fer with the minister of ultramar and to use your good offices in having the order in question revoked as soon as possible. It was evidently made through inadvertence. I seize, etc., HANNIS TAYLOR. Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham. MADRID, May 29, 1894. Mr. Taylor informs the Department that in an interview with the minister for foreign affairs on the 29th instant, he promised to go in person to the minister for the colonies and demand that Spanish repertory take effect at once. No. 184.] Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Madrid, June 13, 1894. (Received June 25.) SIR: I have the honor to report that on the 10th instant, the minister of state advised me in a personal note that he desired to see me the next day at 3 o'clock in order to discuss with me certain pending matters. I met him at the time appointed and was pleased to hear from him that he had resolved to have a royal order made at once putting into immediate effect the definitive repertory executed in Spanish at Washington October 17, 1892. The result of the interview I reported to you in my cablegram of the 12th instant, a copy of which is appended on the overleaf. I was promised by the minister official notice of the making of the order, which I have not yet received. Last night I received a note from him saying that the papers had been made out and sent to the department of ultramar for execution. I hope to receive the official notice of final action to-day or to-morrow. I am, etc., HANNIS TAYLOR. Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham. MADRID, June 17, 1894. Mr. Taylor informs the Department that he has received official notice from the president of the council stating that telegraphic orders have been sent to Cuba and Puerto Rico putting definitive repertory into immediate effect. Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham. No. 192.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Madrid, June 22, 1894. (Received July 5.) SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith, with translation, a copy of the official notice just received from the ministry of state as to the promulgation of the definitive repertory. I am, etc., HANNIS TAYLOR. [Inclosure in No. 192.-Translation.] Mr. Moret to Mr. Taylor. MINISTRY OF STATE, Palace, June 17, 1894. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to inform you that the ministry of the colonies has to day sent a telegram to the governor-general of Cuba ordering the publication in the Gazette and the immediate application of the Spanish version of the repertory signed by Señor Dupuy de Lôme, a copy of which was sent him by Her Majesty's representative in Washington. By the next mail the same instructions will be sent to the governorgeneral of Puerto Rico, either by sending him a copy if it is possible or by instructing the governor-general of Cuba to forward to the governor-general of Puerto Rico copies of the Gazette in which the repertory is published. In communicating the foregoing the minister for the colonies expresses the hope that, should any difficulties or doubts arise as to the exact meaning of the language of the English and the Spanish versions of the repertory, they will be settled by common accord with that good faith and reciprocal loyalty becoming friendly nations. I avail, etc., S. MORET. No. 161.] Mr. Adee to Mr. Taylor. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have received your No. 192, of the 22d ultimo, inclosing copy of a note from the Spanish minister of state, reporting that orders had been issued for the publication and enforcement of the correct Spanish text of the repertory. It is now, therefore, confidently expected that you will be able to promptly arrange for the early refunding of the fines and dues levied on American importers under the former incorrect one. I am, etc., ALVEY A. ADEE, Acting Secretary. ALIEN CONTRACT LABOR CASES. Mr. Muruaga to Mr. Gresham. [Translation.] LEGATION OF SPAIN, Washington, January 22, 1894. The undersigned, minister plenipotentiary of Spain, impelled by the alarming intelligence, not only of an official character, but also from private sources, coming to this legation from Key West with regard to the direction which the question of the emigration of peninsular Spaniards to that island is taking there, ventures to call the attention of the honorable Secretary of State to the spirit and letter of the treaty in force between the United States and Spain, ratified April 25, 1796. The labor question in that locality has been converted into a political one through the agitation kept up by the Cuban filibusters, headed by the Cuban revolutionist José Marti, to the great detriment not only of the tobacco industry, but also of the interests and security of the American citizens. . The pretext offered for requesting the expulsion of the Spanish (peninsular) twisters who landed recently, to wit, that they are soldiers and are subject to military jurisdiction, is absurd and without foundation. The same thing is true of all the subjects of France, Italy, Germany, and Austria, but nobody has thought of expelling them because they are subject to compulsory military service. If the absurd theory that the tobacco industry is to be monopolized by the Cubans were to prevail the American manufacturers would be left at the mercy of the strikes which would be organized under some pretext or other, and would be the victims of the exactions of the professional agitators. The undersigned, for this reason, can not help fearing the possibility of retaliation if Key West, in spite of the vehement protests of the sensible part of its population, should be converted into a center of conspiracy and of hostility to Cuba, which retaliation might take the form of complete commercial isolation between Key West and the ports of Cuba. The undersigned, therefore, appeals to the wisdom of the honorable Secretary of State to intervene in this controversy and avails himself, etc., E. de Muruaga. Mr. Uhl to Mr. Muruaga. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 22d ultimo, in regard to the emigration of certain peninsular Spaniards to Key West, in which you state that the agitation for their expulsion is purely political and due to the animosity of Cuban filibusters, and that the pretext which has been made that they are soldiers and subject to military jurisdiction is absurd and without foundation. The representations which have reached you touching the grounds upon which the men in question have been treated are, I am happy to state, inaccurate. The action of the Treasury officials was taken solely in compliance with the provisions of the alien contract labor statutes, which it pertains to the Secretary of the Treasury to enforce when it is established that foreign laborers coming to the United States fall under the defined prohibition. A copy of your note and of this reply will be sent to the Secretary of the Treasury for his information. Accept, etc., EDWIN F. UHL,Acting Secretary. Mr. Muruaga to Mr. Gresham. [Translation.] LEGATION OF SPAIN, Washington, February 10, 1894. The undersigned, minister of Spain, referring to his note of January 22 last, has the honor to notify the honorable Secretary of State that, by a cablegram of yesterday, the governor-general of the Island of Cuba informs him that it was only on the personal request and importunity of the authorities of Key West that he permitted the egress of the peninsular workmen. This act of kindness and courtesy has been answered by an order of arrest and expulsion, which is to take effect to-morrow. It seems very strange and incomprehensible that the intrigues and assertions of the revolutionary Cubans, whose chief leader, Dr. Martí, has been for several days holding conferences in this capital, should have had more weight with the Federal Government than the requests of honorable manufacturers and the almost unanimous protests of the American residents of Key West, who are interested in maintaining the freedom of labor. The undersigned, not knowing the reasons for the said measure, requests the honorable Secretary of State to have the goodness to inform him, if possible, of the reasons which have induced the Secretary of the Treasury to adopt measures so little in harmony with the just and impartial policy pursued on recent occasions by the President of the Republic. The undersigned avails himself, etc., E. DE MURUaga. Mr. Gresham to Mr. Muruaga.. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 13, 1894. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 10th instant in regard to certain Spanish cigar makers at Key West, and to inclose herewith a copy of a letter from the Acting Secretary of the Treasury, of this date, on the subject. Accept, etc., [Inclosure.] W. Q. GRESHAM. Mr. Curtis to Mr. Gresham. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 13, 1894. (Received February 13.) SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 10th instant relating to inquiries of the Spanish minister in regard to certain Spanish cigar makers who came to Key West, in which you ask to be advised as to their arrest and deportation. In reply I have to state that it was alleged and proved to my satisfaction that the said Spaniards came to Key West to perform labor under a prior contract entered into in Havana, which is contrary to the provi sions of the acts of Congress of 1885, 1887, and 1888, commonly known as the alien contract labor laws, under which I am required, upon being satisfied that they came in violation of said laws, to have them taken into custody and deported. These laws apply to all nationalities and are made for the protection of American workingmen. I hope you will assure his excellency, the Spanish minister, that no national question actuated my action in the premises. Spaniards can come to Key West or to any other of our ports, but they must not make contracts to do work and labor in the United States prior to their departure from their own country. This Department has information that these Spaniards have declared their intention to become American citizens in order to avoid deportation. Respectfully, yours, W. E. CURTIS, Acting Secretary. Mr. Muruaga to Mr. Gresham. LEGATION OF SPAIN AT WASHINGTON, The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Spain, has the honor to inform the honorable Secretary of State that, according to a communication which he has just received from the consul-general of Spain at New York, two Spaniards, named Victor Ordieras and Valentin Alvarez, have been arrested in that city in pursuance of a special order of the Treasury Department, it being thought that they had come to the United States as emigrants under contract to perform labor. The statements contained in the inclosed document, which is signed by two reputable firms doing business in the city of New York, will convince the honorable Secretary of State that the aforesaid Spaniards have been regarded as emigrants under contract through a misapprehension, and the undersigned therefore begs him to lay said statements before the honorable Secretary of the Treasury, and to request that officer to revoke the order for their arrest and to direct that they be released. The undersigned minister avails, etc., E. DE MURUAGA. [Inclosure.] Messrs. Garcia Bros. et al. to the Spanish consul-general at New York. NEW YORK, April 30, 1894. SIR: We, Selgas Neidel (sic) & Co., residing in this city, at No. 146 Reade street, and F. Garcia & Bros., residing at No. 80 Warren street, respectfully lay before you the following facts: On Friday, the 28th instant, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Victor Ordieras, a native of Oviedo, Spain, and Valentin Alvarez, a native of Lugo, likewise in Spain, were arrested in pursuance of a special order of the Treasury Department at Washington, for violating the law in force on the subject of contract labor, it doubtless being believed that those gentlemen had come as emigrants under contract to perform labor. The reason of this belief probably was that when they arrived in this city, on the 21st of December, 1893, they were taken to Ellis Island, where they were made to sign a paper in the English language, in which, as they thought (they having no knowledge whatever of English), they stated that Mr. Alvarez was going to reside at No. 80 Warren street, and Mr. Ordieras at No. 146 Reade street, but, as it now appears, they declared in that paper that they came under contract to work. Nothing could be more untrue, for Mr. Alvarez is a brother-in-law of Messrs. F. Garcia & Bros., and as such he came, his family being abundantly able |