The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-24
COMMISSIONERS AT
CUBA WANT CREDIT
THE ONLY MEANS OF RELIEv-
ING DISTRESS.
They Also Advise the Government
to Provide Ready Made Barracks
for Cuba-Robert P. Porter Is Ten
dered a Banquet at Cienfuegos and
Makes a Speech-Blanco Will Re-
move the Remains of Columbus.

Havana, Sept. 23.-The American
commissioners. in view of the great
number of American citizens in the
island, who require aid, and having no
American consul here to distribute re-
lief, have, according to report, asked
he Washington government for spe-
cial credit to attend to thes. urgent
requirements.
According to information received,
the commissioners have advised the
government that it will be very dang
erous to bring to Havana troops to
be housed in the existing barracks, as
they have become infected by over
crowding with sick Spanish soldiers.
and because of the bad sanitary con-
Cition of the whole town.
1t is, therefore, PROPOSED that ready
made, frame barracks. ready to be put
together, shall be shipped from The
United States before the American
oops are brought here.
Mr.. Robert p. Porter was given a
banquet by the leading club of Glen
tuegos while in that city. Mr.. Porter,
at the banquet, made speech. in the
course of which he said tina. his mis-
sion to the island was purely shat uf
the country, and the best means of
developing the same and every branch
of industry and commerce, and that
he hoped he woull find the Cubsns
ready to help him to succeed in his
mission. He expressed himself as
strongly in favor of the free importa-
tion of cattle, both for agricultural
work and for consumption. ana also
Of I,o
and implements of agriculture AMI
manufacture. He dwelt upon the
necessity for cooperation by every
man of property. and all laboring peo-
pie, both Spanish and Cuban. to help
carry out the plans of the United
States programme in Cuba, but that If
annexation should be treated of event.
ua'ly the initiative step should eman-
ate from Cuba herself by her asking
the United States for annexation.
Mr.. Porter finished his remarks by
saying that the United States govern
ment was occupied by and interested
soely in the development of commerce
and industry in Cuba, which it was
prepared to use every effort and re-
source of the country to secure.
Mr. Porter expressed himself as much
surprised and pleased with the aspect
of Cienfuegos, the cleanliness of it's
streets, its beautiful bay and fine
buildings, and the many immense
sugar estates in the vicinity. He
strongly favors the immediate estab-
lishment of an electric plant for the
lighting of the city and the movement
of its street cars! He was much struck
with the beauty and elegance of the
native women.
SILVER IS RISING.
Silver is rising, owing to the fact that
more bankers are buying large sums Of
silver coin. Today silver was quoted
at 671s on the dollar. During the block
ade 1t was as low as So
General Blanco has conferred a dec =.
Grafton upon a colored woman named
Barbara Gaterrez for bravery dis
played during the bombardment OF
Manzanillo. where she fought side by
side with the regular troops, display
ing the utmost courage.
Chief Francisco Peraza, of the Guelta
Abajo division, has arrived at General
Collazo's camp at Melena del Sur, in
the Havana province. leaving the COM
mand of his division to Jose Castillo,
the next in command.
Captain General Banco, in view of
the governments decision to transfer
the remains of Columbus to SPAIN has
issued the following order:
First-The monument containing the
remains shall be removed from its
mounting leaving as it now is the base
upon which it rests, and it shall be
properly packed for shipment.
Second-A commission presided over
by the captain general and composed
of the bishop of Havana, the colonial
secretary of justice, the civil and mill
tary governors, the dean of the cathe-
dral, the state architect and a doctor
commissioned by the board of health
shall examine the niche containing the
remains and adopt necessary measures
for their prompt shipment to Spain.
The commission will meet on Mon
day, Sept. 25, at the cathedral. The
finance department will appropriate
$4,000 to defray the expenses of pack
ing and shipping the monument.