The age-herald., 1901-04-24
GENERAL |. NgOD TALKS IF CUBANS Think They Are Capable of Covering the Island AT HEAD OF DEPARTMENTS When Duty On Sugar Is Reduced and Constitution Is Granted the
 cubans May Take
 Charge.
AT HEAD OF DEPART MENTS


 New York. April 23-Gen. Leonard Wood. Governor General of Cuba, arrived here tonight. General Wood made the hurried trip to this country to introduce to President Mckinley before the latter leaves W ashlngton. the five members oi the special commission on general rela- tions, appointed by the Cuban Constitu- tional Convention. General Wood did not hesitate to talk about affairs in Cuba. The members of the constitutional com mittee represent all the different groups of Cubans composing the convention. They have come to the United States to confer with President Mckinley on mat ters which the convention does not thor oughly understand.
 ''The convention has never voted on of rejected the Platt amendment.
 Everything has been harmonious since I went to Cuba and the convention now in session is a thoroughly representative one. Before the Platt amendment was passed by Congress the Cubans knew the desires of this government on the issues which the amendment contained, because they were submitted to them through the executive. Intervention and establish ment of naval stations are the two things
 
 and think that when they are fully con- sidered in Washington the only difference of opinion will have been removed.
 There are really but two great ques- tions yet to be settled. One Is the reduc- tion of the duty on sugar and the other Is the passage of the constitution. One Is economical and the other political-in measure, they are akin. After the consti- tuition has been properly arranged and adopted the economic question will dis appear. as there must be great reduc- ton of the duty on sugar. Then Cuba will be prosperous and Its relations with the United States settled on a solid basis.
 That will end the whole difference and in twenty-four hours the country can be turned over to the representatives chosen by the Cuban people. Today all the de- partments on the island are practically in the hands of the Cubans. who have been instructed as to how things can fe managed, and when the time arrives all we will have to do will be to take a re- ceipt of money on hand. At the request of Congress we have accounted for every dollar expended in Cuba since the mili- tary forces have been in charge of the island and we hold the receipts for these expenditures.
 ''There never was such an accurate ac- counting demanded before. and 1t has been complied with. There was some trouble in the postofffcee at hrst put the Rathbone- Medley cases have been thor oughly worked up, and the men will be brought to trial in May.
 'The bonds of these men have been for feited and will have to be paid. There has been an agent of the surety company in Havana lately and after looking over the ground, he will report back that the bonds must be settled.
 While I have said that everything has been harmonious since I have been in charge of Cuban affairs, I must however, acknowledge that 1t was impossible for me to please everyone down there, and especially the ambitious and disappoint- ed speculators Also found 1t necessary to close the mails of La Discussion on account of a caricature which was likely to create trouble. Only one copy or the paper came to this country, and the editor of the paper was arrested.
 "The paper was not seized as stated in the dispatch"