The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-27
VIEWS OF BUTLER.
He Tells of Commissioners Work and
Talks Of the Cubans

4 aims vi lHt OubthH'
Washington. Nov. 2G.-General NJ. c..
Butler, of South Carolina. member Of
the Cuban evacuation commission, ar
rived here today direct from Havana in
response to telegraphic summons from
President Mckinley, and he had n two
hours consultation with the President at
the White House this afternoon. He.
made an extended report of negotiations
for the evacuation and of the terms upon
which the Spanish had agreed TO com
plete it by January 1st. General Butler
gave it as his opinion that all the Span
iards have met the American commits
sioners with reasonable fairness and that
there has been little friction. Some of
the claims they have made for compen-
sation for Spanish property nave been
ridiculous and they will, of course be
abandoned in the end. General Butler
denied all the reports of dissensinns
among the members of the American
commission In addition to his report
upon the actual work of the joint COM
mission. General Butler gave the Presi-
dent much valuable information as TO
the ability of the Cubans for self-gov-
ernment the sanitary condition of Ha-
NdHl anu Lit IcSuitS VI MS
observations during his stay there. Gen
eral Butler is of the opinion that the
military government of the island must
be continued for some time, but that it
should only be rs rigorous as may be
necessary to preserve order. He thinks
the Cubans are ambitious for self-goy'
ernment and anxious to avoid friction
with the American authorities. If mill
rary control is exercised with discretion
he believes there will be little trouble.
One of the most troublesome features
of the situation is the criminal class and
the difficulty Of determining in the case
Of prisoners who are iEcarcerated for
political offenses, and who for crime.
There has existed in Havana in the past
an Oath-bound organization on the order
of the Italian Malta known as the Mani
go, which was a source of terror TO the
inhabitants. One of the few commend
able acts of the war was deportation of
about 700 of the members of this organi-
zation to the penal colony of Ceuta. But
fears are expressed that these criminals
may return or that the order may be
revived by some of those who were not
depOrted
Another feature Of the situation in
which the authorities here are especially
interested just now is the sanitary con-
dition of Havana The shipment or
troops has already begun and the exist.
encc of yellow fever in Havana all the
year round makes il absolutely necessary
that the city should be placed in thor
ough sanitary condition. General Butler
describes the city now as Il pest hole,
filled with unmentionable filth, squalor
and deStitution. The Spanish authorl," ~
have, however, agreed to inaGS1Tate the
work of putting the city in sanitary con-
dtion with the aid of the American au-
and work to this end is to be-
gin at once. General Butler paints Il
dark picture Of the destitution among
the poorer classes. and says it will prob
ably he necessary for us to furnish some
aid to the starving wretches.
General Butler paid high tribute to
the discipline and uncomplaining suffer
inc of the Spanish troops. They endured
hardships, he SAYS which would have
caused American soldiers to revolt. As
an Illustration OF the admirable discipline
Of the Spanish soldiery, h. said that at
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