The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-07
MIR. PORTER RETURNS
AND RELATES HIS EXPERIENCES IN
THE ISLAND OF CUBA.
His Interview with General Gomez
and Observations Will En-
Route to Remedies.
SENIOR QUESADA'S SPEECHES
HE Is ADVISING CUBANS TO ACCEPT
OFFER OF $3,OOO,OO
More Spoiled Beef DiscOvered-The
Tin Cans Rusted and the Air
SENIOR QUESHDA'S SPEECHES
HE is ADVISING CUBANS TO ACCEPT
OFFER OF $4,000, 600.
More Spoiled Beef DiscOvered-The
Tin Cans Rusted and the Air
Was Admitted.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Hon. Robert P.
Porter arrived in Washington last night,
having come directly from Havana, after
his successful mission to General Gomez,
whom he met at RemeL4os. He submitted
his report to Secretary Gage this morning.
Aside from the successful outcome of his
mission, the most interesting part of Mr..
Porters report relates to his observations
as to the conditions in the island as they
exist to-day.
From Havana to st. Domingo, nearly
two hundred miles," says Mr.. Porter, your
commissioner went over the same route as
he did last September. The difference, how
ever, in the condition of the country now
and then is very marked. In September, the
whole distance was one scene of desolation.
There were literally no signs of life, human
or animal, except at the railway stations,
which swarmed with starving humanity.
Never was there such abject misery seen as
then. To-day conditions are improved. There
are beggars, but of the chronic sort. A de-
cided change for the better is noticeable in
the country itself. The people are beginning
to work again. The quick-growing crops
have been planted and some are ready for
harvest. For ten hours, in September. trav-
cling on the same road, but one yoke of
oxen was seen. To-day. in some fields large
herds of several hundred cattle each greeted
us. This is the surest sign that Cuba is
pacihed."
Mr.. Porter was met at Remedies by Gen.
Gomez. staff and a party of American Off
GERS. An ovation was rendered Senior Que
sada, who had accompanied Mr.. Porter.
The next day after their arrival at Rene
dos General Gomez, by appointment, came
into the city and an interview between him
and Mr.. Porter took place Feb. l. The gem
eral said that he was completely identified
with the work of commercial and industrial
reconstruction of the island. Its wounds"
he said. will heal with the rapid promotion
of work. This is the battle we are now
fighting and I avail myself of this oppor-
tunity 10 tender my services"
Mr.. Porter thanked General Gomez for
these assurances and called his attention to
the fact that in framing the new tariff, the
directed that no discrimination in favor of
the United States should be made: that the
tariff was made in the interest of Cuba and
not in the interest of the United States. All
these changes. looking to a better condition
were inaugurated on the day the United
States began its military control. General
Brooke Will be ready to take up the matter
of the distribution of the army relief fund
this week with General Gomez in the man.
ner agreed on. General Chafee now has in
hand the complete scheme for policing the
island.
The present situation in the island Mr..
Porter briefly summarized as follows: Gen.
I Proctor. of Vermont, just up from the most
western province. Pinar del Rio. says he
has been will General Davis, who reports
the most perfect order as being maintained
by native troops and that this has been
done without money and without price. In
fact. all the police work is now done by Gu
ban police. In Havana province General Lee
has the entire confidence of the people.
while the Cuban police force. under General
Menocal, is being formed for Havana. This
force is now drilling every day in the Pub
lie Square of Havana, and they appear to
be a fine body of men. In MatanZaS province
General Pedro Betancourt says all is tran
qull. In Santa Clara province order has been
restored. In Puerto Principe the Cuban
army has d%isbanded, law and order prevail
and the people are rapidly getting to work
again. In Santiago, Gen. Leonard Wood and
the Cuban general. Castillo. are masters of
the situation. Some objection TO the plan of
reconstruction may be made by some of the
leaders for various reasons, but it is not
likely that their views will prevail If once
the United States and Cuban military lead
ers in each province can get together and
meet around a table with General Brooke
and General Gomez. If this can be brought
about at an early date all outside Opposi-
tion will surely disappear and the Cuban
problem will be in a fair way of solution"