The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-23
REJUVENATDD SANTIAGO
Special Commissioner Porter Re-
NJ na- ports on Reforms in Cuba.
FILTH OF AGES CLEARED AWAY.
Citizens ofSanttaEo, Heretofore Iynac-
cnstomed to Cleanliness, Have Made
Complete Surrender to tho sanitary
Authorities.

Authorities.
81 Washington, Dec. 23.-Robert P. Por-
ter. special commissioner for the Uni
4 i'ted States to Cuba and Porto Rico.
has returned from Santiago and has
submitted his report to the secretary
!, of the treasury. While In Porto Rico
Mr.. Porter held public hearings, and
all persons interested In the welfare
of the island were invited to submit
statements and give oral testimony
The disagreeable smells Of the typical
Cuban city, his report says are less
pronounced in Santiago, while white
wash, llmewash, fresh paint and all
sorts of dsinfectants have deodorized
the surrounding atmosphere and made
the old town quite habitable. The
streets are no longer used as sewers,
and the unhappy Individual who vo-
iates the law and escapes the lash OF
the sanitary commissioners whip is
compelled to work on the streets for
30 days. This official Major Barbour,
with 1926 men dressed in spotless white
and 80 United States mule teams and
carts, having dug out from the streets
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 is burned.
I. The work of sanitation Is not con-
y fined to the streets, but extends to the
l dwelling houses, shops and buildings
! of all kinds. To accomplish this, how
/ ever. the doors Of houses had to be
smashed In and people making sewers
of the thoroughfares were publicly
horsewhipped in the Streets Eminently
respectable citizens We're forciby
brought before the commanding gem
eral and sentenced to aid In cleaning
the streets they were in the habit of
defiling. The campaign has ended in
complete surrender to the sanitary
authorities, and the inhabitants of San
tiago. regardless of class, have had
their first object lesson on the new
order of things inaugurated by the war.
Several important streets have been
Icpaved, and all the public buildings |
nave been thoroughly cleaned the work |
extending to the Opera House. The |
law courts, which were abolished when |
General Shafter took the city, have |
been reorganized. The supreme court, !
the report continues, Is composed of
carefully selected Cuban Judges, the
appontees' nominated wholly on ac-
count of legal attainments, the Bar
association of the province having been
consulted as to the character and quail
ihcattons of the new judges. In the
same manner local government has
been restored and native mayors and
officials appointed, the only require
ment being that persons accepting such
Offices shall take the oath recognizing
the military occupation of the island
by the United States, but in no way
committing them to any future form of
government.
The Spanish. when in possession Of
Cuba, not only assumed absolute con-
troll of the judiciary, but of the munich
pal government. the larger portion df
the taxes raised for municipal pur-
poses being diverted, with the other
revenues in channels which, says the
report, either went to Spain or in Span
lsh pockets. Mr.. Porter advises that
these taxes hereafter must be used ex-
clusively for local purposes, and as far
~ may be deemed practicable that
they be collected and dsbursed by
properly constituted local authorities.
The rural districts of Santiago have
been so depleted that it would he I'M
,ossble to collect taxes over and above
hose needed for the bare necessities
" schools for the poor. and possibly |
mail sums to improve sanitary con-
iitlons. The dawn of prosperity, how
'Her. should be the signal for inaugu-
'ating systematic work on the country
Dads.
MR. Porter recommends that an i'm
Mediate scheme be prepared for levy
ng and collecting internal revenue for
he entire island. The question of sepa-
ating these taxes from purely munich
'al taxes should also be considered,
Ike large amount Of delnquencies dur
ng the least three years, which
mounted to about $4,000, 900, was of
curse due to the war. In normal times
re have here 100000 or So, 900, 900 of
avenue that must not be overlooked,
eNehue which. if properly and econom-
'aily employed, would aid in the in
ustrial rehabilitation of Cuba. Some
the more Onerous exactions, how
yer. should be abolished