The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-17
President-EIect Of the Coming Repub-
lie Tells What He VIII Recon-
mend i'm His First Message.
DESIRES UNITY ABOVE ALL
WILL URGE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
ISLANDS RESOURCES,
Also Reciprocity with the United
states and Maintenance OF
Friendly Relations.

WASHINGTON, April 16.-President-elect
Tomas Estrada Palma, of the new Cuban
republic, passed through here this after
noon en- route to Cuba, for which he will
sail tomorrow. He will visit a number of
Cuban cities and towns, going first to Ji-
bara, thence to Holguin and his native
home, Bayamo. From there the President
elect will proceed to Manzanillo and San
tiago and go to Havana about May 9.
The President-elec is suffering from a
cold, which made talking a serious strain,
and his health apparently is far from per-
feet. His first important acts, as President
of the new republic, he announced to-day,
will be the formation of a Cabinet and the
dispatch of a message to the Cuban Con-
gress. He already had settled on several
persons to whom he will tender Cabinet
portfolios, but he refused TO make his Sc
lections public, explaining that he wanted
to give the matter full consideration after
he reaches Cuba and to announce the Cab
met simultaneously. One appointment, he
admitted, was practically decided upon,
namely-that of Gonzalo de Quesada, who
represented the Cubans here during the pc
riod preceding the Spanish-American war.
to be Cuban minister to the United States.
He said he had no understanding as to who
would represent this government at Ha-
vana, but added that he hoped a man of
broad judgment, who had in view the most
cordial relations between the two countries,
would be selected.
The first message of the head of the re
public to the Cuban Congress will be sub
mitted Immediately after he assumes office.
It's main features will be recommendations
along the following lines: First, all posi-
BILE measures calculated to unite the vari-
Gus political factions of Cuba so that all
elements will work together in the interest
of the new government: second. the devel-
opment of the natural resources of the
country, with reciprocal tariff relations
with the United States; third. the MAIN
tenance of the most friendly relations with
the United States government.
Mr.. Estrada Palma said that the United
States dollar would continue to be the
standard in Cuba, but that the currency
and other questions were matters that re-
quired mature elaboration and need not
be Immediately legislated on He said he
was hopeful of securing a substantial re-
duction of the tariff on sugar, tobacco and
other Cuban products The Cuban govern
ment would act entirely on a reciprocal
basis in making reductions on United
States products, and whatever action was
taken at Washington along this line would
be followed TO the same extent by the
Havana government. He said this subject
presented the most difficult problem among
those he fOreSaw. In response to a direct
query, he said that the Cuban government
would not establish such reciprocal COM
mercial relations with any other govern
ment than that of the United States. He
said his efforts would be concentrated on
restoring his country to its condition before
the ravages Of war devastated it. He did
not anticipate any serious difficulty or con-
fusion consequent on the change of regime,
as most of the offices now were admins
tered by the Cubans.
The President-elect while waiting for his
train to proceed, received official notice
from Postmaster General Payne that the
agreements reached between them in a re-
cent conference had been framed as ar
ranged and had been forwarded to him
through Governor General Wood. These
agreements are in the form Of orders to be
issued separately by the postmaster general
of the United States, with the approval of
President Roosevelt, and by the President
of Cuba. They are drawn up in duplicate
and simply agree, as stated when the con-
ference was held. to continue the present
postal and money-order arrangements be-
tween the United States and Cuba until A
permanent convention shall have been
signed. 1t also has been agreed that if it
can be done properly the present military
authorities in control in Cuba shall order a
sufficient amount of postage supplies of all
kinds to meet the needs of the Cuban gov
eminent until Aug. l, these supplies to be
settled for by the Cuban government in
the same manner as the present accounts
OF the postal service there are now adj
Accompanying the President-elect beside
r. A. G. Smith. of New York, the president
Of the American Mail Steamship Company.
who will go only a part of the way, are the
following Cubans, who will remain ON tne
island with him: Jose. his son: Gonzalo de
Quesada, r. Narganas, NJ. Morales. r.
Sierra. NJ. Gonzales and Manuel Ros.
While in New York to-day Mr.. Palma
made a statement in wnicn he said he
should endeavor to bring about "A settled
condition of affairs In Cuba as soon as il
possibly could he done. More than all else.
tariff duties. He had made a few promises
and he did not believe in high-salaried Off
Gals. Those in office should work. The
statement continues: The people of Cuba
are grateful to the United States. We were
received with open arms i'm the time of our
trouble, and what was done all the world
knows. / believe that a more generous
be if the Cuban republic is to lift itself up.
The reduction of tariff by the bill which it
now appears will pass the House is bene-
fetal. but the reduction is not great enough
to work the greatest good. The conditions
in Cuba press the necessity for a more lib
eral reduction in the tariff rates.
81 realize the Importance Of the office I
am to fill, and shall use all the strength
and wisdom God Almighty gives me to
prove equal to the task. ] am going to a
free Cuba. my hope and prayer for years.
I am at the same time sorry TO leave the
United States. my home for so long"
OLD POINT COMFORT. Va, April IT,
President-elect Tomas Estrada Palma ar
rived at Old Point Comfort this morning at
12:45 O'Clock, the train having made a
through run from Washington. The hour
dent and his party for Cuba has not yet
been decided on. but il will probably be