Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-28
GENERAL BUFFERS RETURN
He Gives the President Valuable Informa-
ton About Cuba.
Military Government of the Island
Must BE COntinued-Sanitary I'M
prOvement of Havana.

Gen. NJ. G. Butler of South Carolina.
member of the Cuban evacuation commits
sion, has arrived here direct from Havana
in reponse to Geographic summons from
President Mckinley, and had two-hour
consultation with the President at the
White House yesterday. He made an ex
tended report OF negotiations for the evacu-
alton and of the terms upon which the
Spaniards had agreed to complete the
evacuation by January l. General Butler
said that all the Spaniards have met the
American commissioners with reasonable
fairness, and that there has been little fric-
ton. Some of the claims they have made
for compensation for Spanish property have
been ridiculous, and they WILL of course, be
abandoned in the end. General Butler de-
MES all the reports of dissensions among
the members of the American commission.
Government of the Island.
In addition to his report upon the actual
work Of the joint commission General
Butler gave to the President much valua-
BILE information to the general situation
in Cuba, the ability of the Cubans for self
government the sanitary condition of Ha-
vana and generally the results of his OBJ
servation during his stay there He is of
the opinion that the military government
of the island must be continued for some
time, but that 1t should only be as rigorous
as may be necessary to preserve order. He
thinks the Cubans are ambitious for self
government and anxious to avoid friction
with the American authorities. If mill
tary control is exercised with discretion
there will be little trouble. One of the most
troublesome features of the situation is the
criminal class. and the difficulty of deter
mining in the case of prisoners who are in
carcerated for political offenses and for
| crime. There has existed in Havana in the
past an oath-bound organization on the
order Of the Italian Malta, known as the
Nenigo, which was source of terror to the
inhabitants. One of the few commendable
acts of Weyler was the deportation of
about 100 Of the members of this organiza-
ton to the penal colony of Ceuta. But
fears are expressed that these criminals
may return, or that the order may be
vived by some of those who were not de-
ported.
Sanitary Improvement of Havana.
One of the features in which the authori-
ties here especially interested just now
is the sanitary condition of Havana. The
shipment of troops, which has already be-
gun, and the existence of yellow fever in
Havana all the year round, makes it alb
solutely necessary that the city should be
placed in thorough sanitary condition.
General Butler describes the city now as
pest hole, filled with uncomfortable filth.
squalor and restitution. The Spanish
thOritieS have, however agreed to inaugu-
ute tuS WOIA Oh putting the CITY III
condition, with the aid Of the American au-
thorities, and work to this end is to begin
at once.
General Butler paints dark picture of the
restitution among the poorer classes, and
says it will probably be necessary for US TO
furnish some aid to the starving wretches.
Spanish Soldiers Praised.
General Butler paid a high tribute to the
discipline and accomplishing suffering of
the Spanish troops. They endured hard
ships, he says, which would have caused
American soldiers to revolt. AS Illus
tration of the admirable discipline of the
Spanish soldery, he said that at one time
there were 1900 Spanish soldiers in Ha-
vana; yet he never saw or heard of an act
of violence, did he hear or see single
Spanish soldier intoxicated.
Beneral Butler will remain here several
days. He will then go to his home in South
Carolina, whence he will return in about
ten days to Havana His wife and daughter
will accompany him on his return. This
fact leads to the belief that he may be des-
tined for military service in Cuba. as his
present mission expires with the completion
of the evacuation.