New-York tribune., 1900-07-09
HATANA'S NEW CHARTER.
ARD SELF-GOVERNMENT IN
THE ISLAND.

Havana, July S.-The new charter of the city
of Havana will go into effect Immediately after
it's publication, which will be this week The
powers of the recently elected officials are there
by greatly increased. The city will have con-
troll of all matters within its boundary par
ticulary the establishment and regulation OF
the city administration, the adoption of meas
relating to the use, arrangement and orna-
mentation of public ways, the comfort and
health of the inhabitants, the promotion Of their
material and moral interests and the security
of their persons and property.
The charter gives the new officials authority
as to the closing. opening. alignment, widening,
grading and cleaning of streets. squares, parks
and every class of public ways their use by
persons animals. vehicles, etc. their occupation
by pillars. rails, pipes and other objects and
their paving, lighting and sewerage. 1t also
gives them charge of the supply and distribu-
tion of water to parkways streets. bathing es-
tablishments, laundres. fountains and troughs,
and of the markets slaughter houses, institu-
tions of instruction and charity. prisons and the
local reformatories. The officials are also given
supervision of the sanitary and hygienic service
and of amusements and public meetings, the
use of and the maintenance of good order upon
public ways. This covers such matters as the
display of advertisements, the exhibitions Of
flags on the streets, hawking noises, the dis
charge of firearms and fireworks within the
city boundaries. Vagrancy the suppression Of
vice and immortality, the regulation of rates for
vehicles the regulation of gas, water and cleo
tricity, telephone and telegraphic connections
the Fire Department, watchmen, private police
and the imposition of fines for the breaking
of ordinances are also matters with which they
are empowered to deal but it is provided that
the officials shall impose fines in excess
of 500
The municipal administration shall include
the use, care and preservation of lands, goods
and rights which appurtenant to the city
and the establishments dependent thereon, and
the administration, distribution. collection and
expenditure of and accounting for all income
and taxes necessary to carry on the municipal
functions The Officials shall have power to
grant franchises and concessions. In such mat
ters as are not within their functions the City
Council and Mayor must within the limits of
their power assistJthe central Government
Neither the central nor the provincial govern
ment shall have power to intervene in matters
placed under the control Of the city officials
This gives more complete power than was ever
before given to a municipality in the island
The granting of a charter to Havana will doubt
less be followed by the granting of charters to
other cities as soon as the documents can De
prepared. HaVana'S charter is considered an
other long step toward Cuban sef-government.
The orders for the removal of a large number
of troops from Cuba, recently issued, have been
gladly welcomed by the Cubans and General
Wood is in receipt of many letters from various
his disposition to trust the Cubans. and declar-
ing that the entire island is in a state Of alb
soute tranquility. The loth infantry, II Is pc
lieved, will leave the island shortly after the
departure of the regiments now under orders to
proceed home.
General Wood will probably pay short visit
TO the United States leaving here on Saturday
next. His purpose is to escort Mrs. Wood and
his family to their home, and also to consult
with Secretary Of War Root regarding the COM
: ing constitutional convention.
The Governors family viii remain North for
the rest of the summer. All are very anxious
as to the fate of Miss Condit Smith, in Peking,
but hope for the best The local papers express
much sympathy.