc company is said to have been
| paid over 100000 in that time but to
have expended over s5,000.00O. Many
efforts were made to attack the con-
cession in the courts but the supreme
court of the island declared it consti-
tutional repeatedly. The version of the
contractors is that ba tx Of the attacks
stood large lighterage interests which
would be put out of business If the har-
bors were improved.
When Menocal became president he
| at first recognized the Ports company
but there was strong popular outcry
against 1t because the import tax COL
lected proved to be greater than had
been calculated and the company was
too prosperous. Suddenly, by decree,
President Menocal declared the Ports
improvement COMPANY uONeeXlSISHt.
However, collection Of the import tax
goes on and Menocars enemies charge
much Of the proceeds are being used
for political salaries.
Decree Stops Work.
The decree suddenly stopped the har-
Dor work. and vast equipment was
left standing idle Little Of the
equipment owned and operated by the
American Arms could be moved be-
cause Of the approach Of the hurri-
cane season. 1t is nearly all idle in
Cnhan harhnr. today awaiting some
action toward settlement Of the
tangle and in the hope the government
here will do something to bring it
about. Col. NJ. J. Dady, Of Brooklyn,
is one Of those who is threatened with
loss Of much equipment unless there
il an adjustment.
A British Protest.
| English investors in the bonds Of the
Ports company have succeeded in get
ting the British foreign office to pro-
test to the Menoeal government. ac-
cordins to Information here. The
| American contractors are trying to get
the state department to intervene IN
their behalf. Menoeal gives various
reasons for his decree. including the
Allegation that the company did not
comply with certain forms Of law.
The facts appear to be that the pop
ular outcry against the Ports COM
MOI Cd Den~iHnrk Go~nool IN Hnkor-