837.513/53: Telegram
The Representative on Special Mission in Cuba (Crowder) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:35 p.m.]
40. Zayas submitted to me on Friday last tentative draft of decree for putting into effect the reforms in the lottery administration recommended in my 32 [31], June 9th. His draft was one easily evaded … In conference with the new Secretaries of Treasury and Public Works which lasted the whole of Saturday and Sunday, I prepared a substitute draft which I have sent him this morning reiterating the request of the Department that this decree issue on July 1st as originally agreed upon and that the new appointments be made prior to that date. If decree is issued and the lottery administration confided to honest capable hands the following will be the results:
1. The colecturías as sinecures and corrupting influences in the public administration will be eliminated and they will be reestablished as the sale agencies that the law requires them to be. 2. The ticket speculators (acaparadores) will be completely eliminated. 3. As a consequence of the foregoing the collection of illegal profits amounting annually to $9,500,000 as pointed out in my memorandum number 10 page 19, will cease. 4. Expenses of the central office will [Page 1035] be reduced by more than a million dollars annually and this amount turned into the national treasury.
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