The evening times., 1898-08-15
oFF1cEHoLDFRs IN CUBA.
New Incumbents Must Conform tu
Civil Service Reform Laws

new lncumbents Must Conform to
Civil Service Reform Laws.
The Administration has reached some
decisions as to the manner in which Gu
ba is to be governed after peace is de-
clared between the United States and
Spain. The United States will establish
temporary military administration.
This will be absolutely necessary, as the
United States now stands responsible for
good order in Cuba before the world, and
good order would be impossible il the
population of Cuba were left to work out
its own salvation.
military governor will be appointed.
and he will be supreme authority on the
island. AT the same time the United
States will undertake the task of replac-
ing the Spanish system of civil govern
ment with a new and better one The
way in which this problem will be work
ed out is interesting. The plans of the
Administration have been learned from
an official of the Government who is in a
position to know what is being consid-
cred. He said:
You can say with safety that as long
as the military administration endures
on the island the United States authors
ties will control all the appointments to
civil places on the islands. For instance,
the pos;masters will undoub;ed edly be nam
ed by the President, as will also the may
ors of the cities. 1t is the purpose of the
Administration to extend the civil sery-
ice over the island of Cuba TO govern all
minor civil appointments. All such ap-
pointments Will be made through COM
petltlve examination. The men best quail
lhed for the places will get them, wheth-
er they be Spaniards or Cubans. unless
something can be shown against their
character or proof of their disloya!ty to
the existing state of affairs be shown
The Administration expects much from
this policy. For years Cuba has known
nothing but corruption in its government
As result of the previous system of
bribery and favoritism in public affairs
the morals of the community have been
so injured that ii is necessary to build
them up again before there will be any
hope Of the population being able to gov
ern itself in such a way as to insure
peace at home and respect abroad. To
the task of improving the morals of the
people the Administration will therefore
nrst OF all, set itself. There is no way
In which this Improvement can be so
well brought about as by the introduc-
ton of civil service on the island. AS
soon as the people begin to understand
that merit. and merit alcse, governs tae
selection of their officials. they will be-
gin to have confidence in their govern
ment. The ambitions of all will be stim-
ulated, and the people will cultivate in.
tegrity of character as the surest road tn
success"
On being asked what he thought the
Cuban Junta would think of these plans
of the United States, the same gentle
man replied:
why. I am sure they would welcome
them. The members of the Cuban Junta
in the United States are all highly edu-
Gated, intelligent men. and. guided by
an upright purpose. they realize as well
as anybody that for the United States to
abandon Cuba to its fate now would be
certain to result in a repetition of the
misfortunes Of Haiti. They love their
country, and they want to see II built IN
and made prosperous. To achieve this
they know that the fostering care of the
United States will be necessary for some ,
time. They will be glad to see it ex-
tended.
IAN the talk of their having lack of
confidence in the American Intentions is
rot. They understand the situation thor
oughly. The United States is bound to |
maintain order and good government in |
Cuba until the people of Cuba are capable |
Of managing their own affairs. When |
this time comes the United States. faith |
full to its promise before the world. will |
give the people Of Cuba a fair chance to |
determine what they want If they pro-
claim for their independence It will be |
given them. II they decide for annexa- |
tion to the United States this Will be |
done. The Cuban Junta not only hes no
criticism of Americas course SO far. or
the course which the :Junta knows Is to
be pursued. but the members have ex-
pressed their deep gratitude for the sac
ri6ces which the United States has SO |
generously made to rescue the Cuban |
people from the domination Of a cruel |