Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-08
TAFT'S DOUBLE DUTIES
Lot of Pioneering Necessary
for the Work.
LIKE RECEIVER OF A BANK
To Get Revolutionists Back to Work
Arms Must Be Laid Down.
PEN PICTURES OF THE LEADERS
One Leader With Striking Personal
ity-Conferences With Gen. Funs-
ton-Yellow Fever Exaggerated.

ton-Yellow Fever Exaggerated.
| Special From a staff Correspondent.
HAVANA Cuba October 2-Secretary of
War of the United States and provisional
governor of Cuba is a uniuc combination.
The posscssor of this title in entering upon
his duties finds it necessary to do a
deal of pioneering. International law
contains precedent for the provisional
government existing here today. for the
Platt amendment, under which 1t has been
established, in itself holds unique place
in the law of nations Secretary Taft, in
taking over the government of Cuba, finds
himself in a position similar to that of
receiver of a bank which has failed. SO
far is practicable in the discharge OF
this receivership Mr.. Taft will make use
of the machinery of the government which
he finds about him. But for the time be-
ing the congress, which corresponds to
the directorate, will not exercise its ordi-
nary functions official announcement Of
this fact has not yet been made in Cuba,
but it will become public sooner or later
Nor will the members of congress. who
We're legally elected last December. re-
ceive their salaries from the provisional
governor. If the congress which shall be
elected at the next election shall vote to
pay them for the period between now and
then. it is at liberty to do so. but Mr.. Taft
will not assume the responsibility of doing
out lucrative salaries to senators and rep
resentatives for work which they have not
performed.
Necessary to Disarm.
Before going very far toward the reno
| waiting OF the government machinery, it is
necessary Grst to dsarm the rebel forces
and get the revolutionists back to work.
This task has been intrusted to the revo-
lutionary committee consisting of the
rebel chiefs and General Funston and Ma
jor Ladd of the United States army. They
will begin their work tomorrow. Pine
Guerra and Loynaz Castillo and the other
chiefs who are members of .llS committee
have been in town today comforting with
General Funston and We're the center OF
attra elton at a cafe on the Prado tonight,
where their friends gave them a dinner.
Pine Guerra is far and away the. finest
looking soldier in the constitutional ar
my the revolutionists have named
their forces. He is a man of perhaps five
feet ten and one-half inches in height, OF
a slight muscular build. dark hair and a
dark mustache. which he wears closely cut.
His uniform is of khaki and fits him well.
OF an entirely different type is LoynaZ.
Jet black hair and a luxurious black mus
tache. swarthy complexion and stocky
build he was a picturesque picture as he
sat tonight at one end of long table.
talking much with his hands as with
his mouth. He wore his hair parted low
on the left side. which enabled him to
show to advantage the saber cut he
Ceved in a fight several weeks ago and
from which the bandages We're removed
yesterday. His uniform is of a special de-
sign. 1t consists Of a dark blue coat and
creaIn-coored riding trousers and tan
boots. He is the most excitabie and erratic,
nd perhaps the most dangerous for this
:ason, of the rebel chiefs, and when Cen
raj Funston had succeeded in Obtaining
, is signature to the agreement to serve on
the committee which is to superiatend the
disarming of the rebels the friends of the
provisional government breath"d easier.
Secretary Taft said today that he ex-
pected to be kept here for several weeks.
He cabled Beekman Winthrop, governor of
Porto Rico, reuesting him to accept the
provisional governorshp of the island and
to reach Havana four or five days in sd-
vance of Mr.. Tafts departure that ne may
confer and acquaint himself with The sit
uation before taking charge. Mr.: Winthrop
accepted. The Secret Try. however, has eX-
| planned to Governor Winthrop that. should
a serious uprising in the island occUr with
il the next ten days 1t will be necessary
to establish for time a military govern
ment which would call foT the appoint
ment as governor of a soldier. In that
event Governor Winthrop would retain his
position in Porto Rico until such time as
conditions in CuDa warranted the establish
mon. OF a civil provisional government
here.
Many Reforms Coming.
Once the rebel forces are dis armed. Sec
rotary Taft will turn his attention - many
reforms in the government, which his
study of conditions here has shown to be
necessary. lie has in mind the appoint
ment Of a commission to draft proper
laws 70" the country. Tie intends appoint
ing to this commission Senior Zay1s, pres
iGeat Of the Liberal party, and Mcndez Ca
Io;c. who recently resigned vice presi
dent and is Il lie iding member Of the mod
crate party. 1t is probable that Capote
VIII decline to serve, and in that
other moderate will be selected. THc third
member of the commission viii be the
provisional governor, and perhaps several
other members will be added later. This
commission will put in force such laws
as are yet needed to give the island
republican form of government in fact
as we'll as in name, and perhaps the first
for municipal autonomy. All of the laws
promulgated by this commission will of
course, continue in force after the new
government is elected, unless the new Con-
greSS should repeal them.
Secretary Taft today received the MEM
bcrs of the supreme court and informed
them that he proposed to continue them in
their positions one OF the reforms to be
brought about by the provisional governor
is the absolute separation of the judicial
! from the executive. In the past it has
been the practice of the members of the
supreme court to appear at the. palace
frequently while an important case was
pending and the Cubans show little or no
respect for the judiciary. They charge,
members of both parties, unuer the Palma
government, the judicial has been the crea-
| ture of the executive. Whether this is true
! or not, the prevalence of the charge is
I most deplorable. and if there is ground for
| it the commission which Secretary Taft
will appoint proposes to find out whether
the cause is due to the lack of proper leg
! isation the abuse of laws alre Idy
/ passed. and an effective remedy will be
/ provided.
/ Health of the Island
/ The health of the island has already re-
| ceived the serious attention of Secretary
| Taft, who conferred today with several
! officials of the sanitary department. Doubt
| less many of the reports which have gone
| to the states in regard to the prevalence
| of the yellow fever in the island have been
| greatly exaggerated but there are today
! six cases of this scourge in the city of
| Havana. The heavy rains during the past
| few weeks, the manner in which the slni-
! tary department has been run since the
revolution broke out, and the conditions
| under which the rebel forces are living in
| the field, all contribute to render an cpl
demic of yellow fever possible. Secretary