The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-05-13
PRESIDENT PALMA'S PLANS
HE TELLS THE cuBANs WHAT
HE HOPES TO DO.
Spanish Residents Will Aid in Build
ing Up the Prosperity Of
the Island.

Cienfuegos, Cuba, May S.-The
steamer Julia, which has just arrived
with President-elect Palma, rar
ashore in the channel. Two public
lighthouses and several boats were
demolished.
Castillo, the pilot, who is responsi
BILE for the accident, is the same mar
who piloted the Spanish warshir
OquendO when she sailed out of San.
tiago harbor for battle with the Amer.
lean meet.
This coincidence has evoked consid-
cradle comment and the pilot has
been censured severely. For three
hours the Julia remained fast. Then
a aotilla of decorated tugs and steam
ers came down the bay to her as
sistance and the rising tide foated
her. Sir William Van Horne was
aboard the Julia.
Before leaving Santiago the Spanish
club gave a largely attended banquet
in honor of Senior Palma. Many friend
ly speeches were made. The presi-
dent of the club said that the Span
iards wou-. aid in the building up of
Cuba and that Spain would feel proud
to e Cuba figure among the nations.
Another Spaniard said that the Span
iards now cried "long live free Cuba
and honored their PRESIDENT.
Senator Bravo, in replying for the
Cubans, said that the past was for
gotten, but the Spaniards should keep
out of political matters. Senior Palma,
addressing the S%paniards, said:
"You are not only important factors,
but indispensable elements in the
new order of things. From now on
ward all are Cubans."
In an interview Senior Palma stated
that he would arrive in Havana on
May II by sea from Mantanzas. He
would be very busy until May 20 draw
ing up his message to congress-, con-
ferring with General Wood and choos-
ing secretaries. He could not take
part in or accept any demonstration
until May 20. At Santa Cruz he ask.
ed for Senior Cisneros, who had gone
to Havana, saying he wished to dis
cuss matters with the old patriot
regarding politics generally. He stat
ed that he would recommend that no
treaty be made with the United States
until the amount of the reduction in
the American duties on Cuban pro-
ducts was known. This reduction
would have to be more than rs per
cent. He wanted 20 revenue cutters
to keep down smuggles. The duties
of the secretary of state and secre-
tary of justice would be combined,
but there should be a secretary of
government. The country was very
poor. It was necessary for the gov
eminent to acquire cattle to distribute
to the peasants, who would pay for
them in installments. He would send
men to study agricultural methods
in Washington in order that Cuba
might turn to other forms of agri-
culture besides the raising of sugar
and tobacco. He would recommend
the cultivation of coffee and fruit.
The Isle of Pines, Senior Palma add
ed, would be useless to the United
States owing to the shallowness of
the water there. He would never con
sent that any flag but that of Cuba
should fly over Havana. American
coaling stations would be established
at Nipe and probably Cienfuegos, and
"a naval station at Guantanamo. He
had asked Senior zero, who will be
secretary of public instruction, to re-
port on the conditions of education
in Cuba. He would continue the san
itary work begun by the Americans.
He would not change the monetary
system at present. A loan would be
aoated to pay the Cuban e%x-soldiers
when means to pay the interest was
available. The Cubans who had sac
rificed themselves for their country
should be paid. but the extravagant
army lists would be modified.
The whole city of Cienfuegos turn
ed out to greet Senior Palma, and an
ovation was given him.
1854 a.