The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-14
0rnef Government Officials Not Interested in Departure
MAGOON TAKES THE REINS
Taft Issues Decree to the Effect That Army Supplies and Personal Elf. fects Are to Be Free
 of Duty.

Havana, October 13-Messrs. Taft and Bacon, President Roosevelts peace conl- missloners. completed their labors here today and departed for the United States on board the battleship Louisiana. They were followed to sea and acclaimed by many liberal and ex-revolutionary lead CTS, but the former government officials showed no disposition to join in the fare well either collectively or Individuality and no prominent moderates appeared either at the palace or the wharf to par tieipate in the leave-taking Two liberal nationalists, Governor Nunez and Con gressman Govin were the only highly prominent members of the government group who saw the party off.
 The principal feature of the day nre- ceding the departure Of Messrs. Taft and Bacon, was the taking over of the government by Charles F. Magoon. which was done by the issuance of a proelan,a ton which declared he would discharge the functions of the government. dI- rected by President Roosevelt, by ylrtl,e or the authority of the Platt amendment. This was precisely in line with President Roosevelts appointment of MT Magoon. which states that it was made by vlrtue of the authority conferred upon me bv the appendix to the constitution Of China ana by act of Congress March 2 19Ol.'
 Informal Reception at Palace.
 Secretary Tafts governorshlp of the is land ceased at noon and at 3 o'elooL ha and Mrs. Taft and Mir Bacon and Mrs Bacon stood in the blue room of the palaee' and for quarter of an hour oade farewell to such friends as ealled and to those with whom they had come In contact while at the palace. The for-
 per included the members of tie citv council and Alfredo Zayas the nherat leader. Immediately thereafter the secre taries and thsirsapHT tse Gssceneed to the court below and We're driven to the Ca pelleria wharf. accompanied by General Bell, Consul General stenhart Captain i Mccoy and their secretaries Al tbe wharf they met Mayor Cardenag, who on behalf of the city government. pre- sented Mesdames Taft and Bacon with Two Immense bouquets The big crowd as sembled at the wharf doned their hats. and the secretaries responded likewise. but there was no cheering or other dem- onstrations.
 Funston Departed First.
 Brlgadler General Funston. who had preceded the others, had started for the patteship Virginia fin q launch and l lew moments later Mir. Taft handed tha ladies Into a launch and the party started Tor the Louisiana, Governor Magoon, Mir Steinhart, General Bell, Captain Yero. captain Mccoy and others accompanying them. The Louisiana passed out of the harbor laundering a salute of twenty-one gunes to the Cuban flag. flying at her mainmast. with her white clad crew man ming the rails and the band playing the Cuban national hymn. The salute was re- turned by the Cabanas fortress In the wake of the flagship came the Virginia. carrying General Funston, and then the New Jersey.
 Afterwards came the army transports New York and Seneca and a flotilla of gaily decorated launches carrying leading liberals and eX-rebels flying liberal ban ners The battleships were escorted to the harbor mouth where the hotllla whistled farewells, the warshps respond ing
 Among the liberals were Jose Miguel Gomez, Alfredo zayas Plno Guerra and other prominent members of the revolu- tonary party
 Before leaving Havana Secretary Taft issued decree that army supplies and the personal effects of officers and men of the army. navy and marine corps and Of civil employees of the provisional gov ernment brought to Cuba from the Unit ed States should be admitted to the coun- try free of duty.