Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-10-25
Number 23
TRANSFORMING CUBA
Governor General Woods Re.
port on Island Affairs.
WONDERFUL IMPROVEMENTS NlDE

|
Hospitais Opened, Prisons Repaired.
Courts Remodeled. Schools .E0stab-
1ished-American Troops Not
Used During the Year.
WASHINGTON, Oct 23.- Major Gem
eral Leonard Wood has made the follow
ing statement rs to the contents Of his
civil report as governor general of Cuba:
'The civil report of the island will not
be published until the end of the present
calendar year. 1t will cover in detail the
work under the various civil departments
of the military government during the en-
tire present year. Under the head of hos
pitals and charities it will be found that
every town of consequence in the island
has been provided with hospital well
equipped with all necessary supplies and
appliances. This condition exists COM
mencing with Havana, in practically all
the more important towns throughout the
island. The largest hospital, which is at
Havana, is capable of accommodating
2,OOO patients and is now serving as u
general municipal hospital for that city.
"Asylums for orphan children have
been established wherever necessary.
The number of these institutions has
been greatly reduced during the past few
months owing to the great improvement
in the general conditions existing in Gu
ba, children being taken back to their
families or their friends
The prisons have been overhauled and
repaired from one end of the island to the
other and the sanitary conditions vastly
improved. The military government has
had its agents go over the island investi-
eating every case under detention, and
many hundreds of prisoners who had
been detained for long periods of time
awaiting trial have been released, only
such being released however, as had
awaited trial for II period as long or lon
ger than they would have been sentenced
had they been found guilty. This work
was done in the months of January and
February Of this year. Courts have been
stimulated and urged to a prompt per-
formance- of their duty, and the result
has been that many prisons have been
practically empty and a very great i'm
pr0vement has been made in the conduct
Of criminal cases. A special inspector of
prisons has been appointed, whose func-
| tions are to inspect at least once in every
| three months each prison on the island
and to examine every prisoner therein.
Correctional courts have been estab-
lished throughout the larger cities. where
the trial is oral and summary. as III our
police courts. The writ OF habeas corpus
has been published. to take effect on Dec.
l of this year
During the present year over 1900
public schools have been established.
Thirty-six hundred teachers are employ
ed in them, and 100000 children are in
the schools This number is constantly
increasing, and by the end Of the present
school year 1t is believed that we shall
have 5O,0OO children in school. The lar
gest number at school under the Spanish
rule was between 10000 and 10000. The
salaries paid the teachers are all high. eX-
| ceeding any paid In the United States III
corresponding grades, with the exception
of three Of our larger cities. School desks
and supplies for 100000 children have
been purchased, sent to the island and
put up. Enthusiasm for public education
| is great The trip of the 1.3OO teachers
| to Cambridge was most beneficial, and
attempts will be made to repeat ii next
| year.
"The United States troops have not
| been used during the present year for
| the maintenance of order. The police
work in the rural districts is done by
| the rural guard, which amounts tn about
1,2OO men for the entire island of Cuba
| These men and their officers are all Gu
bans.
"A complete overland telegraph has
been established throughout the island
| Troops are in good health and are well
located in suitable barracks. The CON
dition OF the equipment and instruction
| is excellent The troops have absolutely
NO connection with the civil officials. and
their presence is II guarantee Of good or
der.
"The financial condition of the country
is excellent. The government is entirely
self supporting, and the treasury has ar
| unincumbered balance Of 81 .JOU.on.
Municipalities are gradually assuming
their obligations.
"The condition OF the people of ths'
| island, to the best OF my knowledge and
belief, is one of content. and they real
| ise that wonderful progress has been
made. and they feel as people kindly
toward and have faith in the people of
| tho I'nifed States :"