New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-23
REHABILITATION OF CUBA.
ROBERT p. PORTER TELLS OF WHAT IS
BEING DONE.
SANTIAGO CLEANED AND MADE HABlTABr.E-
COURTS RDOPESED WITH CUBAN JUDGES
TIGHTENING THE BURDENS
OF ia Y ALTON

OF TAXATION.
Washington. Dec 22-Robert p. Porter Special
Commissioner for the United States 10 'upa ana
Porto Rico has returned from Santiago and has
submitted his report 10 the Secretary Of the Treas
urv While in Porto Rico Mr.. Porter held puohc
hearings. and all persons interested In the "e'are
Of the island Invited TO submit statements
and give oral testimony The Chamber OF 'oW-
merce representing the commercial and Industrial
interests OF the province. responded The machin-
cry Of the military government. Mr. Porter says.
Is running with a fair degree Of smoothness, and
the men responsible for Il understand their bust
ness thoroughly
The disagreeable smells OF the typical Cuban city.
his report says, are less strong In Santiago. while
whitewash lime fresh paint and all sorts OF dis
infectants have deodorized the surrounding atmos-
phere ard made the old town quite habitable. The
streets are no longer used az sewers and the UNI
happy individual who violates the law and es-
capes the lash OF the Sanitary Commissioners
whip Is compelled TO work the streets for thirty
days. This official. Major Barbour. with l26 men
dressed In spotless white. and thirty-two good
United States mule teams and carts. having dug
out from the Of Santiago the filth OF ages. is
now able TO keep them absolutely clean. Every day
by the aid OF petroleum, the garbage OF the city
IL burned. The work OF sanitation is not confined
to the streets but extends 20 the dwelling houses
shops and buildings OF all kinds.
ORDERS ENFORCED BY THE LASH
To accomplish this however. the doors OF the
houses had 10 be smashed and people making
sewers OF the thoroughfares were publicly horse
whipped In the streets. Eminently respectable
citizens forcibly brought before the command
ing general and sentenced 10 aid in cleaning the
streets they were in the habit Of defling The
campaign has ended In complete surrender to
the sanitary authorities. and the inhabitants or
Santiago regardless OF class. have had their nrst
obtect-les In the new order or things oroush'
about by the Several important streets nave
been repaved and eli the public buildings nave
been thoroughly cleaned. the work even extending
10 the opera house.
The law courts which we're abolished when Gen
eral Shafter took the city have been re organized
The Supreme Court the report continues. Is COM
posed OF carefully selected Cuban citizens. the ap
pointees nominated wholly on account OF legal at
tainments, the Bar Association OF the province
having been consulted as TO the character ana
qualifications OF the new judges In me same anne
manner local government has been restored ana
native Mayors and officials appointed, the only re-
Guirement being that persons accepting such olces
shall take the 1aih sut tne n No way
hitting them to any future form OF government
DISPOSITION OF TAXES.
The spaniards. when in possession OF Cuba. not
only assumed absolute control OK the judiciary
but Of the municipal government the larger po'-
ton OF the taxes raised for municipal purposes
being diverted with the other revenues INTO chan-
nel9 which. says the report. either "r"N ~ oe"''
into Spanish pockets MI Porter ADVISES ma
these taxes hereafter must be used exclusively ~,
! local purposes and so far may be deeHeu
: practcabe that they be collected and disourseu
nv. properly constituted local authorities ~, ne
y,raI districts OF Santiago have been so drpie'e1
/ ,bat n will be impossible to collect taxes Over a"t
above those needed for the bare neceSsl.es ~
schools Tor the poor. and possibly smal sum ~
,,nnrove sanitary conditions. The dawn OF ptoS-
perity however, should be the sigEa TOT oee'"''"e
syeter1atic work on the country roauS a., - ,ho
! Eri. sh Government
roads IN Jamaica about 10000. where thefe ~
now two thousand miles already coh s 80 gsn
/ money expended on roads. WnetneT Iloi ti.e 80.
eral funds Of the island or from me ,ocat nd
r,aLc Santiago one OF the richest sugar COIee anu
fruit growing districts In me west ihules np,,
! can he grown at profit, ana as II Az ", nii
fourteen months to grow mem n,ld mndrt9ke their
oranges the poorer classes coul" UNIV
/ cultivation TO great advantage ,, ,,oa,s,,o
The internal industrial. professional, nveI 80
and other miscellsneo taxes me, he authorities
ra now preoaring to enforce the No" that me
customs tariff mas been disposed OF. DIT =, ~
recommends that an immed dn ,o,arnal revenue
pared for evyng and collecting in'rIns. afinp
g. IN. entire island The question OF separa1i,Iss
these taxes from purely municpaI ,a.' Haiin
also bs considered Inc arg a whirh amounted
=, about &c 600 go was OF course due 70 tns "a ~;
IN normal times there are AopoD or $500 49,, "a q
revenue tina, must mol eDc De- employed.
would aid IN the industrial rehab.iiialoh Oh
some OF the more onerous eNac''o"S' "o'
should be abolished J., .,.o, recommendations
r,nc,naIlv with regard improvements IN , ~
borhor the establishment OF lights ana ouos
the removal OF obstrucuonns, r,:,rative abty OF
10 n,kn Mood the Military Governor OF sant'aso.
nehs sa.r :, in his admirable managenent OF the
a. AIRS of the province under his jurisd'cuoh'