The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-06
Yankee GeniuS al
Work in Havana.
From Il Letter by ]
Washington Post.

From Letter by ii. l.. West in the
Washington Post.
ca HE victories of the American navy
at Manila ana Santiago were spec
tacular. The army is accomplish
ing work in Cuba of equal mag
nitude, which is none the less
great because very few appreciate its ex-
tent and Importance. 1t is the army
which is building a new government for
the island. Here in Cuba the army Of
hcers are the sole factors, almost in de-
terminng the future of a people now
helpless Upon their judgment and dis
cretion everything depends. Thus far
they have been equal TO the responsible
task. They are working here with an in
dustry and enthusiasm which is almost
marvellous. Many of them are at their
desks from early morning until late at
night, studying problems ranging from
civic administration to the paving of
streets. There is little glory for them
personally in the stupendOus work but
they labor with no less zeal because of
this fact. One cannot appreciate until
Cuba is actually visited just what it
means to found a new government. A
thousand new questions have arisen and
must be promptly decided as righteously
and as wisely as possible. There are old
laws TO be revoked and new ones TO be
decreed. There are traditions and Gus
toms to be respected and others TO be
swept aside because they are not in ac-
cord with American sentiment and civii-
cation. The task of adjusting the peo-
pie to new conditions is a delicate one,
but the success which has thus far been
achieved is an augury of good for the flu
ture.
Much has already been done. Probably
the most important step which has been
taken is the abolition of large portion of
the taxes. Cuba, as every one knows, was
| taxed to the utmost under the old regime.
The sign which the merchant placed over
his store was taxed, which is one reason
why there are so few signs in Havana.
| The government laid its grasping hand
! upon every one and everything, until the
island was squeezed as dry as the pro-
verbal orange, The military decree re-
Gently issued abollshing the taxes on the
necessaTies of life and limiting to "A rea-
| sOnable sum the annual tax upon prop
| erty has lightened the load to great de-
| gree, and there will be still further abo-
| lltions, as the governmental machinery is
| smplfied and economical. The estaD-
| lishment of a Supreme court for Cuba is
| another boon. Hitherto, there was no SUI
preme tribunal except in Madrid, and
the settlement Of cases was a tedious and
! expensive proceeding. The new Supreme
court means the final adjudication of
legal questions with all possible prompt
| ness.
These are but a few instances of the
| great benefits which American govern
ment means Tor the island. Others can
be cited. 1t formerly cost 36 cents word
| to cable from Havana to Santiago. The
| United States Signal Service has just
completed an overland line between the
| two cities of which over 200 miles was
absolutely built anew in less than ninety
days, and now messages can be sent al
| the rate OF twenty words for 10 cents.
The merchants of the city are expert
| encing a new sensation in the promp,
| transaction of their business in the Gus
tom house by systematic and energetic
clerks, Their gratitude is expressed in
| a proposition which has been made TO the
United States by the merchants. They
offer to pay an additional tax of ~ per
cent. uu All import duties to build a Gus
tom m-huuae costing million dollars. They