New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-19
GOOD CUBAN GOVERNMENT
GENERAL WILSON'S REPORT FROM MA
TANzAs AND SANTA CLARA.
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS WELL CONDUCTED
NO EPIDEMIC DISEASES-FIr FOR
SELF GOVERNMENT.

The following extracts taken from the
Annual Report of Brigadier-General James H.
Wilson. U. s. w. commanding the Department
of Matanzas and Santa Clara, Cuba. They con-
stitute the chief portion of Special Report
on the Industrial, Economic and Social Condl-
tions Existing in the Department at the Date of
American Occupation and at the Present Time
dated at Matanzas. September Z, 1892
Notwithstanding the adverse conditions which
have hitherto prevailed, 1t is but fair TO state
that the administration or munlclpa affairs
since the American occupation, has been charac-
terized by personal zeal, official integrity anu
correct business methods.
At the present time it may be said that munich
pal government throughout the Department Is
carried on well and faithfully and with the ex-
ception of the fact that the Mayors and Alder
men have been appointed by superior authority,
and not elected by the people, as PROVIDED py
law It Is difficult to wherein immediate I'M
provement is to be expected In the adminlstra-
ton of these offices.
On the presumption that the people WILL when
authorized to hold elections, choose either the
present incumbents or men of equally COCA
character 1t is confidently believed that the
changes which time will necessarily bring in
the municipal law and customs will in few
years raise the municipal government in Matan-
and Santa Clara to the high degree of per-
lection which It has reached in the most Favored
States of the Union.
In order that my confidence in the capacity Of
the Cuban people to carry on municipal govern
ment successfully may be understood, L call
attention to the fact that Matanzas, Car
denas Colon ,Jovellanos, Union de Reyes
and Bolondron the principal cities and towns
in the province of Matanzas; Cienfuegos, Trini-
dad, Sancti Spiritus, Santa Clara Sagua la
Grande, Cabarien, Remedies and CamaJuanl
the principal cities and towns in the province or
Santa Clara, to-day absolutely clear or
epidemic disease. well policed orderly and free
from violence, rowdyism and Righteousness.
They are besides in an almost perfect state or
sanitation. Nearly all furnished with civil
hospitals and orphan asylums, and all are
scrupulously clean. Only five cases or sporadic
yellow fever have occurred so far this year in a
population of five hundred thousand, circum-
stance without parallel in the history or the
island When il Is remembered that the munich
pal authorities of those cities and towns nave
had no money to spend upon such work FOR the
last four years, and have found their treasures
bankrupt and themselves suddenly confronted
with all the problems of municipal government
with not only their population, but with
thousands of sick and starving reconcentrados
TO look after-with commerce and Industry dis
organized the farms destroyed and the social
and governmental machinery seriously de-
ranged-a proper idea can be formed OF their
situation and of what they have accomplished
in eight months.
1t is true that in reaching this result the
municipal authorities have had the benefit or
the advice and supervision of the intelligent
officers Of nv staff, and of local commanders
where troops stationed but 1t is equally
true that those officers were in nearly every
instance noVices in such work themselves, and
that the work could not possibly have been
carried through successfully but for the inter
eSted, intelligent and loyal cooperation or the
local authorities.
MAYORS COMPETENT TO RULE.
If there is any reason why with returning
prosperity, proper municipal revenues, and the
assistance Of the doctors, lawyers. merchants
and planters who sit in the Council with them,
these Mayors should not continue TO manage
the affairs of their municipalities and of the
country districts surrounding them well and
satisfactorily, even after the American troops !
shall have been withdrawn from the island, I
unable to perceive it. do not believe there
is any such reason, and I confidently expect the
future to show thai there is not.
have dWelt upon this subject at length be-
cause ii is an important one. 1t is recognized
that the municipality is the political unit in
this island, well in nearly every other
civilized country, and. that while it may be
paralyzed by or great public calamity it
is never wiped out and scarcely ever suspended
by revolution. When the municipality receives
sufficient revenue and is free to manage its
own affairs within the limits of the law or of
its charter. and does so with fair degree of
fidelity and honesty, all higher government be-
comes comparatively easy to organize and
duct This, 1t may be fairly claimed, is
likely to be the case in Cuba in any other
country.