The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-03
GEN. WOODS ADVISERS
MEMBERS OF THE CABINET TAKE
THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
Conference at the Governors Palace
at Which Representative Cubans
Exchange Views.

HAVANA, Jar 2.-General Wood had a
busy day with the public officials the
members of the conference of representa-
Lara, %Sanguilly and Batancourt and Senior
sion three days.
The president of the Supreme Court,
Senior Mendoza, in the throne room of the
palace at 10 o'clock a. m. to-day admin
istered the oath of office to all members
of General Woods Cabinet, except Senior
Villalon, the secretary of public works,
who. is unable to reach here before next
Sunday. The witnesses of the
were Generals Wood and Chaffee and Col
.onels Richards, Dudley and Black. all in
full uniform. The oath was the ordinary
one administered to all Cuban officials
taking office under the present authority,
swearing allegiance for the time being to
military authorities of the United
States. After the secretaries were sworn in
they visited their respective offices to make
themselves acquainted with certain details
before meeting again for consultation.
General Wood believes that each depart
ment should have power to do a very i'm
portant work. He will appoint a COM
mission to deal with each subject requir-
ing, in his judgment. special consideration.
These commissions will consist of several
members, and their duty will be to get the
affairs of the island upon a practical work.
ing basis of self-government. The most
important commissions will deal with
finance and the judiciary. The former will
arrange a plan of local taxation for all The
cities Of the island, which will make a ma
jortty of them s-elf-supportlng and will
leave the customs receipts for important
public works, many Of which are badly
needed.
The commission dealing with judicial re-
forms will include representative Amer
lean and Cuban lawyers. The American
Members will will probably be Messrs. Ru-
charge of the reorganization Of Cuban
criminal Jurisprudence. and will change the
horrible prison system OF the island, al
though many minor evils In connection
with the prisons have already been abated
The commission dealing with the public
works will be scarcely less important and
Will have its hands full.
All Cuban notables-the member of the
specially convened conference to exchange
views with General Wood-who were pres
ent at the meeting to-day speak with en-
thusiasm regarding the frankhess with
which he developed his plans for the bene-
III vi Sooo- me OLAk - Ntot tfC otN-
ernor general has already begun work
along several lines. General Maso says:
THE new governor general Is a nan OF
wonderful tact and marvellous capacity for
work. j confidently believe he will prove
a great blessing TO Cuba
The Patria says: General Wood is OBJ
viously imbued with the best intentions
Although the Council of Cubans convened
by him is not an elected body, it never
theless represents the wishes OF the Cuban
people"
General Wood has ordered all chiefs OF
the various public offices TO send in lists
of their employees. setting forth nationality
length of service and relationship to the
revolutionary movement.
Eight hundred hogs were recently i'm
ported to Havana from the United States
but six hundred died within three days
Major Davis. says the animals died OF
cholera, and he recommends that no more
hogs be brought from the United States
as he considers that further Importation
would be dangerous to the health o.
Havana.