The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-04
A WOMAN HOLDS THE REINS.
CUBA'S FUTURE DISCUSSED IN NINE.
CEsPEDES' SALON.

Gomez Dimes with Her Several Times
IA Week-It Is Said she and Gomez
Have Agreed Upon Carlos Cespedes
as CubR's President-Cuba's Health
ImprOvinE-JaIIers Take Money
From Prisoners and Let Them Go.
work of Bandits.
Havana. May 3.-The future of Cuba
will probably be largely Influenced by
woman, and one who holds a salon whicn
is visited by the best known men. not
only of Havana, but of the entire island.
Gen. Maxine Gomez is a constant visitor
and welcome guest of this lady, and
dimes with her from three to five times a
week.
Madame Cespedes, the lady In question.
is the widow of the first president of Cuba
in the ten-years' war. She is a brilliant
and witty woman. who has lived many
years in Paris. II is considered in Ha-
vana to be a great honor to be on Nine.
Cespedes' visiting list.
Decisions reached at Nine. Cespedes' sa-
lon are far more effective than any de-
crees passed by the recently defunct Gu
ban assembly.
1t is believed by persons who are in a
position TO know, that a full understand
Ing has been reached by Mmo. Cespedes
and Gen. Gomez. regarding Cuba's future.
and the first real president of the proposed
republic, for all former presidents have
had office without power.
At one time Gen. Gomez was seriously
considered for the presidency, but after
the action of the assembly in assailing his
course, it was considered that his candl-
dacy would probably meet with strong op-
position.
May BE Carlos Cespcdes.
The result of consultation at Nine. Ces-
pedes' salon Is, 1t Is asserted, that tho
first president of Cuba shall be Carlos
Cespedes, son of the war president.
The party of Gen, Gomez believes that
it is none TOO early to begin movement
In behalf of Carlos Cespedes, as 1t ex-
poets that American occupation of the is-
land will end before next summer and
probably by April, 1900.
Carlos Cespedes was a colonel during
the war with Spain on the staff OF Gen.
Garcia, and possesses good record as
a soldier fie is well educated and speaks
the English. French and Spanish Lam
guages with equal huency He is about
40 years of age and unmarried.
The most recent reports regarding tho
health Of Havana's population show a
great ana continuing Improvement, with a
death rate only tWo-t birds Of that ra
corded for the corresponding period Of last
year. Not a single case of yellow fever Is
known TO exist. The health of the Ameri-
can troops throughout the island is ex-
ceptonally good
Gross Corruption Charged.
The Havana Herald publishes a sensa-
tional article to-day, charging the grossest
corruption in the management OF the city
jah. II asserts that the prison officials
take money from prisoners and then place
them at liberty under pledge to return IL
they are asked for. AS many accused
persons are never brought to trial at all.
and as 1t often happens that the judges
have no notion as to who Is supposed to be
locked up, the jailers and II an easy mat
ter TO speculate in this fashion.
on the Constancia plantation, near Clen-
fuegos Santa Clara province, bandits have
burned one million arrobas of sugar cane
Qhe arroba is q Spanish weight Of %
pounds, containing each l6 ounces)
During the month Of April. Havana ex-
ported to New York 7771 tierces of tobac-
co baled, and IS. .402,710 cigars.
Mai. Francis S. Dodge, of the pay de-
partment, who has been selected by the
war department TO dlsburse the 100000
allotted for the government Cor the pay
ment of the troops of the Cuban army.
al