The record-union., 1898-12-30
One of the First Tasks When American
Control Is Established.
The Machinery of the Civil Ad-
ministration Now Represented
by the Colonial Cabinet to be
Promptly Replaced by Some
Agency More in Harmony With
the New Conditions.

NEW YORK, Dec. pa dispatch to
the Tribune" from Havana says:
Educational work among both Span
iards and Cubans promises to be one of
the first tasks when American military
control is established Neither class as
yet fully understands its relations to
the United States. The Spaniards are
satisfied with the assurance that their
property will be safe, and that order
will be maintained SO that business
Will not be interrupted. That they
would be asked to share in the respon-
sihilfties of government under Ameri-
can military control has not been made
plain to them. They have assumed that
everything would be turned over to the
Cubans. With the military authority
back of it, they have not worried great
ly over Cuban administration, though
they may have had misgivings as to its
effectiveness. The Spanish classes have
not thought that they would be wanted
in executive positions. and they shirk
the idea of such responsibilities. This
does not apply to the office e-holding
class, which has been an official place.
It's members would be quite willing to
remain. Their retention would defeat
the prospect of attaining the good gov
ernment which the United States has
pledged itself to give Cuba Most of
them are too thoroughly identified with
the past Spanish system of corruption
to be useful in establishing a new re-
gime. A different class of Spaniards
will be needed as they can be found.
An exact partition of authority
fho
manders does not seem to have given
them a definite notion of their respect
i've functions General Lee, as COM
mander of the Seventh Corps, in Ha-
vana Province, does not understand
that he has anything to do with the
military administration of Havana
city, and apparently is glad to be re-
lieved of that responsibility General
Ludlow, as military and civil Gov
ernor of the city, does not understand
that he has anything to do with the
collection of customs duties, but Major
Bliss, though, hopes to have their
disbursement for public improvements.
That win be essential. General Lud-
lows experience as an engineer COM
missioner in Washington will be valu-
able, though the problems he will have
to meet in the sanitation and the polio
ing of Havana will be of different
nature from those at the National
Capital.
Some progress has already been noted
in cleaning the streets. That is a tenn
pcrary relief A more comprehensive
system will be necessary in order to
insure a permanent Improvement.
While no details are given, it is as
sumed that General Brooke, supreme
military commander of the island, will
promptly replace the machinery of civil
administrat ton, which is now repre-
sented by the Colonial Cabinet, by some
agency more in harmony with the new
conditions. The best thing that can
eppen in Cuba will be for the Cabinet
to disappear completely ON January 1st.
The members, or some of them, are
willing to stay. They have been fixing
their relatives in office on the theory
that they would remain. But the Cab
met as a body is hated by the Cubans
and distrusted by the Spaniards. The
public has no confidence in any OF
them.
The Ayuntamiento, or City Council
presents a similar condition. It's pro-
ceedingS became so scandalous that the
civil Governor dismissed nine of the
aldermen. This did not work a change
for the better, because the Council went
on in it's old course, simply giving a
new set of SPECTATORS the benefit of its
liberality. The decree of the Captain
General made void the acts of the City
Council as we'll as of the Cabinet.
Soma kind of n11nicipaI machinery is
de sirable in Havana while the United
States is exercising military control
The Council may fulfill the necessary
functions, but the task Of reforming 1t
with honest men is a difficult one.