Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 250, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1913 — Page 3

Y selecting Walter W. Vick of New Jersey as receiver-general of the customs of the Dominican republic President Wilson assigned him the task of continuing a novel experiment in national finance. Bankruptcies and receiverships are common enough in commercial enterprises, but the Dominican experiment is the first case in which

a nation after being plunged into involuntary bankruptcy has accepted a third party, another nation to’ act as receiver of its revenues and stand between it and its creditors during the settlement of its outstanding obligations. soundness of this commercial practice as applied to governments. is shown by the fact that today the Dominican republic has more money to spend for proper purposes than ever before, besides paying the interest on a loan and setting aside each year a sum for the payment of the principal. When the receivership is ter,minated Santo Domingo is likely to enjoy the distinction of being the only Latin American government not saddled with a burdensome foreign debt. The United States government is the custodial of the Dominican revenues, and stands sponsor not only for the conservation of the publio funds but also for the settlement of the republic’s debts. This arrangement has lasting force by virtue of a treaty between the United States and the Dominican republic, in which the conditions of the receivership are set forth. Under this treaty it was that President Wilson appointed Mr. Vick as the representative of the government of the United States to administer the receivership. Mr. Vick is not, technically speaking, in any way connected with the Washington government. His salary is paid by the Dominican government. The same is true of all the expenses of the receivership. These include the salaries of a number of Americans who serve as his assistants. His own salary is $6,500 a year, and he also gets living quarters. Mr. Vick is regarded as exceptionally well qualified for the place. One of the advantages supposed to* lie in the receivership is that the customs revenues are by it removed to neutral hands and are no longer to be preyed upon hy aspiring revolutionists or grafting officials. From 1905, when the first temporary arrangement went into effect, until 1912 Santo revolution and internal strife. The neutralisation of the customs receipts has been regarded as the cause of this peace in the turbulent republic. In 1912 there was continued political disturbance, but dYen during the revolution the custom houses remained unmolested by either faction in the struggle. It will be Mr. Vick’s task to continue this absolute security of the customs receipts and maintain perfect neutrality toward all the contending political factions in the island. European intervention In Santo Domingo seemed a certainly when President Roosevelt intervened In behalf of the republic. The Dominican government was saddled with a foreign and domestic indebtedness amounting, with interest, to about $30,000,000. Far from paying the interest, the Dominican government was increasing the debt by about a milflon dollars a year. As a result of centuries of misrule the revenues were being dishonestly dissipated. A succession of revolutions had reduced the government simply to a source of graft for which many factions were contending. In this situation the European creditors in 1904 demanded a settlement, and were prepared to take over .the revenues of the government if their demands were not granted. As the Dominicans were unable to do what they 1 asked, European intervention seemed certain. The United States then negotiated the modus vivendi, which was to* hold in force while a treaty was being negotiated. The treaty, under which the receivership is now conducted, was ratified by the United States senate and the Dominican congress and went into .effect July 8, 1907. Meantime under the modus vivendi there had been issued bonds of the Dominican government to Jhe amount of $20,000,000. This was for the purpose of making a settlement with the foreign creditors and paying for certain public improvements necessary to the utilization of the island resources. Though the nominal debt , it was scaled down by the United States In making allowance for fraud and dishonest claims to about $17,000,000. * The bonds bear Interest at 5 per cent, making the annual charge for the Bervice of the loan $1,000,000 a year. It is provided in the treaty that each month the American receiver-general shall pay to the Guaranty Trust company of New York, the fiscal agent of the loan, the sum of • SIOO,OOO. This is $200,000 in excess of the annual $1,000,000 required, and the balance is applied to the amortisation of the bonds. In addition it is provided that whenever the collections for any year shall exceed $3,000,000, half of the surplus shall be applied to the amortization of the bonds. Highly satisfactory progress has been made toward . thq repayment of the, .principal of the $20,000,000 loan, inasmuch as the revenues of the republic have nearly doubled under the American receivership. After the expenses of the receivership have been paid and the interest charges and sinking fund taken care of, the Dominican government gets what Is left. Far from being a hardship, the effect of the reoeiver-

ADMINISTERING SANTO DOMINGO FINANCES

ship has been to give the Dominican government more mpney for its own purposes than it ever had before, even in the days when it did not pay a cent onSts indebtedness. The first real roads in the republic, outside of the towns, have been built with funds supplied by the receiver-> ship, and other public Improvements have been made possible. Dominican government is shown by the fact that whereas the customs receipts were only about $2,000,000 a year before the receivership, the receipts for 1912 were $3,642,861. This is the highest figure ever attained, and collections for the first four months of the present calendar year indicate that the total receipts for 1913 will exeeed $4,000,000. ' W. E. Pulliam, Mr. Vick’s predecessors effected many reforms in the administration of the Dominican customs which will assist Mr. Vick materially when he takes charge. It was found that one reason for the small receipts lay in the dishonesty of the collectors. The men whom the American receiver expelled from the service found difficulty in understating why, there should be any objection to their modest peculations. Similarly, it was found that other men in the customs service were grafting by permitting goods to enter without duty upon payment of tribute to them. This, of course, many importers were only too glad to do. One of the remarkable features of the effects of the receivership is that receipts were increased through the reduction of the customs dues. A cut of 50 per cent was made in the export duties and a reduction of 15 per cent in , ( the import duties. The result was to increase both exports and Imports. The former receiver-general found that while such articles as champagne, silks and automobiles, used solely by the ricll, were being admitted practically duty free, the cotton cloths, whlc| are the sole source of clothes for the poorer classes, were being taxed almost 100 per cent. Mr. Pulliam Induced the Dominican government to reverse this arrangement, with salutary effect / both upon the condition of the poorer people and upon the state of the treasury. Though Mr. Vick will be the head of the only non-political government department in all Latin America as custodian of the customs receipts; he will really be a tremendous factor in the political stability of the republic. With the American minister he is the personification of the pledge of the United States that the Dominican government shall conduct itself honorably in its financial obligations to foreigners. The office of the receiver-general and the American legation in Santo .Domingo city are the bulwarks of Dominican stability, peace and good government. As a result of this peculiar relation of the United States to Santo Domingo the Washington authorities have been obliged to take a friendly hand in the settlement of the Dominican political troubles. The rebellion which followed the tyrannical rule of Eladlo Victoria and his dic-tator-like nephew, Elfredo Victoria—the latter a soldier who got into power in the confusion following the assassination of President Caceres — was really settled through the intercession of the United States. A commission, of which Brig. Gen. Prank Mclntyre, chief of the bureau of lnsulir affairs of the war department, was one of the members, brought about the compromise by which President Victoria and his nephew retired from the government and the prelate M

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

The Spaniards thought they took the bones of Christopher Columbus to Havana, but there is evidence that they took those of his brother, the former governor.

AT THE OPERA

"There were about 4,000 persons lout to hear ’Parsifal’ the night I went," remarked Mrs. Grim to her husband. “Is that so?” responded Grim. “I didn’t know there were so many deaf people in the country." “What are you talking about?” demanded his wife. "One thousand people slightly deaf, not altogether deaf, deaf and middling deaf.” "I don't see the point yet. ‘Parsifal’ isn’t for deaf people, though parts of it are rather stormy." “Deafness is really an advantage at any of Wagner’s blowouts. But what I meant was that kt such places of entertainment there is always one deaf man to every three or four persons who can hear. “I’m sure I don’t object in the least to the deaf people being there. But I, do object to the people who go there with the deaf people. There is always a person who persists in explaining things to the deaf person. The explanations are uncalled for, and the deafness is perhaps a sort of protection against them. “The last time I went to hear the opera' I paid $8 for a seat. Every one kept asking me if I was going and then every one always looked supercilious when I said no, so I finally changed my mind and went. Having paid so much for a seat, I wanted to hear the music. "Hanged if an old lady, deaf as a post and rich as cream, didn’t line up right behind me! There were four friends with her, all anxious to talk to her. I think she owned the theater, because no one objected to the recitations on the part of those who were with her. "The old lady couldn’t hear a thing! Everything had to be repeated three or four times. Even then there Sere some things she never did hear. I got interested In the game and wanted to take a hand. At one stage they were all trying so hard to get her to comprehend that I could hardly stand it. They didn’t know how to talk to a deaf person. They didn’t enunciate clearly. I was always good at enunciation. “At last, when they were all talking together, unable to get the old lady to comprehend at all, either through stubbornness or meanness, I rose elaborately from my seat and turned and faced . them. "’Excuse me.’ I said, ‘but can I be of assistanee? Let me try.’ “With that I placed my two hands around my mouth and shouted- loud and clear: “ ‘They say your dress is coming open in the back!”’

"Why did she withdraw .after receiving the nomination ?” "They told her, if elected, she would become ■ member of the common council, and you know how particular is."—Judge. '

OVERHEARD AT THE PARTY.

Ted —Why do you think Miss Cutlowe Is clew gold)? w Ned—By the way she withstands the acid teal when some of the other women took at her.

Domingo, Archbishop Nouel, came in as temporary president, to hold office until general elections could be held. This compromise was effected last December, but a few weeks ago Archbishop Nouel relinquished his task and went -to Europe in search 'of lost Without any -turmoil or disorder the Dominican congress elected Jose Bordas, a sen■kator who had joined , in the rebellion of 1912, to succeed him. Only the Influence of the United States kept more trouble from breaking out apon the withdrawal of the archbishop. The city of Santo Domingo, the capital of the republic, is full of historical associations. It is the site of one. of the first settlements made in the western hemisphere by Christopher Columbus. At the entrance to the harhor stands the ancient stone fort and castle erected by his brother, whom Columbus made governor of the colony. Half a mile further up the Ozama river stands a great tree, to the great trunk of which tradition says Columbus tied his ships. J ist around the corner from the offices which Mr, Vick will occupy are the ruins of a great cathedral, the first stone church ever •built In the western world. Near by, on the old plaza of Santo Domingo, ’stands the new cathedral, itself centuries old. In it lies a metal casket said to contain the bones of the great admiral.

A. D. 1925.

DEEP FAT FOR FRYING

BETTER WESULTB THAN WHEN SMALL QUANTITY IS USED. r,' *_ Properly Done, Food Prepared In This Way Should Not Be In the Least Indigestible Some Rules to Be Observed. Frying foods does not mean, proper ly speaking, just ■putting them into a h* frying pan with & little fat. Frying is cooking by immersion in .deep fat While food prepared in this way is not quite as healthful as if baked or boiled, if the frying is rightly done it is not as indigestible as it is commonly supposed to be. Frying in deep fat is a much more healthful way of preparing food that if the food is browned in u little fat in a frying pan. French fried potatoes for instance are better than those fried in a small amount of butter or other faL If friend food proves indigestible it may be generally attributed to one: of these causes: The food has not been completely coated with eggs and crumbs, the fat has not been at tfre right temperature or the fat used was of an inferior quality. Fried foods are mostly cooked by the steam formed in them. The moment the article touches the fat its surface becomes coated, making it impossible for the food juices to escape. These are turned into steam, which cooks the food. The fat merely browns the outside. About three pounds of fat will be required for a kettle eight inches in diameter. This fat may be used many times if clarified by cooking a few slices of raw potatoes in iL In successful frying these points must be remembered: The fat must be deep enough to cover the food to be fried; it must be hot enough to form a coat quickly, which prevents the absorption of the fat, and the article to be fried must be entirely covered with egg and crumbs. The white of an egg and fine, stale breadcrumbs are best to roll the food in. The whole egg may be used if desired; but the white with two tablespoons of milk added is excellent. Only a few articles should be fried at one time. Too many cool the fat and thus prevent the quick formation of the coat on the food. When the food is fried drain it on coarse, brown paper. ' .-■ To determine when the fat is at the right temperature drop a piece of dry bread into it. If this browns in 40 seconds it is right for croquettes and all foods that have been previously cooked. If it browns in 60 seconds it is right for doughnuts, and other ancooked foods. Do not allow the fat to become too hot; this is as harmful as if the fat were too cold. Use a frying basket if possible; if you do not possess one, use a cream skimmer or a wire egg beater. Food well fried is free from grease. Fried foods that leave grease on the serving plate are neither well cooked nor dainty.

Velvet Cake.

Beat the yolks of three eggs and whites of two in separate bowls, add one-half cup of sugar to, each, beat again, add whites'to yolks, beat again, then add one round cup of sifted flour, to which has been added one teaspoon of creamtartar and one-half teaspoon of soda, a little salt and one teaspoon of vanilla. Stir until smooth, add slowly one tablespoon less than' onehalf cup of boiling water, stir in just a little at a time. This sounds difficult, but is very easy to make.

Butternut Pie.

Line a pie dish with good, crust. Take one cup chopped apples, one cup chopped butternuts (English walnuts may be used), one-half cup of currants, one-half cup of raisins, one cup sugar, one-half cup of molasses, piece of butter size of an egg, one-half cup boiled cider or wine, one tablespoon of ifbur, spice to taste. I’M in pie dish and bake with a top crust. This is a very rich pie, but the recipe is an old one and good.

English Tea Cake.

Take one cup sugar, one-half cup butter (melted), one teaspoon each of nutmeg, clove and cinnamon, one cup sour milk, two cups flour, one teaspoon soda (well-rounded), one cup raisins. Mix the sugEr and spices, together, add the butter and cream well. Put soda in the sour milk and add U> the mixture, stir in the flour, and last the raisins, well floured. No eggs. •

Ragout of Beef.

Cut 2 pounds of round steak into one-inch cubes* put 2 tablespoons of suet into saucepan and when hot add the meat, browning on all sides; into the fat blend 2 tablespoons of flour, and then add 1 pint of water In which has been dissolved 1 teaspoon of extract of beef; add 1 teaspoon of salt and \ teaspoon of white pepper and simmer for 1% hours.

String Bean and Beet Salad.

Cut one pint of cooked string beans in halves and scrape and cut into dice three cold cooked beets. Line a salad bowl with crisp lettuce leaves, fill the center with beans, surround with the diced beets, sprinkle with French dressing and chill before serving.

German Salad.

Hal ft a cup of roast or boiled veal cot In small pices, one-half cup of beets, one-half cup of celery, two apples. three salt herring boiled and cut small; add a tabtespoon cf caper* and serve with French dressing.

Practical Fashions

LADY’S DREBS.

Smart costume, the blouse cut wlthl body and sleeves is one and With open* fronts displaying a vest. A wide collar trims the neck and plain full! length sleeves complete the waist The dress pattern (6391) la cut toi sizes 34 to 42 inches bust measure., - Medium size requires 4% yards of 44 inch material, with % yard of 37’ inch contrasting fabric to trim. To procure this pattern send n cents to “Pattern Department,’* of this paper. Write name ana address plainly, and be' sure to give size and number of pattern. » NO. 6391. BtZB TOWN—STREET AND NO STATE

MISSES’ AND SMALL WOMEN’S COAT.

Separate coats are much favored: Just now owing to the popularity of the one-piece frock and the separata* blouse and skirts. This low-belted: design Is extremely modish. If desired it may be fashioned of one of the bright hued polo cloths now so much in vogue or It can be made of velour de lalne, cheviot or serge In navy blue or some other pretty color. The pockets on each side of the belt are useful as well as ornamental The misses' and small women’s coat pattern (8347) is cut In sixes 14, lfti and 18 years. Medium size requires* 3% yards of 44 inch material. . T ®£ro cnp » thu P» tt « ra eeod 10 cents, to'Pattern Department,” of this paper. Write name and address plainly, and be. sure to give else and number of pattern. no. M 4 - sum TOWN —~ it&j Strkkt and no. BTATB ; , f''::

Editor’s Savings.

An editor who started about twenty years ago'with only 56 ceuta Is now* worth SIOO,OOO. His accumulation of wealth is owing to his frugality, good) habits, strict attention to business, and the fact that an uncle died and; left him s99,999.—Editor and Publish-, •r. ■ ——*

Good Way to Avoid Thorns.

' Every rode has Its thorn. But the thorn need not bo discovered by on* who Is content to admire the rose's beauty without destroying It • j . wwEKBi