The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-08
SOON TO BE TABULATED.
The Work of Enumeration In Cuba
and Porto Rico Finished.

and Porto Rico Finished.
The tabulation of the census of Cuba and
Porto Rico will begin next week. Inc
work will be done by a large force under
the direction of Gen. Joseph p. Sanger, OF
the War Department, who has just re-
turned from Porto Rico. General Sanger
Travelled all over Cuba and Porto Rico and
made a thorough inspection of the work
done by the supervisors and enumerators
employed in taking the census. The work
is said 20 have been thoroughly done and
the Cubars and Porto Ricans TO have ex-
pressed themselves as well satisfied with
the results. II is said TO have been the
first accurate census ever taken of the ISL
ands
The schedules of Cuba are en- route to
this city under charge of Victor II. Ohm
sted, while Harrison Dingman is bringing
the schedules of Porto Rico Both sched-
ules are expected TO arrive by the early
part of next week. The schedules adopted
by the War Department embrace popula-
ton, agriculture. and education. Wealth
and vital statistics and similar matters
were not touched by the enumerators be-
cause of the lack of facts bearing on the
subjects. 1t was found that the state
rlerts made by the natives were widely
different, and what records were found
could not be relied upon.
Not enough of the schedules have been
gone over to form an accurate forecast OF
the population of the islands. hut 1t is
stated that since the last census in 1887 the
population of Cuba has decreased, while
that of Porto Rico has increased.
In his travels over Cuba General Sanger
is said to have inspected all the schools
and prisons, and to have had conferences
with prominent Cubans and to have studied
closely the judicial system in vogue in the
island. and TO have discussed with the
judges questions of reforms and improve
ments TO be made in the courts in order
that business mayObe facilitated and the
dockets of the courts With are all over
crowded, may be cleared as soon as posi-
BILE i-
II is said that in all Cuba there are only
six criminal courts. where persons charged
with crime are tried. There is a criminal
court in each of the six provinces, and be-
fore these courts come every class of
crime. from petit larceny TO murder. The
result is that the courts are away behind
in their work, and the tails and prisons
are crowded with persons awaiting trial.
Gen. Leonard Wood, II is said. has released
large number of persons who had been
in jail for months without ever having
been given hearing and the conditions
Of the jails and prisons are being i'm
proved, but they are far from what they
ought TO be. and there is much suffering
among those conhned In the iails and I'M
able TO get bail or to get their cases be-
fore the courts.
In taking the census. 1t is said. that Il
developed that large majority of the
Cubans are opposed to the sovereignty OF
he
anxious to govern themselves. Many en-
qniries were made by the supervisors and
enumerators among the best class uf
Cubans. and IL IS said that with few ex-
ceptions the Cueans favored self-govern-
ment. AS 10 then ability 10 establish and
maintain a stable government. II is be-
lieyed by the enumerators that with lit
tie experience in local government the
Cubans will soon have a government that
will compare faTorably with that of this
country. 1t is aid that under the military
government which has prevailed in the
island, the Cubans have not been given
enough latitude TO show whether they are
fit for self-governnent. II is believed
that General Wood will be instructed TO be
more lenient in dealing with the Cubans
In matters relating TO civil government,
and that by next April, the time set for
turning the island over to the natives, they
Will have become fairly well qualified TO
manage their own affairs. Little fear is !
by the census enumerators Of |
negro domination in Cuba, and 1t is be- |
lieved that the census will show fewer /
negroes in the island than there is popu- /
larly supposed 10 be- and even il all of I
them are given suffrage. without regard 10 |
educational qualifications, 1t is said that |
the white so far outnumber them that the |
negroes will never be able TO control the |
elections TO any great extent
The census will also show that thou
sands of Cubans are living on small ISL |
ands, and in other out-of-t he-way places |
which were supposed TO have been unin- |
habited. They took refuge there during |
the long wars with Spain, and continue TO |
reside there