The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-23
SANTIAGO HAS
MANY REFORMS.
Mr.. Porter Says the Military Govern
ment is Running Smoothly.
SANITATION MUCH IMPROVED.
Does Much Towards Cleansing the
Dirty Streets-The Courts Have
All Been ReOpened.

WILMINGTON, Deq 22-Robert 7.
Porter. special commissioner of the
United States TO Cuba and Porto Rico.
has returned from Santiago. and has
submitted his report to the Secretary
of the Treasury. While in Porto Rico
Mr.. Porter held public hearings. and all
persons interested in the welfare of the
island were invited to submit statements
and give oral testimony. The Chamber
of Commerce. representing the CONNER
cial and industrial interests Of the Pro-
vince, were represented. The machinery
of the military government Mr., Porter said
is running with a fair degree Of smooth
ness and the men responsible for II un'
dcrstand their business thoroughly.
- PROGRESS OF SANITATION.
aThe disagreeable smells of the typical
Cuban city, his report says are less pro-
uounced in Santiago, while whitewash.
lime wash. fresh paint and all sorts OF
disinfectants have deodorized the sur
rounding atmosphere and made the old
town quite habitable. The streets are no
longer used as sewers and the unhappy
individual who violates the law Is com
PEELED to work on the streets for thirty
days. Major Barber, with three hundred
men dressed I'm epotless white with
United States mule teams and carts. has
dug ont Of the streets the filth Of ages
and is now able TO keep them clean
by the aid of petroleum, the garbage
Of the city IS burned.
DWELLINGS ALSO
The work OF sanitation is not confined
10 the streets. but extends 10 the dwell
ing houses. shops and buildings of all
kinds: 20 accomplish this. however. the
doors Of the houses had 10 be smashed
in. and people making sewers of the
thorouEhfare were publicly horsewhipped
in the streets. Eminent respectable citi-
zens were forcibly brought 10 the COM
manding general and sentenced 20 aid
in cleaning the streets they were i'm the
habit Of defling. The campaign has end
ed in a complete surrender 10 the sani-
tary authorities and the inhabitants of
Santiago regardless Of class, have re-
ceived their first object lesson in the new
order OF things.
Several important streets have been re-
paired. all the public buildings have been
thoroughly cleaned. the work even ex-
tending 20 the Opera-house.
COURTS RE-ESTABLTSHED
The law courts which were abolished
when General Shafter took the city have
been rc-opened. The Supreme Court. the
report continues. is composed of carefully
selected Cuban judges the nominees nom
mated wholly on account of legal attain
ments. in the same manner local gov
eminent has been restored and native
mayors and officials appointed, the only
requirement being that persons accept
ing such offices shall take the oath re-
cogn!zing the military occupation Of the
island by the United States but in no
way committing them TO any future form
of government
The Spanish when in possession Of cuba |
not only assumed control Of the judiciary
but Of the municipal government. the
larger portion of the taxes raised for
municipal purposes being diverted with
the other revenues into channels which.
SAYS the report either led TO Spain or
into Spanish pockets.
TAXES FOR HOME Use.
Mr.. Porter advises that these taxes
hereafter be used exclusively for local
purposes and. as far as may be deemed
practicable, that they be collected and MS
bursed by properly constituted local au-
thorities The rural districts OF Santiago |
have been so depleted that It will be |
impossible to collect taxes over and above |
those needed for the bare necessities of |
schools, for the poor. and possibly small |
sums 10 improve the sanitary conditions. |
Inc dawr OF prosperity however. should |
be the signal for Inaugural ing systematic |
work on me country roads. The money |
expended on roads whether from the |
general funds Of the island or from the |
local budgets, would come back hun |
dredfold. 1t is stated, and make San
tiago one OF the richest sugar. coffee |
and fruit-growing districts in the West |
Indies. Now that the customs tarfff has /
been disposed Of. NJ. Porter recon- |
me1ds that an immediate scheme be pre-
pared for levying and collecting internal |
revenue for the entire island. The ques-
ton Of separating these taxes from
purely municipal taxes should be con-
sidered also. The large amount OF de-
linquencies during the last three years.
which amounted to about 5000. 600. was
due, OF course. 10 the war.