The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-22
GOMEZ AT MATANZAS
THE CUBAN COMMANDER GIVEN A
RECEPTION AND BANQUET.
Governor General Brooke Arranging
to Give Cubans Partial Home Rule
Havana

HAVANA, Feb. 21-General Gomez ar
rived last night at Matanzas from Cardenas.
He was met by Major General Wilson. mill
tary governor Of the department of Matan-
zas; General Sanger, military governor of
the city of Matanzas, and the Cuban Cen
eraI Betancourt, who is in command of the
Cuban forces in Matanzas province. From
the railway station he was escorted by the
Eighth Massachusetts Volunteers, the
Second United States Cavalry and several
local clubs to the palace, where he is the
guest of the civil governor. A reception
was given in his honor soon after his ar
rival, but he did not deliver an address.
This evening he was rendered an elaborate
banquet.
Governor General Brooke has directed
General Ludlow to receive the Cuban COM
mander-in-chie on his arrival here with APP
propriate military honors. General Chaffee,
the governor generals chief of staff, who
with other military men will sail for Matan-
zas at noon tomorrow on the Hartford,
expects to be present at General Wilson's
ball. If he meets General Gomez he will
invite him to come to Havana on the Hart
ford. General Brooke is determined to show
Gomez all possible courtesy.
Governor General Brooke has determined
70 uOuiAy the MILITARY CuillIOA VI CNA4 -
fairs by putting the government more into
the hands of Cuban administrators In this
direct decision he follows the declaration of
a proclamation of Jan. /, representing civil
government by Cubans. The subject has
been fully considered by the governor gem
eral and his Cabinet, and he has addressed
TO each department secretary a letter ulrecI-
ing that the administration of the depart
ment be put in operation as soon as prac-
ticable. The letter asserts that military con-
fEo1 ir no ra1aya6 hI1f that the pOVPFnnr
general relieves the secretaries from sending
official communications to civil officials in
the provinces through department command
ers, copies merely being sent to provincial
governors and the originals sent direct. Gen.
Brooke will give the secretaries as much
independence as the presidential Secretar-
les in the United States and except as the
heads of bureaus he will not require that
he be consulted in the matter of appoint
ments. If the present state OF peace con-
tinues, municipal elections will probably be
held in May. The election laws are to be re-
vised and the suffrage to be enlarged. prob
ably on basis of educational quallncatloLS.
The work on the city finances, in which
Mr.. Haskins, the expert accountant, mas
been engaged, is drawing TO a close. ne
will report to General Ludlow, governor OF
the Department of Havana, that the city
is able to bear a $25,O00,OO0 debt. The present
6 per cent. obligation, amounting to $12,5VO,-
OG6, will be refunded and the remainder OF
the new bond issue will be used for i'm
proVements. If the existing debt alone was
+ refunded Mr.. Haskins thinks it could be
ACAAC ~ 4 ~ 49, I0 49,
SO, 100000 would be favorably received in
New York at 3 per cent. There are no legal
obstacles in the way Of an immediate re-
funding. provided the City Council wishes
Havana severed and paved under his i'm
mediate direction. He has had much xpe
rience and takes much interest in municipal
improvements He would prefer to lay
aside the Dady and Hawley projects. The
Havana Council may repudiate all the con-
tracts of the old administration and begin
over again, letting the holders of such con-
tracts light for their claims in the courts.
Mr.. Haskins's expert opinion of the bond
ing possibilities will no doubt be accepted
by General Ludlow and the finance commits
sion, and will hurt the Dady contract, pro-
viding for q new 6 per cent. $l4,0OO,0O issue
on the basis of 80, which would realize $l2,-
100000. Senior Galvis, president of the Span
ish Bank, has arranged with a syndicate OF
London and Paris capitalists to bid for the
refunding issue of $l2, 500, 600 5 per cent.
bonds at par.
General General Brooke to-day made the
following appointments: Director of just
ice, Lorenzo c. del Portillo; director of pub
lie instruction, Nicolas Heredia y Mota;
chief Of n~otaries, Juan Lliteras.