837.51/668: Telegram
The Representative on Special Mission in Cuba (Crowder) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:03 p.m.]
153. Department’s 186, December 20, 2 p.m., well timed and promises to be effective. Since its presentation better [progress?] is being made in negotiations. President Zayas has in preparation a decree which he hopes to have ready for promulgation January 1st carrying further economizing in the budget for the current fiscal year. At a conference yesterday he authorized me to tell the Department that the additional economizing to be provided in said decree would aggregate not less than $6,000,000 and might possibly reach $8,000,000, and that of this aggregate 4,000,000 to 6,000,000 would be saved in the Department of War and Marine and about 2,000,000 in the two Departments of the Treasury and Interior and that by these and a few other economies he expects to hold the total of expenditure for the entire fiscal year down to about $60,000,000. I think this is the lowest figure that can be reached this year by way of revision of the annual budget.
If the Cuban Congress can be induced to revise the fixed budget by abolishing salaries of municipal judges and reducing representation expenses of congressmen as I have repeatedly recommended a further economy of about 1,800,000 could be effected. Will discuss this matter with President Zayas at a conference this afternoon.
Cuban Congress will not meet again until January 16th. I shall probably leave for Washington Monday morning via Key West.