The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-26
The CABINET AND CUBA.
Tine Limit fsr the Evacuation Of the island
Has Been Extended to January |.
PORTO RICO IS RECEIVING CONSIDERATION
Currency, Customs ana Suffrage
Laws to be Provided For--Prcpnr-
ing for American Occupation.


meeting today the situation in Cuba was
gone over for the information Of the mem
bers who did not see the president yester-
day 1t was explained that the time Limit
for the evacuation of the island had been
extended to January /, and that the United
States would assume control OF the govern
ment Of the several cities aud provinces as
fast as they were evacuated by the Span
iards. but no faster. Havana probably Will
be the last OF the cities to remove its
troops and the last TO surrender civil con-
troll to the United States. This. however,
must be accomplished by the LIST of January.
The question OF the relation Porto Rico
shall bear to the general government OF
the United States is receiving the careful
consideration of the president and members
OF the cabinet. The question of q change
in the currency system of the island, the
customs and internal revenue laws, SUI
frage and many other incidental but hignly
important subjects are now under consider
alton and PROBABLY Will be treated upon at
sens length in uae presidents forthcoming
message Ito congress. Ii is not unlikely
that congress Viii be asked TO PASS some
needed general legislation respecting the
temporary government OF the island with u
Recommendation that a commttee TO con-
slider with more elaboration than Is possi-
bic ia u short session OF congress all Of the
questions involved and make a report at Il
future time.
Nothing of a disqulating nature has been
heard from our peace commission ut Paris
The contention of the Spanards that the
United States should assume the Cuban
debt or any other Spanish obligation be-
yond the recognition as valid oI the mu-
nicipal obligations of Havana and possibly
other Cuban cities. is received here with
perfect equanimity. Such a procedure is
Is out OF the question, as our commissioners
knew before they Left Washipgtpn.
Secretary Alger carried with him to the
cabinet meeting today q mass OF data re-
lating TO the evacuation OF Cuba by the
Spaniards aud TO the establishment OF
camp sites for the occupancy OF the Amerl-
can troops. on the latter Colonel Hecker s
commission furnished ell the necessary in
formation and there were no less than
three separate reports on the subject The
colonel methodically kept a daily record OF
the observations OF the commission, treai :
ing In detail OF the features OF each OF the
sites examined, the railroad facilities, the
supply OF water and otheA l1atters OF equal
Importance The commission has already
pretty we'll exploited Havana province.
has made some excursions into Mataazas
province and at last accounts WAS workinp
in Pinar Del Rio. This leaves only the
central portion of the island TO be inspect
ed, as Colonel Woods Judgment. supple
mented BY that of other army officers who
have been campaigning In that section
Will be accepted as to the disposition o
military forces in Eastern Cuba.
The administration Is said to have
reached the conclusion that the dispositlo,
OF such property as cannons In mounts aus
Other fixed property by the Spanish OF
flciIls In Havana is q violation OF the spiri
OF the protocol and Is taking steps to sus
pend the practice.
The cabinet gave a good deal OF otten
tion to tho Heober board reporls and |
may be regarded as significant that 1t lei
still undetermined the question as I,
whether the United States governlnen
should erect piers and other permancn
eids TO landing troops or should rely %
the supplies used at Santiago for landn
them. The significance OF the decision !
be reached lies in the fact that II may IN
dictate a determination on the part of th
administration TO make longer or shorto
occupation OF the island Of Cuba II IA
stay OF the United States troops in Cuba
to be shor, lighters probably would sarv
all needs: II on the other hand a loug mil
tary occupation Is looked forward 10 ne,
manent landing structures would be IN
most economical and servceahle as IN
means of keeping the troops supplied wi.
quartermastcrs' and commissary stores an
facilitating their movements from one pai
OF the island to mother
There was some talk of the work of N
Paris peace commission, and although tt
believed the situation Is not satsfac or
there ia full confidence In the outcome
the negotiations.