The times., 1899-02-08
THE DAWN OF A new
ERA FOR Free CUBA
Commissioner Porter's Report
on the Island Conditions.
Cleanliness Has Replaced Filth in
the City of Santiago.
Local Governments Have Been Re-
stored aud Other Improve
ments Are Being Made.

! gave out for publication yesterday an abb
stract of the report recently made by Spe-
cial Commissioner Robert p. Porter to the
Secretary of the Treasury on the CONNER
cial and Industrial condition of Cuba. Mr..
Porter says that a visit to Santiago should
give relief to those suffering from the
| craven fear of being great" for there
may be found much that is encouraging.
In this province of Cuba, remarks Mr..
| Porter may be seen in full operation the
work which the Government of the United
States has been impelled to undertake.
Here, too, may be studied the character of
the forces upon which the people of the
| United States must rely in the work Cf
reconstruction now in progress.
The machinery of government he says,
| is running with a fair degree OF smooth
ness. and the men responsible for it, from
the humblest official to the capable COM
mander of the province, understand their
business and are masters of the situation.
1t is a striking illustration of the marve-
lous adaptability of the American charac-
| ter.
Every department of the public service is
carrying on its work, the only difference
apparent being the absence of Spanish OIL
diers and the more business-like methods
of the officials.
The City Purified.
The disagreeable smells of the typical
Cuban city are less pronounced in Santa
go. while whitewash. limewash, fresh
paint and all sorts of disinfectants have
deodoriZed the surrounding atmo sphere
and made the old town habitable. The
streets are no longer used IS sewers. and
the unhappy individual who violates the
law and escapes the lash of the sani-
tarian's whip is compelled to work on the
street for thirty days.
Major George NJ. Barbour. with 1C6 men
dressed in spotless white and thirty-two
good United States mule teams and carts,
having dug out from the streets of San
tiago the filth of ages. is now able to keep
them absolutely clean Every day, by the
aid of that great disinfectant, petroleum.
the garbage of the city is burned.
The work of sanitation is not confined
to the streets but extends to the dwelling
houses, shops, and buildings Of all kinds.
Indeed, the campaign against dirt disease
has been as sharp and hot as the charge on
San Juan Hill, and productive of bene-
ficial results. The resistance, Mr. Porter
says. on the part of the native population
is even more stubborn than that of the
Spanish soldiers TO our forces around San
tiago.
The doors of houses had to be smashed
in; people making sewers of the thorough
] streets of Santiago; eminently respectable
citizens We're forcibiy brought before the
| Commanding General and sentenced to aid
in cleaning the streets they were in the
habit of deiling.
Victory for CIcanIincss
The campaign ended in the complete sur
render to the sanitary authorities. and the
inhabitants of Santiago. regardless of class,
Z F,od tj,air IN, III
new order of things inaugurated by the
war. Looking backward seven months and
picturing Santiago in July, and comparing
it with the more hopeful condition exist
ing on all sides at the present moment,
Mr.. Porter says. it is easy to discern the
omens which point to the coming prosper
ity of the whole island under intelligent
and honest government.
Under Major General Wood, in addition
to the improved sanitary conditions. sew
eral important thoroughfares have been
repaved. All of the public buildings have
been thoroughly cleaned and put in good
order, the work even extending TO the large
opera house.
The law courts. which were abolished,
have been rcorganized. The court is com
posed of carefully selected Cuban judges,
the appointees nominated wholly on ac-
count of legal attainments. the bar asso-
Citations of the province having been con-
suited as to the character and qualifications
of the new judges.
Local government has been restored, ma
tive mayors and officials appointed. the
only requirement being that persons ac-
cepting such offices should take the oath
recognizing the military occupancy of the
island by the United States, but in no way
committing them to any future form OF
government. The wisdom of this action
cannot be doubted and the moral effect
upon the people of Cuba will be far-reach-
ing.
Taxes for Local Purposes.
The Spanish when in possession Of Cuba
not only assumed absolute control of the
!, judiciary, but of the municipal govern
ment, the larger portion Of the taxes raised
for municipal purposes being diverted
with the other revenues. which either led
to Spain or into Spanish pockets,
1t will be even a greater stroke OF wis
dom, says Mr.. Porter. if these taxes are
hereafter used exclusively for local pur-
poses, and as far may be deemed
, practicable. collected and dsbursed by
properly constituted local authorities.
In his opinion there could be no wiser
expenditure of local revenue for several
years than upon the streets and sewers ol
the cities and towns of Cuba. For years
the money which should have been used
for these purposes has been drained away
to Spain and all local improvements
shamefully neglected.
The rural districts of Santiago de Cuba
have been so depleted that it will be inn
possible to collect taxes over and above
those needed for the bare necessities OF
2 schools for the poor. and possibly small
| sums to improve sanitary conditions. Thz
dawn OF prosperity should be the signal
for inaugurating systematic work on the
I public roads.
= The Province of Santiago de Cuba Is
similar in geographical and geological
structure to the Island of jamaica. where
/ the good main and parOchial roads have
been the principal stay of the population
Good Rcnds Needed.
Jamaica, Mr. Porter says, has upward
of 1000 miles of good roads. The British
administration spends on an average an
nually for roads in Jamaica about a halt
million of dollars. Without underestimat-
! ing the strategical Importance of a centra
railway from the east to west in Cuba this
, immediate returns TO the population o.
= good roads would be far in excess of the
more pretentious enterprise.
The money thus expended, whether from
the local funds of the island or from the
| local budgets, would come back hundred
fold and make Santiago one of the richest
sugar coffee, and fruit growing districts
of the West Indies.
The internal industrial, professional
licensing. and other miscellaneous taxes
J. have so far been remitted in this part OF
Cuba. but the military authorities are now
preparing to enforce them. In this con
nection. Mr.. Porter suggests that, now the
customs tariff has been disposed of. al