Evening star., 1905-11-06
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Alleged Remissness of the
Cubans Discussed.
HAVANA'S SANITATION
SENATOR CULLoM CoNFERs WITH
THE PRESIDENT.
Mr. Cortelyou to Remain at the Post
Office Department-Federa1 Su-
pervision of Insurance.

Information received by President Roose-
welt is that Cuba is not complying with her
promises, when she accepted the terms of
the Platt amendment, in the matter of i'm
proving the sanitary condition of Havana
and other places, especially in building
sewers.
Senator Cullom of Illinois, chairman of
the foreign relations committee of the Sem
ate had an important conference with the
President this morning on that subject.
Senator Cullom has received letters from
American business men and others calling
attention to the failure of the Cuban au-
thorties to take the steps necessary to keep
the sanitary condition Of the city up to the
high standard it was left in by the Ameri-
can authorities. 1t is claimed in these let
ters that the failure to construct proper
sewerage throughout the city of Havana is
certain to lead to an outbreak of disease
with yellow fever promising to have fruit
full field for its work
1t is stated that the Cuban people take lit
tie interest in the complaints of American
residents there at the omission in preparing
against epidemcs and uncleanliness. The
Cubans tell the Americans that most of
them more or less immune to yellow
fever and that they do not fear the disease.
Americans express themselves as confident
that the healthy conditions Havana has en-
joyed since the Americans turned over the
government to the natives will not last
much longer, carelessness and indifference
to the plain demands of sanitation being
everywhere apparent.
Secretary Root to Investigate.
The President will turn the condition of
affairs over to Secretary Root for a careful
investigation and report There will be
delicacy on the part Of the administration
in even indirectly interfering with affairs in
government of the provisions of the Platt
amendment gave this country the I'M
doubted right to make suggestions to the
island republic when 1t begins to look as If
the interests of Americans and the Amerf-
can government are not receiving proper
consideration.
Havana was at one time a menace to the
United States by reason of the almost con-
tinual presence there of yellow fever Most
of the great yellow fever epidemics of the
south came from Havana repetition of
this is predicted IL the Cubans forget the
history of the past and neglect the princi-
pal precautions an adequate sewerage sys-
tenn. covering the best part of the city
Incorporated in the constitution of Cuba
are the eight articles of the Platt amend
ment, the fifth one of which reads as fol-
lows THAT the government of Cuba will
execute, and as far as necessary extend,
the plans already devised or other plans to
be mutually agreed upon, for the sanitation
of the cities of the island. to the end that a
recurrence of epidemic and infectious dis
eases may be prevented, thereby assuring
protection to the people and commerce of
Cuba. as well to the commerce of the
southern ports of the United States and the
people residing therein.
1t is declared that the Cuban government
has done practically nothing to comply
with this important article of the PIatt
amendment, and that the President and
State Department should ascertain the
reason.
1t is probable that the State Department
will call for official Investigations and re-
ports.
Secretary Root had a long conference
with the President some time after the
visit of Senator Cullom. 1t was not learned
whether the President sent lor his Secre-
tary OF State or whether the Cuban matter
was talked over.
Mr.. Cortelyou to Remain.
Some positive statements have recently
been made that Postmaster General Cor
telyou will succeed Secretary Shaw as
head of the Treasury Department The
best information available at this time Is
that such a change is unlikely and that
Mr. Cortelyou will remain where he is.
Many prominent men interested in postal
reforms and in legislation to make further
reforms have asked the President to keep
Mr. CorteIyou where he is believing that
he is best acquainted with the contem-
plated improvements and should stay there.
The attitude of the President toward these
suggestions has not been one OF objection.