The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-19
CUBAN PUBLIC SERVICE.
General Ludlow Has a Poor Opinion
OF It.

WASHINGTON, June I1.-General
Ludlow, formerly Governor of Havana,
has made report to the War Depart
ment denying the recently published
statement, directly charging Brigadier-
Surgeon Major Davis with having ac-
copied brides to influence his official
action while acting as sanitary officer
of the city Of Havana. The Generals
opinion Is shown by the following ex-
tract from his report:
The Cuban atmosphere as to the pub
lie service is one of lies and receptions;
accusations are many and proofs are
few; but seldom can the actual facts
be obtained and verified. People will
say almost anything, but will refuse to
sign a statement or be sworn to it. In
particular are some of the newspapers
void of verify or virtue. Most of them
serve personal interests and depend for
their income not on their legitimate
sales Of issues and advertising, but up
on receipts from purchased space to
avoid public Islander or exposure. The
evil of falsity and false accusations is
widespread and profound, and it will
require long time to eradicate it from
the community in general. The Ameri-
can officers in Cuba have all this to
contend with, and nothing but absolute
Iopenness of conduct and sincerity of
purpose of speech and action can pro-
tect them from it. 1t would be waste
of time to try to hunt down the
swarm of irresponsible statements per-
petually in circulation and eagerly
picked up from the streets and cafes
by the employees of a sensational press.
HAVANA, June u.-Of late Govern
Ior-General Wood has had many callers,
among them lawyers, bankers. mer-
chants and even two members of the
former Cabinet, who have taken the
position that the United States Govern
ment is going ahead too fast in the
direction of granting independence to
Cuba. Those who take this ground as
sign 1t as the reason for their decision
not to join in the coming elections.
They point out that there is not a single
candidate in the island who is not a
professional politician, and they argue
that to turn Cuba over to men of this
class would mean her absolute ruin.
These visits and statements were the
results of an interview with General
Wood published by the Discussion" in
which he was reported as saying that,
in all probability, a constitutional con-
vention would be called in September
next, consisting of all the Mayors elect
ed. Business circles were thoroughly
alarmed by this announcement, al
though there is no doubt that great
majority of the people received it with
favor.
Colonel Carlos Cespedes, discussing
the matter to-day, said:
The interview which Senior Coronado
editor of the "Discussion'') secured
with General Wood has made an adj
mirable impression. General Wood
promised us that the elections should
take place in June and he is about to
keep his promise. Now, according to
the interview, he says that national
convention will probably be called in
September to draw up a constitution.
Our people are disposed to trust him,
especially after the way he is keeping
his promise regarding elections.
The court presided over by Captain
Pitcher, Police Magistrate and Super
visor of Police, Is being investigated by
the Inspector Generals Department.