Evening star., 1902-03-22

trusted with the administration of the
duties called for by their positions In the
interim which necessarily must follow the
changes in authority.
What President Palma May Do.
When he gets his own government fully
organized President Palma will be abso-
lutely free to treat the public service either
on the basis Of spoils or Of civil service. as
he may elect. Strong pressure has been
made in behalf of favored individuals to
secure appointments now, in the belief that
they would be ratified by the government
of President Palma. This has come from
persons not now holding office. Their ap-
plications in almost every case have been
turned down and turned down in1exibly
Any Cuban now getting into office from the
outside is pretty sure to secure the place
because 1t is known by the appointing
power that the incoming president wants
him to have the benefit of few months
training in that particular position. All
other designations or appointments are in
the line of promotions.
1t has developed that some Cubans who
have been holding Office for two or three
years past will give up their places of
their own accord soon after the establish
ment of the new government. Now a Gu
ban does not separate himself from a good
paying position any more readily than an
officeholder in the United States. unless he
has good reason.
A few days ago a letter came to me
from a Cuban who had good place in one
of the interior cities. I know he was
looked upon as a useful official. and that
his name was on the list to take the place
OF the American army officer who has been
the nominal head of that office. But this
Cuban ofhceholder stated that he would be
"out Of job soon after the republic is
established and that his resignation is
written already The reason for his course
is thts-he is a naturalized American citi-
zen. Under the Cuban republic he will
have to give up his citizenship in the
United States if he holds official position.
While he Is very ardent in his patriotism
and was fierce inSurgent, he does not
care to cease to be an American even for
the sake of a three-thousa nd-dollar Office.
Many in the Category.
Many Cuban officeholders come within
this category l should not wonder if half
of those in responsible positions natu-
rallied American citizens. Their selection
for official places was not surprising. They
knew both languages and they were able
to make themselves invaluable to the
American army officers who were charged
with administrative duties. Besides, they
had lived in the United States long enough
to know how to pull the wires for promo
ton. AS a rule this class of Cubans has
proved Of great value and has been a use
full factor in educa ting other Cubans in the
administrative work of government. The
preference given them was sometimes OBJ
jected to by the Cubans who had been in
surgents in the field and who had not had
time or opportunity to go to the United
States and learn English. But this friction
gradually wore away.
Some of the Cuban officeholders who are
American citizens may not have been
thinking Of their own status, but the most
of them undoubtedly are thinking of it.
Under the military authority their position
has not been difficult and they lost no
rights When the first municipal elections
were held question was raised as to who
should be entitled to vote, and the ruling
was made that Cubans who were natural
lied in the United States should not be
barred. Otherwise, members of General
Woods cabinet and other prominent Off
1cals would not have been able to. take
part in the affairs of the island. 1t was an
anomalous condition and temporary one.
yet precedent had to be made and the
one esta blished has worked satisfa ctorily.
But as to the comforting of citizenship. or
the renouncing of citizenship. the military
authority held that 1t had no power in the
premises. The treaty of Paris merely es-
tablished the status of the Spanards in
Cuba.
Question Of Citizenship.
Now that fhe apoma Ious apd tamporarv