Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-26
AFTER THE OFFICES
Low Code of Morals of the Gu
ban Politicians.
MACON DOING HIS BEST
Takes the Candidates the Liberals
Recommend.
CLEAN SWEEP BY MODERATES
Provisional Government Trying to
Give Square Deal to the Parties
in the Island.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

handing 1t of Spain. These same autono-
mists are today members Of what is known
as the moderate party of Cuba-the con-
sentative element in politics. The Spanish
governor general was an autocrat and all
the provincial and municipal officials
throughout the island were responsible to
him. He appointed most of them and had
the power to remove any If them at will,
which gave him control of the very life Of
the government. The failure of congress
to enact organic and constructive legisla-
ton leaves the municipalities practically
where they were before independence and
gave the members of the recent cabinet an
opportunity to exercise to a considerable
degree the very forms of tyranny against
which the Cuban people rebelled in 1895.
1t has also caused the provincial admins
tration a great deal of embarrassment. 1t
is not possible today to define accurately
the jurisdiction of any official, either fed
eral, provincial or municipal, and the duties
of no one of them are defined by law.
Municipal Government.
Under Spain the government of each
municipality was oonfided to a council
elected by the taxpayers of the town, and
mayor and deputy mayor, appointed by
the governor general. The duties of the
council were to look after roads, sewers.
water supply, fire protection, schools, chart
ties and other local concerns to collect
the taxes, and, with the exception of the
police, to exercise practically the same
functions that are performed by similar
officials in the United States. The power
of the governor general over the mayors
and councils was complete, however; his
authority to control municipal admnistra-
ton, to suspend and annul the action of
municipal officials absolute. When
the sovereignty passed from Spain and
was assumed by a military governor from
the United States army with full executive
and legislative powers some changes were
made and, in 1900, Gen. Wood issued an
order providing for municipal elections for
all officials on June 10 of that year. The
officers elected were to assume their duties
July l and to hold for year The
elections were repeated in 1901, but before
the term of the officials chosen at that
time had expired the republic was estab-
lished under constitution. which i'm
posed upon congress the duty of making
provision for future elections and for the
permanent organization of the municipali-
ties This duty was never performed, al
though the congress on July 5, 1902, did
pass resolution extending the terms of
all municipal officials until their discon-
tinuance in office shall be ordered by law
Nothing further was ever done and until
president Palma permitted himself to be-
come partisan, the officials elected in
June, 1902, were continued in office. Senior
Freyre Andrade, however when he be-
came minister of the interior, dismissed
every liberal official in the various munich
palfties throughout the island and appoint
ed politician of the moderate party in
his place. Those officials thus appointed
are now holding office and there is a live
ly demand on the part of the leaders of
the liberal party for the restoration of the |
men who had been elected by the people |
without regard to political considerations.
Gov. Magoon is moving very deliberately |
In this matter. He is having each indi-
vidual case investigated and wherever 1t
people were competent, honest and salts
factory and they were removed without |
good cause, other than for political reasons,
he is gradually restoring them.
At " ork on New Law.
The legislative commission, Of which 1 was |
writing yesterday, is now engaged in the |
preparation of "A law for the reorganization |
and government of the cities of the re- |
public, which to be divided into three !
classes, according to population. and the |
purpose is to give them as large a measure |
IF home rule as possible, The cities of the |
first and second class will have greater |
1egree of Self-goVernment than those of the |
bird class. over which the. federal govern /
nent will be compelled to exercise more or |
eSS supervision. The American plan of |
government cannot be safely ap-
)lied to the cities of Cuba without consid-
,rabie modification because the traditions
he customs and the habits of procedure
here are so different. But there is no diff
,ulty in giving the people of the cities what |
hey have been demanding and fighting for |
that is the privilege of self-government.
To promote their interests and to bring |
nto official activity the most intelligent and |
competent members of the community sew
sral members of the legislative commission
nave endeavored to extend the franchise to
foreigners in municipal elections but the
LIBERAL party, which represents the ignorant
masses. Is fighting that proposition with |
will
consent to the admission of foreigners to
he franchise unless they take advantage
IF the naturalization laws.
A Service That Needs Reform.
The Legislative commission is also franz
ng law for the regulation of the civil
service, which will follow the lines of our
,wn, modified to meet peculiar local cond-
ions. II cannot be stringent as ours,
out at the same time, will be based upon
he merit system and require that appoint
nents and promotions be made for qualif-
;ations and not for political reasons The
outs" and the ms are both very anxious
o see that neither party gets an advantage.
The FMS belong chiefly to the moderate,
he outs to the liberal party, and to do !
wen justice, it is proposed that every per-
;on now in the civil service be required to
submit to an examination similar to that
'equired of applicants for original appoint
nent. Heretofore all appointments have I
)een made Tor polltlcal and personal rea-
sons, and the Cuban congress has been very
generous in creating positions for the
friends of its members. member of the
United States House of Representatives
would die of Joy and exultaton If he could |
10 half as much for his constituents as the
Cuban congressman have been able to do
or theirs in the way of patronage. They
Ised to work 1t on the well-known log
'olling plan" invented by the late Philetus
Sawyer. who was lumberman in pioneer
lays when the neighbors used to get to-
yether during the spring floods and help
Zach other roll their logs into the creek. |
The river and harbor bill Is passed at !,
on the same principle A
member of the Cuban congress would take
around a paper among his colleagues and
secure their pledges to vote for the creation
If certain officers with certain salaries pro-
'ided a certain number were allotted to
hem.
Pruning the Rolls.
BY reason of such amiable proceedings |
here are now more than 1900 men on the
,ay roll of the federal government of Cuba;
more than $1,000 are supported by the |
budgets and 1000 are attached |
o the six provincial administrations, not |
20 include between 1000 and 5000 rural