Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-10-29
POLICY OF AMERICA
IN SANTIAGO De CUBA
General Wood Issues His First
Proclamation to the People
of the Province.
STRICT JUSTICE IS GUARANTEED
No Property Will Be Taken With
out Fair Compensation to
the Owners.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ALLOWED
Prisoners In the Provincial Jail
Who Were Suffering Heavy
Sentences for Petty or.
fcnses Are Released.

Santiago de Cuba, Oct. 24.-General
Leonard Wood has issued his first
proclamation since assuming the COM
mand of the department of Santiago.
The proclamation, which refers to the
policy the Americans will pursue in
governing the territory under their
jurisdiction, will be published in the
English and Spanish papers, and will
be struck off on hand bills in large
type and posted in conspicuous places
in the city and other important towns
in the province of Santiago.
In the proclamation General Wood
says the policy of the Americans has
been TO follow the old laws as far as
practicable, but owing to the incom-
patibility Of some of the laws with the
altered conditions a definite declara-
ton of the American policy is neces-
gary.
Features OF u Proclamation.
The fl rst clause of the proclamation
says the people will have the right to
assemble peacefully to discuss public
questions, to petition the authorities
for redress of grievances, etc.
No restraits will be placed on relig-
ion. The right of the inhabitants to
follow any creed they are accustomed
to will not be questioned, nor will re-
ligious prediction ~disqualify any cit
izen, who is otherwise capable, from
holding any Office or public trust.
The courts will be open TO all, and
Justice will be swiftly administered.
No property will be taken for pub
lie uses without fair compensation to
the owners.
In criminal cases the accused per-
sons will have the right of representa-
ton by counsel. No man will be COM
PEELED to give self discriminating evil
dence. Bail will be accepted in all
cases except such as involve capital
punishment. The writ of habeas cor
pus cannot be suspended except when
the commanding general deems it adj
yisable.
No man will be placed twice in jeop-
ardy of life and liberty for the same
Offense.
No excessive fines or punishments
will be imposed.
Writs of search and seizure will be
issued only in exceptional cases.
General Wood has released the last
of the prisoners in the provincial Jail
who were suffering unusually severe
punishment for small offenses. He is
making arrangements to Immediately
appoint justices of the peace in all the
towns of the province held by the
Americans, so as to do away with the
Spanish system of bringing prisoners
to Santiago from all parts of the prov
incc.
Yellow Fever Disappearing.
General Wood has received a report
from DR.. Sewell, who is in charge at
Guantanamo. lie states that the last
ease of yellow fever among the Third
imlnunes has been cured. The fever at
Guantanamo was the real article, and
the mortality was greater than 20 per
cent. DR.. Sewell says the troops
caught the disease while visiting a
cemetery in which bodies were being
cXhumed. There has not been a case OF
yellow fever in the city of Santiago
for two weeks. The condition OF the
troops all about the city is getting
better every day.
Major knight, the depot quarter
master, paid debts to the amount of
$4,000 that were contracted when the
Fifth army corps, General Skaters
command, occupied the city, and
which wee left unpaid. Colonel Hum
phreys, General Skaters quartermas-
ter, did not pay anything while he was
here. Some of the bills presented were
contracted early in July. They in
clude rent for wharves and warehouses
seized for military purposes, and pro-
visions and medical stores supplied to
the army. Bills to the amount of $780,
600 more are outstanding.