The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-08-20
President Slashes Ancient
Manners in Battle for
Efficiency.
u. s. TO PICK
CUSTOMS DIRECTOR
MAN With a Program"
Seeks to Yank His Land
From Slough.

IQUIQUE, Chile, Aug. l9.-feru-
Wan customs are to be managed by
an American administrator as soon
as the United States government
recommends a man for this place
This action will be followed by COM
plete reorganization Of Peru's entire
administrative structure under the
direction OF Americans. according
to an interview with President
Leguia-
I'VE are only awaiting the United
States governments recommenda-
tions before ordering a thorough
REORGANIZATION of the customs house
under an American administrator,
he said. II am convinced that we
can materially increase the repub-
lies revenue II the customs are In
the hands Of Americans. Ny hope
In to put an American in charge OF
every branch of our governments
activities.
Americans There Now.
The navy already is being or
ranized under a United States naval
mission; an American educator Is
nationwide irrigation and sanitary
projects are in American hands"
Asked II this was not one of the
reasons for political opposition to
him, he replied:
Eyes. my enemies are making a
political issue OF this part of my
program. saying ! plan to deliver
Peru to Americans. This Is not
true. / only desire an efficient bus
mess administration and / am con-
vinced that this Is best possible
under Americans
Concerning the deportation OF
many Peruvian citizens. he said:
"I am compelled to use these
methods because these men are con-
| tipually blocking every move and
making IL impossible to concen-
trate my attention on the admin
istration. was honestly elected In
! a fair election and they attempted
to prevent my assuming office
was forced to resort to a revolution
| to get my rights, since which they
have not given me a moments rest
They went so far as to set nre to
the government palace on the eve
of the centennial celebration to en-
barrass me in the eyes of visitors.
I am the only President of Peru
who ever had a program or policy
Of government and / am determined
| to put 1t into effect My opponents
have no program and no grounds
for wishing my overthrow except to
get control OF the country.
THE trouble is. they have plotted
for revolutions all their lives and
everyone else has been too lenient
with them. intend to break then
of the habit"
| seeks o. 9. Loan.
Asked why It was necessary &C
| ignore the courts II he had proof
] Of revolutionary activities. he said
TT is not necessary to consul,
| the courts because we have a Law
permitting government deportation.
without trial If anyone is caught
! in revolutionary activities"
President Leguia blamed his po'
litical enemies for the country
present desperate financial condi
ton. He states that the present
congress will approve creating. &
national bank which will solve tn,
difficulties through being a bank o.
issue, and in the meantime he hope,
to float a loan In the United Statel
which will tide the country ovei
until the bank is established. Tn,
last congress refused to establish
the bank on the ground that 4
threatened an uncontrolled issue o.
paper currency.
President Leguia said New Yorl
bankers had offered to lend con
siderably less than the amount re
quested but he rejected 1t, stating
that the country must have the en-
tire amount in one loan and tina
IL 1t could not be hoafed in tn,
United States he would take 1
elsewhere.
| tCopyrisht, lsal,)