Evening star., 1926-03-28

agriculture are dependent upon the
Haitian legislative branch for theT
appropriations. In short, the Haitlah
government today Is functlonlnS IN
all branches save in the control Oh lts
finances.
Three wears of painstaking educa-
,ion on the part of High Commissioner
Russell were necessary Derore the
Haitian government would consent TO
the massage OF the law for the haitian
loan. 1t was vitality necessary Tor the
stabilization OF Haitian finances; the
elevation of her credit TO that OF an
honorable status among the nations;
for Davment OF the long deferred eX-
ternal and internal debts: the settle
meut of claims among both nationals
and foreigners; and for the extension
of the reconstruction program.
That hardly comports with the pie
lure of an American high commls-
sioner swinging the big STICK over
president Borno. his cabinet of five
members and his y councillors of
state. Out of the authorized loan of
$40 900 600, the first series of $4,000
600 was made in 1928. Its passage has
accomplished all that High Commits
sioner Russell had foreseen. and Hal
tian bonds command An excellent posi-
lion in the financial circles of the
world.
When the high commissioner took
I'D his difficult task in 1922 the de-
nartments administered by the treaty
officials were unco-ordinated. and for
that reason no systematic program
could be carried out, proper budgets
prepared or Haiti set properly on her
feet His first act was the co-ordina-
ing financial control. the maintenance
of order, the construction of roads.
bridges. water systems and public
buildings and sanitation. The brigade
of marines was also under his super
vision.
He impressed on his subordinates,
all experts in their line, and with him
convinced of the soundness OF their
respective missions, that their ulti-
mate goal was to leave Haiti, on our
ultimate withdrawal, with all the ele-
ments necessary for its self-goVern-
ment.
The yearly reports made to the State
Department are eloquent In the In
crea sing number and sphere of Haitian
participation in the various fields. The
department of public works is each
wear training a growing number of
Haitian engineers, architects, artisans,
office executives, photographic aids,
steam gauge readers, telephone and
telegraph operators and inspectors.
The sanitary service Is turning out
Haitian physicians, surgeons, nurses,
dentists. pharmacists and sanitary IN
spectors. Practically all the force OF
the financial adviser and general re
ceiver of customs is purely HAITIAN
The recently formed office of the chief
agricultural engineer is enrolling and
training a Haitian personnel. In the
ranks of the Haitian gendarmerie
there are now approximately so
Haitians of the best type who are
either commissioned, acting or aspir-
ant officers, or practically onehalf of
its commissioned strength.
A LII these departments are organ
"A lied into departments with district
and subdistrict divisions, so that
throughout Haiti the native Haitian
is working shoulder to shoulder with
Americans in the rehabilitation OF the
country.
Coincident with this sound expan-
sion has gone the gradual reduction
of armed American forces to g. mini
mum. The former marine brigade of
full strength, with aviation and other
attached Speclal unltS, tnree years
ago was stationed throughout the
island. Today it numbers but 500,
with the marines in Port au Prince
and Cape Haitien, while the former in
terror posts are now garrisoned by
gendarmes.
We have given Haiti 1900 kilo-
meters of excellent roads. extended
her main trails, hahted her coasts
with Is modern fights, constructed
500 kilometers Of telegraph lines, and
installed telephone exchange sys-
TENS. Isolated sections of the coun-
try no longer exist, for there are ade-
ouate roads, bridges and communica-
tions, and irrigation projects are being
pushed to the extent of the available
revenue. We have installed modern
sanitation and municipal water sup
ply systems, opened free dispensaries
and clinics in the interior, made a
medical survey of the island, and
thrown open all our medical facilities
to the Haitian medical fraternity, Her
cities and ports are healthy, and her
capital, Port au Prince, is a model of
cleanliness to the West indies. The
marines and gendarmes have made
Haiti safer than the average New
E1-'a nd village