Evening star., 1898-11-02
Looking Forward to Vast E1peudi-
lures in Cuba.
UNCLE SAM EXPECTED TO PAY BILLS
Improvements That viii Cost
Millions.
ATTITUDE OF THE NATIVES
copyright 1898. by Charles N. Pepper. ]

PoiltiCdl QiScuSSlOn Wnen II Is tROuSnt prop
er to criticize ones friends. The business
men are fretting, the Cuban patriots are
| worrying, and the Spanish classes are find
ing fault. The only persons perfectly salts
fed are the Spanish officials. who are still
controlling and pocketing the revenues of
the government. This unrest is natural
and inevitable, but it should not be taken
as too significant. When the first troops are
landed the feeling will be more calm. If
a WarShip drops anchor in the harbor there
Will be something like public rejoicing.
W hatever events lead to the flag raising
will be followed with pleasure because they
Will quiet the dangerous undercurrent which
comes from the presence of such a large
number of Spanish troops who are making
10 visible progress toward getting out The
period of peril for Havana and for Cuba is
during the next few weeks With the
knowledge that American control begins
December L kept infiaxibly in view the
period will be passed safely. Delay beyond
mat date fixed would mean complete de-
moralization.
Looking to the Future.
While the merchants of Havana and the
entlre business community are impatient
and even abusive in its criticism of the
United States, disposition has shown itself
among them which will call for hint that it
10 iiol dSItedDle 10 the American people,
This is to shift all the responsibility for the
future on the temporary military govern
ment which will be established In talking
with these Havana merchants have been
struck with their belief that the city and
the island are to become wards of Uncle
Sam, and that they will be relieved of their
share of political responsibility They have
the same notion in the indefinite ideas held
by them regarding annexation. This is
almost invariably true of the Spanish class
{S leo
number of Cuban planters. In some way
the delusion has taken hold of them that
lne Unlted states is going to govern Cuba
at Its own expense for their benefit
Any trained observer can come to Cuba
ana In ten days originate a plan OF public
improvements or internal development
which, Under the most favorable conditions
1t will take ten years to carry out Because
OF the investigations made by the numerous
american commissioners who are down
here in one capacity and another-I don't
Know what the total has now reached-this
impression of a vast expenditure of money
under the direction of the United States
has become widespread. AS the revenues
OF the island will be limited and as wears
VIII be needed for its complete industrial
fecuperation, the expenses for all these ex-
tehslVe improvements would have to
be borne by the United States. 1t would
pc equivalent to assuming a future Cuban
ceot as great as that which Spain has un-
successfully tried to saddle on the Paris
peace commission.
Havana improvements.
After the American military control is
established the revenues honestly co1,ectea
viii be enough to clean up the city of Ha-
Vana They will also Justify putting some
thousand men to work on local improve
rents which will in reality benefit the
whole island. Presumably the same policy
Will be followed at Matanzas and other
lSrse towns. Beyond that an indication
may be given OF what can be done in the
future. either under an independent gov
ernment or under the protecting uthority
OF the United States. What a large eIe-
ment OF business men in Havana needs to
learn Is that the raising of the flag OH
MORO Castle is not the beginning of a
''grant-in-aid,' or subsidy of two or three
hundred million dollars to Cuba, with
themselves the first beneficaries They
90 not know that in paying the EXPENSES
of the garrisons the American taxoayers
will be doing about all that should be asked
OF them. Havana will be cleaned IN as
sanitary measure for the safety of tie
troops, as well AS for the good of the ia
habtants. 1t is in a fearfully dirty and
unhealthy condition. Probably in five years
1t can be pat in good sanitary condition
permanently. For the present instead of
the So. .tt}pG,O which II is said is to he OK
pended, Sio00,GG0 would answer The other
2l,CDu,oo0 would be put to better use out
in the country. helping 10 develop agricuI-
ture. The sanitary heaven IS relative
term. and IL 81 ,0UO.0D should be spent in
cleaning up the city Havana would seem so
much like heaven in comparison wit, what
it low is that everybody would feel him
self in paradise. The burning question, or.
as it is called here, the 'palpitating prob
lem, is that of garbage. The discussion
ri what shall be done with it is more in
structive than the political disputes.
Cubnns Accepting the Situation.
The attitude of the Cubans remains ex-
pectant. The wisest of them accepting
lean military occupation 1t is with defin-
ite reservation. They expect ultimately to
form an Independent government. do not
think when the time comes for a decision
there will be much difference of opinion On
that subject.
Il am man without a country" said a
Cuban sugar planter to me. My only hope
is annexation, but 1 recognize that l stand
almost alone among my people l hated
Spanish rule, but did not think we could
make out much better by ourselves.
thought we might accept what Spain offer
ed. You know the result. The insurgents
burned my cane because they said / was a
Cuban Spaniard, and the Spanish troops de-
stroyed my property because | was Cuban
born
| had been his plantation when Spanish
soldiers were devastating one end of it and
the insurgents were burning the cane at the
other end. But his present isolation is not
will not listen to him talk annexation; yet
they are ready to join with him in meas
ures that will start his plantation going
and give employment to the 700 hands who
formerly worked there.
Formation of Cuban Clubs.
The formation of large number of Gu
ban clubs in Havana was at first looked
upon with distrust. Their ostensible pur-
pose was to furnish food to the Cuban SOL
diers pending dsbandment. They have done
something of this kind, but their real pur-
pose was for political discussion. This dis
cussion has been less radical than was an
ticipated. Thus far the moderate Cubans
have dominated the clubs. All classes will
be better off when they have their news
papers,. 1t seems not to be understood that
in the last days of Spanish sovereignty the
Spanish institution known as the press CEN
sorship continues. Where everything else de-
Gays ii flourshes. The Havana papers con-
trolled by the Spanish classes cannot make
known the views of those classes because
the censor will not allow it. For the Gu
bans to publish paper in these circum-
stances would be a waste of type and ink
When the American occupation begins they