Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
Satisfactory Progress Being Made in
the New Conditions There.

/
the New Conditions There.
| Satisfactory progress has been made in
| both Cuba and Puerto Rico looking to the
| future of those islands. While in the case
| of Cuba there was some agitation and
| unrest upon the radical element of the
1 island over the withdrawal of United States
| troops, a general rule the attitude of
| the administration has been satisfactory
| to the masses of the people. In his last
| message to Congress President Mckinley
| again reiterated his policy to give the peo-
| pie local government just as soon the
| conditions there would make it possible for
| the best interests of all to accomplish this
end.
| Early in August the President ordered a
| census of the island to be taken under the
| supervision of the War Department, the
expense to be betrayed out of the public
revenue of the island
| Some disturbances arose in certain sec
| lions over the disbursement of the funds
which this government agreed to pay to
| the insurgents who actually participated
| in the war with Spain. Five men were
killed and several wounded in conflict
between gendarmes and the disbanded
Cuban veterans at Cuevitas, in Santiago
province. on August -. The trouble arose
over a false rumor that the paymaster was
about to go away without paying the vete-
rams the amounts due them. In nearly
every case where any disturbance arose it
was due to errors in the pay rolls which
had been turned in by the Cuban officers.
In all $2,6OO.oOO was paid out to these vete-
rams.
Yellow fever broke out in Santiago prov
ince early in the year, but through the
prompt action of the American military
authorities it checked before 1t be-
came epidemic. Most of the patients were
Americans There were also a few cases
reported in Havana during the rail- but
as a rule the cities of the island have been
freer from the scourge than ever before IN
their history. This good result was brought
about mainly through the sanitary precau-
lions taken by the American military au-
thoritieS.
Early in December Gen. Brooke who had
acted as governor general of the island
since the Spanish evacuation, was relieved,
and Gen Leonard Wood appointed to sue
coed him. Gen. Wood had been the COVER
nor of Santiago, and his administration had
been highly satisfactory. The announce
ment of his promotion to the control of the
entire island was hailed with delight by all
classes and his reception when he arrived
at Havana was most enthusiastic
An unfortunate condition of affairs was
discovered in the custom house in Havana
about the middle of December 1t was
found that a number of the officials had
entered into a conspiracy with prominent
merchants of the city to defraud the gov
eminent of it's revenues. A number of ar
rests were made and the perpetrators of the
fraud will be punished.
In Puerto Rico, under the wise and be-
nefcent administration of Gen. Guy V.
Henry, the island made substantial pro-
greSS toward recovery from the evi! effects
of the war On February he substituted
for the old order of things four departments
state, justice, finance and interior. He
announced his purpose to see that only
competent men should fill these offices and
men who would enter heartily into the pur-
pose of introducing American methods in
the island He established a school system
under the general direction of Cen John
Eaton, who has organized a general plan
for the instruction of the youth of the is
land, modelled somewhat upon the best
plans in vogue in this country.
Gen. Henry modified the existing laws on
the island wherever needed to make them
conform to American customs. Consider
able change was made regarding the old
Spanish laws in regard to marriage. Min
listers of any denomination may SOL
emnze the marriage contract, and civil
functonares are forbidden to collect fees
for officiating at marriages.
Gen. Henry was relieved at his own re-
quest on April Is, and Gen. Davis appoint
ed as his successor His departure from
the island was attended with the heartiest
manifestations of good will and Eign re-
gard on the part of the inhabitants.
The insular commission, appointed to re-
port on form of government for the is
land, recommended form of civil govern
ment to take the place of the military re-
gime. 1t also submitted a code of laws for
adoption.
A hurricane, which was general through
out the West Indies and the gulf egion in
the early part of August. did an immense
amount of damage in Puerto Rico. Over
1900 people were killed and 314 of the pop
ulatiOn We're rendered homeless and desti-
tute. The financial loss was estimated at
SIo.TO,OW. The Secretary of War took
prompt measures to relieve the distress and
called on the governors of the several states
to aid in the work. The call was generous
ly responded to.