Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-08

In charge of the campaign against yellow
fever-and other diseases. and among the
first DEGREES of the provisional governor
was one authorizing a large increase in
several branches of the sanitary depart
ment in Havana. So far as the preliminary
investigation has gone, the sanitary de-
partment have a fairly efficient system al
ready in operation ana one of the most
important of the works of the provisional
government will be the extension of effect
I've sanitation throughout the island. 1t is
Secretary Tafts hope that before we leave
cuba the public health service of the island
will be restored to the admirable cond-
ton in which Colonel Gorgas. who was at
its head under the military regime turned
II over to the Palma government.
Secretary Bacon's Duties.
In the absence OF a cabinet, Secretary
Bacon has been called upon to discharge
the duties of the various members of this
body. For the present he is secretary of
government, secretary of public works, sec
re AIRY of the treasury. etc. etc. Throughout
the ncsotia ions nc has been of the greatest
assistance to Mr.. Taft, and at the latter S
earnest request Will delay his return home
until the provisional governor turns over
the government to his successor.
Rapid as are the changes in this island.
nothing could have been more sudden. and,
although the statement is made without au-
thority, probably nothing could have proved
more OF surprise to the provisional gov
einor and his cabinet, Secretary Bacon y
than q telegram received from Washington
tonight announcing the appointment OF
Gov. Magoon TO succeed Mr.. TAFT as pro-
V.SiCEal governor OF Cuba. At the begin
ming Of this letter. which was started to-
day after conversation with tie Secre-
tarE. reference was made to the coming
of Gov. Winthrop from Porto Rico. Sec
rotary Taft was careful not to announce
the select ion of Mr.. Winthrop for this po-
had boz aDnrOVe0
and authorized by the President he news
from Washington tonight was presumably
the result of a cabint meeting. at which
Secretary Root was present and 1t is as
sumed that Judge Magoon has been sent
to Cuba at the instance of the Secretary OF
State.
The Change of Program.
In announcing the change of program
Secretary Taft eElosized the work OF
Judge Magoon in Panama and declared
that he would prove an admirable man to
handle the difficult problems here. He ex-
pressed his entire satisfaction of the Sc
lection and no further questions about the
sudden change were asked him. Friends
of Judge Magoon in the island feel keen
disappointment in his selection as pro-
v;sional governor because of the injustice
to him and to the Philippines. They be!1eV
that a far greater work awaited MN In
the Philippines. where he was soon to be-
come governor general. anu tieS lSei tlihS
as provisional governor of Cuba, even his
most skillful handling of the situation here
can at best bring about only patchwork
and enable the United States once more
to give the Cubans a trial and prove to
the world the sincerity of our intentions.
His coming to Cuba does not necessarily
prevent his eventual succession to the
head of the Philippine government unless
the situation there should demand the i'm
mediate appointment of a governor gen
eral of the Magoon type. 1t was only this
morning that a cablegram was sent to
Judge Magoon from Havana urging him
to proceed from the Philippines without
delay, but Washington as we'll as Havana
is the scene of rapid changes, so the pro-
visional governor of Cuba upon orders
from Washington has been obliged to
reverse himself without detailed exDlana-
ton, the Denver, which already on
it's way from San Juan to bring Governor
Winthrop to Cuba, has been recalled by
wireless and the interest of the ppines
has been sacrificed again for those of a
people nearer home.
Nevertheless, the provisional government
of Cuba will continue to be under the gen.
eral supervision of the Secretary of War.
w.