Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-31
GOVERNOR OF CUBA
General Leonard Wood Exercises Alb
solute Authority.
CIVIL and MILITARY OFFICIALS
Working Out a Scheme Of indie
pendent Government.
THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Copyright. 1900, by ]. II. Whelpley9

Inward the establishment of native civil
government in Cuba was the appointment
Of the civil cabinet. Since this cabinet was
appointed almost daily meetings with the
governor have been held and governmental
matters have been discussed from all points
of view. Governor Wood has thoroughly
impressed upon the cabinet the sincerity
Of his intention to give Cuba home rule, at
the same time never losing for moment
entire control or giving reason for sus-
picion that he intends to abdicate any of
the absolute authority with which he is in
vested If a proposition is advanced which
does not meet with his approval he sweeps
it aside with such emphasis that it is for
ever gone beyond consideration.
Civil and Military officials.
The second formal and official step in the
process of inaugurating the local Cuban
government was taken a day or two ago,
when comprehensive order was issued by
the governor defining the duties of the mill
tary commanders and defining the relations
of the military to the civil function.
The most important part of the order is
as follows: THE relations between the
civil and military officials should be those
IF harmony and mutual support Civil On
Gals are charged with the conduct of civil
affairs under the supervision of the military
governor of the island
department commanders are charged
with the maintenance Of public order, in
the general sense of the term; sanitation,
the conduct of all public works of a sani-
tary nature. and the completion of all pub
lie works now being constructed under their
charge; the organization. command and adj
miniStrsltion of the rural guard. Military
officers will not interfere with the civil au-
thurities except under extreme conditions
in which, in their opinion. public order life
or property are in serious danger. in which
eases they will suspend the civil authority
and wire write the military governor
their reasons for the same This action
will be justified only in cases Of extreme
gravity. which will not permit of delay nee
,-ssary TO get instructions by mail or wire"
Military Governors.
The relations of the military to the civil
authority are shown in the following pro-
visions:
ION and after February /. 1890 all corre-
srondence between civil officials and the
military governor VIII be transmitted
through civil channels.
THE secretaries in charge of the various
dcrartme nts will present all plans proposed
by them for their department adminstra-
tiou To- the military governor for his final
decision.
Whenever military officers or matters
ar. the subjects of civil correspondence be-
tween civil officials and the military Spv-
error copies must be furnished to the de-
Partmvut or district commanders where the
correspondence originate
-'rh.4 military governor will forward civil
C"muUu ications to department commanders
for their remarks when he deems it neces-
sarY-
Military commanders are charged with
the ca.tHrc "f bandits and bands of ma
RAIDERS who may he roaming in their de-
TTrtmeutS or districts. This should be
done ~ using thu ruraI guard.
Mi itary commanders should promptly
furnish attachments If rural guard when
required T." do 50 by III" civil governors
81 t!1. Judges Of tn, various courts
E''A "r3irtmtnf commander VIII cause
s.H inspection TO be made once every quar-
trr al tli' year ''H 1t ! nltrd States army
n-ant and vii rsnart ~. ras,,lts Win his
COMMUNICATIONS 10 the military governor.
Hint Mt Indcnendence
Tn, chiefs Of public works and the mill
itary engineers of each department will, he
s-snc.gr.d and IN. chiefs Of nub1ic WORKS
ir -, - VI NJ
,"e 'ineei vi en-
S.l.-'7 - tilt M nous u lhe hlted states
.!s-.ti '.'P'!rtin.;hI IN eStlflatng, con-
J'aT-lit:- obstruction ana the general con-
'H't 81 FhHil" WORKS ON and after April
/ l. . ~ pubic W.! IS VII. be placed UNI
'-i Nh' 'lf"ct SUPERVISOR ~ the provincial.
chic "f pubic wD.E-, the military en-
Sif'''t ''!i''r continuing IN office as in
Si'--".- H. VIII directly represent the mil
H,'TN $'-f''rn"T Of the island in all matters
I-ftTiHiu; To- the expenditure Of public
IH"I'-'s~ III public works. All details will
~. Ng>' 81 IN the chie'S of public works so
lHft ta-y rrity hecnm" thoroughly familiar
"iA Ire work and when the time comes
Ic.di~- "a" chiefs can continue TO success
.J.iy cary on their work
IL 49, Ia observed IN the last paragraph
~ IT, my" the governor hints at a Cuban
-''s-Ts.iI- Ut: fra from the supervision of
Tn rit"d states. This cause will I'M
""ih.sGiN hc received with considerable
h:u>-S't'"a hy thpSl. f'ubanS who favor a
500. H,,:fwat a. III. -n.trd States authori-
ties Ind il will <--y,- 10 >rnooth rho n,tI,
''i IT, governor in his dealings with them
. b E,- = otgI- other taraeranh in the order
-a4yl yyiN 1rc;,Si,,u IS much .nr,n,..,,t ~.
az! tEstt i L. follows:
Frn"" Oh the Press.
Nil-i..tiy officers viii not interfere with
Tin -,g.si,c rr..S- ,.xc..T,+ T., r,re,-.,,, ,b ~
r,r.,.,..I ..-,t.i,-, 49,, - : - -,
i'''''t WHICH 'ehoS 10
'N iiii f''iisf f"uS disturbance
80 F.''''!' !"ft''' "r "'>"-n" matter. which is
% @''i'-'!@ tn"h'tcr :" public m"eals. In such
q ~" VIII D. limited to the suspen-
ne - TN paper -nGiLS action by the
VI ''". ,'Fi'irN. ana IN" act reported at
%, w Hlh'+FE COVER nor
N-'i'l Ttf'N' rt'ta'f OF newspapers. even