The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-01-15
FUNCTIONS or TILE
NEW HAVANA CABINET.
Their Duties Are Limited 10 the Munlci-
Dal Administration Of the City
Insurgents Given Preferences.

NEW YORK, Jan. ii.--A dispatch 70
tho Tribune from Hugana says: The
most irlT' flErt nominations recently an
nounced here are those Of Mario Menocal
as chief OF police. Perfecto La Coste as
alcalde. or mayor and Frcderico az civil
governor.
The latter Is not 40 well known as the
two former. but h' Is satisfactory 20 the
onS,ivatiye cubans and SpanlardA, He
was a member OF the revolutionary 1unta
In Havana during the insurrectlon.
MenOcal was con. mander Of the lnBur-
gent troops IN Havana and Matanzas
provinces. His cooperation with the
American military authorities has al
ready been noted. His place in reality
viii be more than Of chief Of police in
the city. He will advise with General
Brooke and General Lee In the forma-
tlon OF the rural police and IN other
matters OF policy and administration.
Pcrfecto La Coste, who Is named as
alcalde. was the president Of the Havana
revolutionary iurta. and now holds a
similar place with the lunta patriotlcia.
which succeeds H.
The TeHiente alcaldes have functions
analogous 20 those Of assistant mayor
and aldermen. One Of them. Juan Bar
relre. ls professor In the university.
Othecs were deported By Weyler 10 the
penal settlement Ia Africa. Several Of
the aldermen were also political exiles
ani some served in the insurgent army.
The reorganization Of the city coan-
cil was one OF the most serious problems
here. The body was In disfayor. Sew
eral OF It's members were willing 10 stay
anJ are disappointed that their resIgna-
tl0ns were accepted. Under a rule made
In Washington. Il viii have nothing to
do with the granting OF franchises. its
functions viii be limited to municipal
administration and the military authori-
ties are hopeful that their Uwn .abors
win be- llghtened. General Menocal and
others OF the iRsurgent troops hrst Sc
cured the consent OF the assembly which
represents the insurgent army. so that
no friction can arise from that source.
The appointments show the sincerity
Of the purpose TO recognize the Cubans
and 10 give preference 20 those who
fought In the lnsurrection or who were
Identified with H. The Spanish classes
take them philosophlcally and say that
most Of the ren named are worthy. The
radical insurgents who are disappointed
have now to ind fault with Menocal
and Their leaders instead OF with the
Americans
In the Cuban custom house the plan
OF recognizing the insurgents has gone so
far that other Cubans complain that their
applications are plgeon-holed without
reading. Yesterday p officers OF various
grades IN the insurgent army were given
places under Collector Bliss. Most Of
them expected places corresponding to
their rank. AS the policy adopted by the
custom house Is to begin at the bottom Of
the ladder and acquire experience be-
f;..=sS giving appointments as inspectors
and appraisers, this could not be done.
The insurgent officers complained and
two or three OF them failed to rport
for duty. The others. though grumbling.
were at their posts.
Isolated Instances OF vandalism by
American soldiers are causing complaints
from keepers OF cafes. They try to OBJ
serve General Ludlow's orders against
selling alcoholic beverages to soldiers
and are victims OF resentment. All cases
Of thu; kind are vigorously punished. but
the effect OF a single case is bad.
While the American officials are getting
along well with the Cuban they continue
10 have differences among themselves
The latest trouble is over the sanitation
OF the custom house. Colonel Bliss
wants to so ahead and cleanse II, but
after work was started 1t was stopped
because the method was not in accord
'ance with General Ludlow's general plan.