The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-04-23

/ tion which is doing the work and
making the dirt fly And he has done
his utmost to transfer this organiza-
ton in efficient condition to the con-
troll of Col. Goethals and his assist
ants.
1--WE left Colon on Wednesday, April
3, and reached Havana on Sunday,
April z. l spent Sunday, Monday.
Tuesday and Wednesday in Havana
comforting with Gov. Magoon, Col.
Growdes, Consul General Steinhart
and others, and also with the repre-
sentatives of the various political or
ganizations and business associations
and prominent people of Havana. /
found matters, what under the cir
cumstances, must be considered
very satisfactory condition, and this
is largely due to the hard work and
political capacity and levelheadedness
of Gov. Magoon. The result was that
the conclusion was in effect one upon
which substantially all parties in in
terest agreed. There are certain ques-
tions that were submitted by Gov
Magoon and discussed which await de-
cision by the president or by the de-
partment for my return.
Gen. Barry and Gov. Magoon both
reported that order in the island is
excellent and that while there is still
a good deal of suppressed political
feeling and excitement I think there
is every ground for hope that the plan
adopted of taking census and holding
a preliminary election and then a
general election six months later, will
result in the selection of a president
and a congress who will be able to
maintain themselves and give stable
rule to the island.
"The delay in taking census and
holding a preliminary election are
taken by the people of the island, not
as an indication that the American
government wishes to remain perma-
nently, but on the contrary as an earn
est desire to secure a stable govern
ment before it leaves, SO that there
shall be no excuse for second inter-
vention, with all the consequences
that might be likely to flow from such
an intervention.
"Cuba will have the largest sugar
crop in her history, and the tobacco
crop is one of the best she has ever
had. There has been a long drought
and that, taken with the disturbances
of the insurrection, has interfered
somewhat with the sugar planting, but
all are quite hopeful that this defect
will soon be repaired.
eve left Havana at midnight on
Wednesday, April 10, and reached
Porto Rico on Sunday, April IA. We
spent four days in 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 to the abandonment of
certain posts in the interior and the
abandonment to the civil government
of some property in San Juan now
used as a hospital for the army.
"On every side we found evidences
of the most encouraging prosperity
and also the strongest indications Of
the love and respect which the people
have for Gov. and Mrs. Winthrop and
of the great sorrow they have in los
ing them.
s'The two political questions that
are made the subject of requent dis
cussion, for lack of something else in
the present happy condition of the
people, are the question Of citizenship
and the question whether the execu-
tive council shall be elective.
1--WE had very smooth passage
from Porto Rico to the Chesapeake
bay, and indeed very little rough
weather at any time during the trip.
The party has consisted of Senator
Kittredge, who is doubtless to be the
chairman of the senate canal commit
tee, Mr.. Burton, chairman of the riv-
ers and harbors committee of the
house of representatives.: Judge De-
Armo d of the house of representa-