Evening star., 1901-05-18

definite in their promises. Candidate Gener
has a program which he has authorized in
the form of an interview, which could be
disavowed or modified, so as not to commit
him and his party too specifically to any
given line of action. He appears to be
pretty fair hand at holding out promises
of the material good which will come to
everybody from his election. The opposi-
tion makes much sport Of this liberalty.
One paper declares that there can be no
question Of the result. because between
Estrada Mora, the candidate who offers
nothing more than to look after the gen.
eral welfare of the community, and DR..
Gener, the candidate who offers everything,
including abundant water for the house
holders cheap beef comfortable houses
for workngmen, increase of salaries. hy
gienic regimen which will neceSSitate
spending funds literally, and other bar
gains, the election cannot be in doubt.
1t is also charged by DR.. Geners oppo-
nents that he promises to construct in
each district $1,OOO,O00 residence for two
three hundred families, if the council finds
its resources sufficient to permit the ex-
penditure of that 81 100000. According to
the charge of his enemies, DR.. Gener also
promises to do a variety of other things
which should make him popular with the
electors who do not pay taxes. At any
rate it is the belief that he will be elected
and in spite of the profuseness of his
promises. will make a fair mayor.
The Sewerage system.
In the background of the municipal cam
paign are two issues which have bothered
the American officials. The new municipal
administration will have to meet the prob
lem of the sewerage of Havana and of pro-
vidng the funds for that sewerage. Gen
eral Wood with the assent of the War De-
partment in Washington finally got the
Dady contract cleared up and the $2oO,00O
which was taken out of the insular funds
70" the satisfaction of Mr.. Dady'S claims
was well spent. Now the municipality is
free to settle on the plan which Will be
most advantageous to the city. There
is, however, the question of the loan which
will be necessary for the sewerage system.
A banking syndicate. under an old Spanish
concession, claims the right to finance this
loan, and the lawyers seem to agree that
its claim must be treated with considera-
ton. The council was willing to satisfy
this claim for $500 600 and start in to Sc
cure the. new loan without conditions; but
very strong objections were raised and the
$300OO0 has not been paid. This will be
one of the questions which will have to be
settled by the new council and the parti-
sans of rival schemes for sewerage and for
loans are exerting themselves to insure the
election of friendly aldermen. Sarcastic
comments are made on the willingness of
some candidates who now hold paying po-
sitions to give them up In order to become
aldermen without pay. But there Is no
more Of this than there would be in any
city In the United States.
American military officials regret that in
so few of the municipalities taxpayers
campaign has been made with economy as
the platform. The various municipalities
have been notified that it will be the policy
OF the military administration to reduce
the amounts appropriated from the insular
funds for the municipalities, and to make
them more and more dependent on local
taxation for their revenue. This Is as it
should be, but the lesson is one which Gu
pans are learning slowly So long as they
can depend on thesisfapd funds for the ex-
penses OF local administration, this local
admnlstration Is going to be expensive
ana the salaries of ofice holders are going
to use up the funds without leaving much
OF margin for public improvements.
Charges Of Vnfairness.
In number of places complaint Is made
py the party that is out that they are not
given fair show to vote themselves In.
The control which the department Of state,
and after 1t the civil governors of the prov
inces. exercise over the municipalities gives
an opportunity for influencing local politics
In way that would not be possible in any
OF the states Of the American Union In
santa cara Governor Jose Miguel Gomez
has had various energetic protests made to
him because he has helped, or has been
charged with helping, his own faction In
some OF the municipalities threatening pro-
tests have been made to him. In Pinar del
nifty offended by several alcaldes, and has
removed them on grounds which are alleged
to be trivial. In Santiago, where factionaI
feeling always runs high, Civil Governor
Castillo, who is himself the head Of one
faction, ts charged with arbitrarily exerc.s-