The Globe-republican., 1898-11-10
DELAY CAUSES TROUBLE.
Situation in Havana Is Not Ipprov-
ing Any.
CRIME IS ON THE INCREASE.
People Losing Faith and COnfidene
United Ststes-Frightful Mortality List
American Commission Rent by In
tern0l Diss0nsiOns.

HAVANA, Nov. THE international
loss of sovereignty in Cuba and the as
sumption of full military control by
the United States seems indefinitely
prolonged, with no immediate hope of
relief to country which daily grows
poorer and more depopulated. On all
sides the question is asked, how much
nearer is the final solution of the prob
lem than it was ON the day the proco-
col was signed?
The feeling among the better classes
of intelligent and influential Cubana
may be pretty accurately summed up
in the following observations made by
. representative Cuban merchant of
Havana:
1t seems to me-and [ tt"
views are shared by many-that the
United States government is dilly-
dallying too long with Spain over this
evacuation question OF course the
problem is difficult one, but the de-
lay is surely unnecessary. The United
States has sent here an assortment of
commissions, each more self-important
and mysterious than its predecessor,
and each yelling its operations with q
cloud of secrecy, which, so far as my
American experience goes, really
serves the purpose of obscuring issues
and concealing very small achieve
ments.
almost nothing has been accom-
plished. The spirit of jealousy fills not
only the individual members of all the
commissions, but also exists between
the different commissions collectively.
These rivalries seem to engross the at
tention of the commissioners much
more than the serious questions affect
ing the welfare of Cuba and the dig
nifty and good faith of the United
States.
First, we were told that the date
of occupation by the United States
troops would be November 1. then De-
cember l was fixed upon, and later we
were informed that the date for occu-
patton would be left indefinite. So far
as evacuation is concerned, January
was named as an ultimatum date, but
now it is rumored that February 1 has
been agreed upon. The fact is, the
country at large, whether Cuban, for
eign or Spanish is getting Disguised
The people are losing faith and conf
dence owing to the lack of formality
displayed by the American representa-
tives. To all questions asking inform
alton on these points, the American
commissioners, with a superior smile
and an assumption of gravity to cover
their ignorance, reply vaguey and un.
satisfactorily.
"Unless the Washington government
forces Its lethargic commissions into
greater activity, Cuba will be an i'm
mensc graveyard and its fields barren
before the United States takes possess
sion The daily records of mortality
show that the population in all parts
of the island is dwindling steadily
Entire villages are dying of starvation.
On all sides the Spaniards continue
robbing and plundering. In the mean
time, these sage, gossipping commits
sioners from the United States sit sip
ping cool drinks by day and seeking
shelter by night, with mortal dread of
fever, yet absolutely impervious to
the demands of humanity.
'.The situation created by this un-
certainty is still further aggravated
by the fact that no one dares sow
crops or cultivate lands until the pres
ent chaotic conditions show some rays
Of light to guide agricultural efforts.
There is no work for idle hands, Day
by day the number of beggars. thieves
and prostitutes increases, while the
number of those able to relieve dis
tress shrink in the same proportion.
''The present conditions can not be
much longer protracted without sub
iecting the United States to well-de-
served criticism. More than that, the
elements most in sympathy with the
United States are slowly but surely
falling off and joining the ranks of the
opposition.
"As you are aware, Senior Castro,
the civil governor, only yesterday
issued orders for the arrest of 263
criminals recently released from jails
and the penal colonies Of Ceuata, and
on the Isle of Pines This step was
rendered necessary by the increase,
the alarming increase. in burglaries,
highway robberies and assaults.
"While the blockade was on the city
was ruled with an iron hand, and cases
Of assault and robbery were almost
unknown. To-day, with the release of
criminals and the increase of poverty,
the list of murders and hold-ups is .
very grave matter. In addition to the
already numerous paupers and unem-
ployed, driven to beg from sheer ne
cessity. there are many discharged
Spanish soldiers entirely without
tseans of support. Their number
Seaches into the thousands.
Omaha Concessions TOOK In = Million.