The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-08
PORTER ON CUBA'S FUTURE.
/, HOPEFUL VIEW TAKEN IN Hrs
REPORT ON THE ISLAND.

W. hN' 49, ANNNN' = NuANN
works-The Question of T~nxation-Pro-
,ipcini Self-Government Recommended.
W~Isg1NaroS. Fob. Assistant Secretary
=, War Melkleiohn gave out for publication to-
dsv an abstract OF tho report recently mado
~ special Commissioner Robert z. Porter to
IN. Secretary Of the Treasury on the CONNER
oual and industrial condition Of cuba.
Mr. Porter saws that n visit to Santiago
,rould give relief to those suffering from tho
craven fear Of being great" for there may be
found much that Is encouraging. The ma
obInery Of Government is running with n fair
dspr,e Of smoothness. and the men Irresponsible
Ior 4, from the humblest official To the capable
commander Of the province. understand their
hnsipess and are masters Of the situation. H.
4, striking illustration. continues Mr.. Porter,
a, the marvellous adaptability OF the Ameri-
can character. The disagreeable smells OF
the typical Cuban city are less pronounced in
santiago. while whitewash. limewash. fresh
naint, and all sorts Of disinfectants have de.
cdorized the surrounding atmosphere and
made tho old town habitable. The streets are
no longer used as sewers, and the unhappy In
diyidual who violates the law is compelled to
work on tho street for thirty days. The work
n sanitation Is not confined to the streets. but
o,t.nds to the dwelling houses. shops. and
bindings OF all kinds. Indeed. tho campaign
against dirt and disease has been as sharp and
bo, ns The charge on San Juan Hill. and as pro-
ductiye OF beneficial results. The resistance. Mr..
Porter saws, on the part of the native popula-
tion, Is even more stubborn than that of the
snanish soldiers to our forces around Santi-
,eo. The doors OF houses lad to be smashed
IN: PEOPLE making sewers of the thorough
fares we're putlicly horsewhipped in the streets
Of Santiago: eminently respectable citizens
were forciblv brought before the Commanding
General and sentenced to aid in cleaning the
streets they were in the habit of defling. The
camraizn ended in the complete surrender to
the sanitary authorities. and the Inhabitants Of
Santiago have had their first object lesson in the
new order Of things inauGurated by the war.
looking backward FIVE months and picturing
Santiago in July and comparing it with the
more hopeful condition existing on all sides at
10 discern the omens which point to the com-
Ing prosperity OF the whole island under in
%teiiS Esnt S Moio hoGsst T Woe5I m a5di,,op 70 ,bo
improved sanitary conditions. several impor-
tant thoroughfares have been repaved. All the,
aud nut in good order. the work, even extend
ing TO the large opera house. The law courts.
which were abolished, have been reorganized:
Cuban Judges. The appolntees were nomi-
mated wholly on account Of legal attachments
and the bar associations OF the province were
consulted as to the character and qualiilca-
lions OF the new Judges. Local government
has been restored. native Mayors and officials
appointed. the only requirement being that
persons accepting such offices should take the
oath recognizing the military occupancy of
committing them to any future form OF gov
ernment The. wisdom of this action cannot
10 doubted and the moral effect upon the peo-
pie Of Cuba will he far reaching.
The Spanish. when in possession OF Cuba.
not only assumed absolute control OF the
Judiciary; but OF the municipal Government
M rAl rho la rnnr nnrfinD NJ the aNaG raiapI
for municipal purposes being diverted, with
the other revenues. to Spain or into Spanish
wisdom. says Mr.. Porter. If these taxes are here.
after used exclusively for local purposes. and
as far "a; may be, deemed practicable collected
and disbursed by properly constituted local
authorities. In, his opinion. there could be
no wiser expenditure Of local revenue for sew
eral years than upon the streets aud sewers
OF the cities and towns OF Cuba. The rural
districts of Sautiago de Cuba have been so de-
pLeted that it will be impossible to, collect
taXeS.over and above those needed for the bare
necessities Of schools for the poor. and posi-
by small sums to improve sanitary conditions;
for inauGuraling systematic work on the pub.
lie roads, The money thus ;%experded would
come back a hundredfold and make Santiago
growing districts Of the West Indies. Mr..
Porter recommends especially the growing of
bananas.
The internal. industrial. = professional. IL
censing and other miscellaneous taxes have so
far been remitted in this part OF Cuba. but the
UlllIldIN dullltIltlCS GIc nov pIOpuTllG 10 II
force them; Mr.. Porter suggests that an I'm
mediate scheme SHOULD be prepared for levy
Ing and collecting internal revenue taxes for
the entire island. According to Mr.. Porter
Tor coIlee lion from 1886 to 1888 we're. lace
value. S6O.3'5. 1918: actual amount collect
ed, S4a,52l. 56h.'3 3: total delinquent taNes.SlO.-
year. 1904 Nj. Porter remarks that the
large number of delinquents during the last
three years from 1875 to lS3S was due
TO the war. In normal times the revenue
This sum. i properly and, economically en-
ploved. would aid in the Industrial rehabilita-
ton OF Cuba.
Methods, u local admiEistratlon differ so
greatly in different provlnces:in Cuba that the
wisdom OF APPOINTING a GoEernor or com
mander for each province is unQuestioned. As
much latitude as possible should be given
should have W to decide ali questions ap-
pertaininr to local matters. for the fewer the J..
references to Havana the sooner the people of
Cuba will realize the difference between Spap-
For military PURPOSES the Government OF the
island may he easily vested in one central au-
thority at Havana. For civil purposes each
province should be made as absolutely indie
forces.
Mr.; Porter concludes his report by recon-
Of all Obstacles. that the lighthouses in that VI
Ssiinity be restored and that Diamond Point
Shoal be removed. The haroor around the
docks at Santiago should also be dredGed. as
mere is only fourteen ana a half feet Of water
ieet A large covered pier y feet long. with
twenty-five feet OF water alongside, is also re-
nuiped IN Santiago ,harbor: NJ, Porter also
%dredGed, as there is only fourteen feet OF water
there, pow,and the work can easily be done.
r. addition, he recommends that the Custom