The age-herald., 1900-03-15
ROOT AND GOMEZ 7a,
 DISCUSSED CUBA The Cuban Thinks No Change of
 Laws Necessary. HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN TRIAL As to Selt-Government, Gomez Thinks His People Should Take Charge
 and Let Americans Watch
 and Correct Them.
HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN TRIAL

Havana, March 14.-1n the Discussion to- day Gualberto Gomez publishes an inter- view he has had with Secretary Root. In the course of the conversation he assured Mir. Root that there was no necessity for law reforms. MT. Root replied:
 "How about the many untried and inno- cent prisoners who were recently detained in your jails?
 To this Senor Gomez answered: "That was not due to the law, but to the admin dstration and to the bad arrangements for working the courts when the Cubans got control. There are many back cases to be tried also. If the intervention is going to last only short time, why make partial reforms which would disturb many deeply rooted interests in connection with them? On the other hand if the intervention is going to last long it would be better to re- form thoroughly
 Secretary Root replied that the period of intervention would be brief and that every thing done in the way of changing law would be carefully weighed.
 Senor Gomez referring to the elections told MT. Root that the interval from April Il to May was very short for making the necessary arrangements. With regard to municipalities MT. Root agreed with Senor Gomez to the principle of autonomy. Senor Gomez asked if after the munlcipan- tdes had been elected the latter, while choosing the members of the national con- ventions would have to elect the council men of the respective municipalities as delegates, or if they could elect any one. MT. Root repled That he had not given that matter any consideration. Senor Gomez then asked when the national convention would meet. MT. Root repled "IE is im- possible for me to say as to that. It s'ttot known yet how the municipal elections will turn out and these will be a sort or index as to the state of preparedness of tlfe cotfn- try for self-govelmment" ."
 Have Not Had op. oriunity
 Senor Gomez: "The country, considering previous conditions, is as apt as could be expected, but the Cnbans have not been al- lowed to make the attempt"
 Secretary Root: "Tlhe administration is virtually in the hands of the Cubans. Out of 400 employees in the customs service, only four are Americans. The people of the United States desire that the Cubaas should learn all they can about self-government In order to take over the country.
 
 filling public office, they do not have any ultimate authority. All this resides, in the military power of the intervening govern ment For 400 years the Cubans watched the Spanards govern Cuba, and they are now doing the same thing in watching the Americans They should have the author ity themselves, the duty of watching and correcting being left to the Americans.
 Secretary Root-The new municipalities will have powers of their own.
 Senor Gomez-t1ay 1 ask you, sir, if you believe, in spite of what Is said to the con trary by many American public men, that the Cubans are as fit for self-government as congress believed tAem to be before the war with Spain?
 Secretary Root-Mistakes have been made and no government is perfect. The Cuibans will be fit to govern themselves af- ter a proper experience.
 Senor ESteVeoZ, secretary of justice last night presented to General Wood report regarding the Dady contract, under the l concession of 1895, to pave the streets of | Havana and to put in a system of sewer | age. This report, which is entirely in fla vor of Mr. Dady's claim was first laid be- l fore the other secre taries, who unanimous | ly approved it. Today it was taken to Sec retary Root on board the Wright for his | consideration. | By this decision Senor Esteveoz gives to l Mr., Dady the right, under the Spanish law, to accept the contract on Whatever plans are proposed at the price of the low est bidder or if this be less than his orig inal offer, it gives slim the right to claim a commission upon the difference of not more than 3 per cent. AS the difference will probably be one of several millions, | this commission will amount to a large sum of money
 Before making d1is report Senor Estoveoz | also took the opinion of some of the most | prominent lawyers in Havana. All agreed | with him that MT. Dady's rights were be- yond question.