The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-27
CONDITIONS At HAVANA
GEN. NJ. C. BUTLER MAKES A YER
BAL REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT.
He Thinks Evacuntion VIII BE Conn
pIeted Before. Jan. 1-Cubans Anx-
ious for SeIf-GOvernment.

WASHINGTON, Nov. &c. - Gen. NJ. C.
Butler.Sof South Carolina, member of the
Cuban evacuation commission, arrived here
to-day direct from Havana in response to
telegraphic summons from President Nc
Binlsy, and this afternoon he had a two
hours consultation with the President at
the White House He made an extended re-
port OF negotiations for the evacuation and
of the terms on which the Spaniards had
agreed to complete the evacuation by Jan. l.
General Butler gave it as his opinion that
all the Spanish troops will have departed ten
days before the date fixed in the agreement.
He says the Spaniards have met the Amer
lean commissioners with reasonable fairness,
and that there had been little friction. Some
of the claims they have made for compen-
sation for Spanish property have been ride
ulous, and they will, Of course, be abandoned
in the end. General Butler denies all the re-
ports of dissesnsions among the members Of
the American commissioners.
In addition to his report upon the actual
work of the joint commission, General But
Ter gave to the President much valuable in
formation as to the general situation in
Cuba, the ability of the Cubans for self
government, the sanitary condition of Ha-
vana and generally the results of his OBJ
servation during his stay there. General
Butler is of opinion that the military gov
eminent of the island must be continued
for some time, but that it should only be as
vigorous as may be necessary to preserve
order He thinks the Cubans are ambitious
for self-government and anxious to avoid
friction with the American authorities. If
military control is exercised with discretion
he believes there will be little trouble. One
tIa %I..
uation is the criminal class and the diff
Guilty of determining in the case of prisoners
who are incarcerated for political offenses
and who for crime. There has existed in
Havana in the past an oath-bound organiza-
ton on the order of the Italian Malta,
known as the Mango, which was a source
Of terror to the inhabitants. One of the few
commendable acts of Weyler was the de-
portation of about seven hundred of the
members of this organization to the penal
colony of Ceuto. But fears are expressed
that these criminals may return or that the
order may be revised by some of those who
were not deported.
One of the features of the situation in
which the authorities here are especially in
terested just now is the sanitary condition
of Havana. The shipment of troops, which
has already begun, and the existence of yell
low fever in Havana all the year round
makes it absolutely necessary that the city
should be placed in thorough sanitary con-
dition. General Butler describes the city
now as a pesthole, filed with unmention-
able filth, squalor and restitution. The
Spanish authorities have, however, agreed
TO inaugurate the work of putting the city
in sanitary condition with the aid of the
American authorities, and work to this end
is to begin at once. General Butler paints
dark picture OF the restitution among the
poorer classes, and says it will probably be
necessary for us to furnish some aid to
the starving wretcheS.
General Butler paid a high tribute to the
discipline and accomplishing suffering of
the Spanish troops. They endured hard
ships he says, which would have caused
American soldiers to revolt AS an illustra-
ton of the admirable discipline of the Span
ish sol6iery he said that at one time there
were 43, 600 Spanish soldiers in Havana; yet
he never saw or heard Of an act of violence
nor did he hear or see d single Spanish SOL
der intoxicated
General Butler will remain here several
days. and probably have another interview
with the President He will then go to his
home, in South Carolina, whence he will re-
turn in about ten days to Havana. His
wife and daughter will accompany him
his return. This fact leads to the belief
that he may be destined for military service
in Cuba, as his present mission expires with
the completion of the evacuation.