Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1906-10-16
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
!, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


ventiOn In Cuban aairs by the Amer
lean government assumed definite pro.
portions today by the proclamation OF
Secretary Of War Taft, as provisional
governor of the Island There are
those who predict that this means the
end OF the Cuban republic. but none OF
the administration officials In wash
ington Will give any expression OF
opinion at this time as to the future
policy OF President Roosevelt with rel
ercnce TO the government OF Cuba.
President Roosevelt announced In his
published letter to Scnor Qucsada. the
Cuban representative to this country,
that Intervention would occur only
when II was found necessary for the
protection Of American life and prop
erty. In the island On the other hand,
In the light OF present events, II seems
that the provision known as the Plat
amendment Incorporated In the treat,
with the Republic of Cuba which en-.
ables the United States to intervene,
was written into the constitution VI
that country to meet just such an cmcr
gcncy.
Senators who framed the Cuban
treaty, and especially Senator Plat Of
Connecticut. who is now dead. believed
when independence was accorded IN the
Cuban people. that the republic would
not last long and It was the general be-
lief that two years would he the life OF
the Cuban government. Nothing ex-
cept the personality and purity oi
President Palma and his associates, II
Is claimed, has enabled the government
10 maintain itself until now.
Many prominent leaders In both par
ties openly advocate the annexation of
Cuba to the United States. There IL
no provision In the Cuban treaty with
the United States permitting this, and
II Is not believed that the United States
would attempt arbitrary annexation
without the consent OF the people On
pressed by popular vote or by rep
rcsentative convention.
President Roosevelt Is ever the CHAM
pion OF fair play among nations rs
among individuals. and his friends can
not believe that he will arbitrarily
force annexation upon the people Of
Cuba without their consent. IL Is
understood that he proposes to give
the people another opportunity to
prove their ability to govern them
selves. after peace is restored. To pro-
coed to assume permanent control Of
the Island. by voluntary annexation or
otherwise upon the first failure of Cub
an independence. Is regarded by con-
scryativc men as an evidence Of bad
grace on the part Of the United States.
which created the republic and brought
II into being. Roosevelt will feel In
duty bound to Sivc the Cubans another
trial.
Most of the members OF the Cabinet
have returned and President Roosevelt
is expected in Washington within the
next few days. THE President will
then have the members Of his cabinet
close at hand tose0nsider. any imports
ant step necessary In Cuban Affairs
But the President has every confidence
IN the ability of Secretary Taft to cope
with the situation and II Is understood
the latter has unlimited powers to act
In all matters which concern the well
fare Of the island and which will speed
lily restore order and public confidence.
During the week the Supervising
Architect James X. Taylor received and
opened the bids for the purchase Of a
post Office site ut Honolulu. In sub
stance the bids received are as follows:
Union Feed Company, location
bounded by Queen. marlborough and
Halckaulla streets, 60,l5l square feet,
s9O,22G.
Union Feed Company, block bound
cd by the above and Alakea street,
containing 1890 square feet, $ll6,SO6.
w. q. Irwin. location on Richards
King and Militant streets, contains,
56.305 square feet. $l4S.O0O.
W. q. Irwin, location on Richards
and King streets, containing $1,000
square feet, $4,000.
J. q. Carter. $. NJ. Damon. W. o.
Smith and Il. +. Bishop. location on
King and Bishop streets. containing
1890 square feet. $9i.4l0.
Henry Warehouse Trust Co. locat,
cd on King. Merchant and Bishop
streets, containing II $50 square feet
siiS.5O0.
Supervising Architect Taylor stated
that none Of the bids had been accept
ed and no action would be taken look,
ing to the selection Of sight until af,
ter the visit and report of u representa-,
tive OF the architects Office sent to Ho
nolulu for that purpose.
Mr.. Taylor could not say. when seer
by Bulletin representative. how soor
Il representative from his Office would
visit Honolulu. lnasmuch as the pro
vision In the last Public Buildings Bil
provided only for the purchase of {
site and no appropriation was mad,
for the construction OF a building, II Il
probable no immediate action will b,
taken In the matter, beyond the receil