I09 8 SANTO DOMINGO 



States, also for some time suspended, were renewed. Considerable economy, on the 

 other hand, has been exercised in the control of the public service; expenses not absolute- 

 ly necessary have been stopped; freedom from custom house dues is no longer permitted; 

 the port of Mazanilla, through which many thousands of tons of goods were formerly 

 smuggled, is now closed; the strictest scrutiny is exercised over the collection of revenues, 

 old collectors having been removed and new ones appointed; firms and bankers who had 

 advanced loans to the government have been induced to suspend interest for 6 months; 

 customs tariffs on articles used by the rich classes have been raised 20 per cent gold, 

 while tariffs upon articles consumed by the poor have been lowered; and finally the 

 stamp-tax has been rigidly enforced. 



The practical results of the financial policy of the government include the increase in 

 the revenue in one year of 1,730,008 pesos; 1,000,000 pesos of old debts cleared off; many 

 public works of first importance completed and paid for out of revenue; the British 

 foreign debt coupons faithfully met (the. Salvador bonds have recently stood at the high- 

 est price attained, namely 101 per cent), and. 1,637,000 pesos of the Internal Debt, in 

 addition to $1,000,000 of unpaid salaries, cleared off. The revenue of the state has 

 increased over 16 per cent and the national debt has been reduced by 9 per cent. 



SANTO DOMINGO 1 



Santo Domingo has an area of 19,325 square miles, and the population according to 

 the census of 1911 is 675,000, giving an average of 34.89 inhabitants per square mile. 

 Imports were valued in 1910-11 at 1,389,932 and exports at 2,200,981. The total 

 public debt is 5,000,000 (2,835,700 external and 2,164,300 internal). The total 

 mileage of railways is 225, and that of telegraph lines 1028. The army has a strength 

 of 1300 men. The navy comprises 6 vessels with a personnel of 100. 



The year 1909 marked an epoch in the history of the Republic as regards prosperity 

 and progress; trade with the neighbouring republic of Haiti was also more active than 

 in any former year. The completion of two railways was effected, namely the line 

 between Santiago and Moca, and that between Salcedo and Puerto de Sanchez. An 

 extradition treaty with the United States was celebrated on June 19, 1909. 



The national Bank of Santo Domingo was established in 1910 with an authorised 

 capital of $2,000,000, the president being a United States citizen and the stock-holders 

 mainly Cuban financiers. A concession was granted to a British corporation for a rail- 

 way line from Puerto de Sanchez to La Vega. Three important measures were enacted, 

 the mining law, stamp-tax law, and diplomatic reorganization law. The republic had a 

 cash balance of about $6,000,000, which was devoted to public works. 



In November 1910 political dissensions again broke out between Haiti and Santo 

 Domingo, in regard to the boundary dispute, both governments finally agreeing to sub- 

 mit the controversy to the arbitration tribunal of the Hague. 



In November 1911 President Ramon Caceres was assassinated; Serior Eladio Victoria 

 assumed control of the republic's affairs, and was subsequently elected provisional 

 president (Dec. 6th). His nephew, General Alfredo Victoria, aged 27, was appointed 

 commander-in-chiei of the army and minister of war and marine. 



On February 5, 1912 at the meeting of the Chamber the election of Senor Eladio 

 Victoria was confirmed, his appointment now being that of constitutional president for 

 the full term of 6 years. On February 28th a new Cabinet was formed, General Alfredo 

 Victoria retaining the portfolios of war and marine and assuming in addition the tempo- 

 rary secretaryships of the interior and police. On April i8th the pecuniary claims, pat- 

 ent, copyright and trade marks Conventions adopted at Buenos Aires in 1910 by the 

 Fourth International Conference of American States were ratified. 



The finances of the republic which, in accordance with the convention between the 

 United States and the Santo Domingo governments, are placed under the supervision 

 of an American citizen as general receiver of customs, showed marked improvement 

 from 1909 to 1912, the receipts have increased from $3,914,300 to $4,257,000. The 



1 See E. B. xxiv, 194-5. 



