Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-23
SECRETARY TAFT RETURNS
Head Of War Department Back from Cuba,
Panama and Porte Rioo.
FIVE DAYS SPENT IN CANAL ZONE
for Gatun Dam Are satis-
factory and work is Progressing
RapidIy-Praise for Gov
ernor MaEoOn.


ernor MaEoOn.
WASHINGTON April 22-Secretary Of
War Taft and party arrived at the Wash
ington navy yard on board the Mayfiower
tonight after an absence Of exactly
month On a trip that included Panama,
Cuba and Porto Rico. The secretary and
Mrs. Taft were Immediately driven to their
residence. Former Governor Of Porto Rico
Beekman Winthrop and Mrs. winthrop
were guests Of the secretary on the re-
turn trip. The others in the party in
! cluded Representatives Burton of Ohio and
De Almond Of Missouri, Senator Kittredge
Of North Dakota and Miss Maggie Ide.
The party arrived shortly after Il o'clock
Later Secretary Taft gave out statement
in which he said he found matters in
! Cuba in what under the circumstances
must be regarded as a very satisfactory
condition" that there is every ground for
hope that the plan adopted for a census
preliminary election and a general election
| six months later, will result in the selec-
! tion of a president and congress who will
I be able to maintain themselves and give
| stable rule to the island, and that the de-
lay In taking a census is regarded by the
! Cubans as an earnest Of the American
| governments desire 70 secure n desirable
| government before It leaves, $50 there shall
| be no excuse for a second Intervention"
! He says that next Friday he will go to
! Cincinnati to attend a Yale club meeting
| will then address the Dayton (O) Young
Mems Christian association and on Monday
night will discuss the Panama canal before
the Cincinnati Business Mems club. return
| ing to Washington by the following
! Wednesday.
Mr. Taft says that IN Panama the en-
! gineers reported to him that the founda-
I tions for the sites Of the locks were en-
tirely satisfactory and he discussed ad-
ministrative matters he took up in Panama.
Secretary Tnfts Statement.
Secretary Tafts statement is as follows:
We reached Colon March 80. We spent
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and
! Wednesday on the isthmus The test pits
| had been sunk on the proposed site of the
| locks, and the engineers Messrs Noble,
Sterns and Freeman, made the examination.
| They reported to me that the foundations
were entirely satisfactory, but they ex-
pect to make formal written report. l
also at the request OF Colonel Goethals,
asked them to answer certain technical
questions as to the best means Of con-
structing the dams, both at Gatun and at
Sosa.
l also held a long conference with the
Panama authorities in the presence of Sen
ator Kittredge and Minister Squires, in re-
spect to a number of matters which needed
adjustment between the zone authorities
and the Panama government, and we
will be formulated in subsequent cores
pondence
l also heard certain complaints concern
with its lots In coion, ana took the matter
under consideration pending a statement to
be made by the lot holders. I also heard
I and the section locomotive engineers and
construction train conductors with refer
To hat Of
ing wages. l have forwarded a report en-
this matter to the president. What has
we were busy during the fve days we
spent in Panama / left the engineers and
Mr.. Rogers general counsel of the Isthmian
Canal commission on the lsthmus-the en-
gineers for the purpose of making further
report upon the technical questions which
referred TO them, and Mr.. Rogers forA the
purpose OF pushing some condemnation liti-
gation to acquire title TO land which 1t has
now, In the progress Of the work. become
necessary for us to take over.
Praise for MnEOOn.
We left Colon on Wednesday, April 3, and
reached Havana on Sunday, April Z. spent
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-
day in Havana comforting with Cover
nor Magoon, Colonel Crowder Consul Gem
eral Steinhart and others and also with
the representatives OF the various politi-
cial people OF Havana 1 found matters
In what. under the circumstances, must be
considered very satisfactory condition,
anu Nilts - ldi BSly uut 10 lne ndIu WOTh
and political capacity and observation-disclosures
| of Governor Magoon. The result was that
the conclusion was in effect one upon which
substantially all parties interested agreed.
| There are certain questions that were sub
mitted by Governor Magoon and discussed
which await decision by the president or
by the department after my return.
General Barry and Governor MagOon both
reported that order In the island is excel
lent, and while there is still a good deal
of suppressed political feeling and excite
ment I think there is every ground for hone
that the method adopted OF taking a census
and holding a preliminary election and then
a general election six months later will re-
suit In the selection OF a president and a
themselves and give a stable rule to the
island.
Conditions in Porto Rico.
We left Havana midnight OF April 10. and
reached Porto Rico on Sunday, April IA
We spent four days I'm the island and had
there to consider, at the instance Of Bishop
Jones OF Porto Rico, some questions which
are still pending OF property between the
government and the church and also some
military questions as 10 the abandonment
OF certain posts in the interior and the
some property in San Juan now used as
hospital for the army.
| The two political questions that are made
the subject Of frequent discussion for the
lack OF something else in the present happy
condition Of the people, are the question OF
| citizenship and the question whether the
executive council shall be elective.
| We have been away a month I have
only very indefinite knowledge OF what
has taken place here since my absence and
| therefore have nothing TO say on politics.
| ------------