STEALING IN CUBA BEGINS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 31, 16 April 1907, Page 6

STEALING IN CUBA BEGINS.

oil for MffMtngr the Strata, ot Hft . vwn» iNomn J'erqulaite to* the Mnyor,

"The effects of the American occupation of Cuba arc being rapidly effaced," said a man who, until recently, was one of the officials helping to administer the government of the islaiul, according to the Washington Post, "I don't predict revolution and civil war and all that sort of; thing, but I say that Cuba will not be long in forgetting the lessons she learned since Spain gave way to the United States-. A good many of the sanitary improvements and municipal regulations are disappearing and In a y&r or two we shall see the same old O . but allee yamee. free and indeper J !' "Just to give you an example , Jr' way things are going I will re' * ot } + happened in a town not f> '' ntewMt vana. During America' ** T from Ha * the streets of the i«lr A occupation by oil lf;mps set .- ' nd were lighted i§ tK% case in mar * ,on lamp-posts, as country. For r -y towns in this people" have rn.hreeyear* the at night. ha(l wt,ll - I, g htcd streets crown'' * nd wc ln " on 8"^ t t,ie .Y had fi . » j '° accustomed to our methodo ? they would continue them when we .left. "But the lights in this town were not burning three nights after the wland had been turned over to the Cubans. I knew that a car load of oil had arrived at this town only a day or two before we left, and as a matter of mere curiosity I went out there to see why the streets w«re not lighted. The oil had disappeared front the municipal warehouse, but I had no trouble locating it at several stores, the proprietors of which said th«y had bought the. ilhnninant from the alcalde. I then went to the alcalde and expected to receive a denial of the story told by the merchants. Instead of this, he unblufhingly admitted his appropriation of the oil, and said th«t under the Spanish regime it- would have been one of his perquisites, and he thus regarded it. I unofficially reported the matter, but nothing will be done about it The grab for these 'perquisites' is going to cause trouble in Cuba, for all will want th«ir ftfeftlsV