Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-28

CapltaI on the general ground that the
work was eXtravacant and unneces-
| sary. When the contract was let, this
was the objection they offered, and
! they do not appear to have changed
| their point Of view since that time.
Another reason advanced in opposi-
| ton to this hyGienic measure i'll the
| last few years is that the city of Ha-
vana is not financially in a condition
| to shoulder the burden of this project,
| and yet the finances of the city are
certainly not less able to stand the
| strain today than they We're when the
contract was let. Furthermore, the
| Cuban treasury is in excellent condi-
ton, and it has always bees under
| stood that assistance could be expect
ed from this source in defraying the
cost OF the work. 1t is estimated that
! about five years will he required for
the execution of the present contract,
and all payments which fall due in
the next two years or more could GER
tainly be paid.
| Financing still II Problem.
Exactly how the work is to be financ-
ed is Il question yet to be settled. One
way out of the difficulty would be for
| the island government to advance the
| funds necessary to supplement those
| obtained by means of taxation in the
| city. The issuance of city bonds has
been suggested, but the plan may
| prove impracticable. 1t is unlikely
81. = 1
delayed until the details of the finan-
! cial questions involved are worked out.
COcktighting will not he permitted
in Cuba under the American regime.
This has proved Il troublesome queS-
ton to decide, because it involved Il
great popular movement which was in
favor of leaving the regulation or sup
preston of the sport to the towns of
the island. This is the Philippine
method of dealing with the subject,
and it was supposed that Secretary
Taft would favor the same method of
control in Cuba that he adopted in the
Philippines while he was civil govern
or. Had the question Of cockti-hting
been a new one, and had it been per.
mitted by law at the time the pro.
v;sional government was established
last fall. it is certain that Secretary
Taft would have taken the position
expected and would have directed that
this matter be left to the towns tC
regulate or suppress. as they saw fit
This local option" solution of tht
problem would doubtless have proved
popular among the Cubaus.
Instead of being 4 new question. the
provisional government found that
throughout the four years life of the
republic the congress had never repeal
ed the military order issued by Gen
.eral Wood as military governor which
forbade cocktghtinG throughout the is
land. As soon rs Secretary Taft was
made aware of the history of this mat
ter he determined to maintain the stat
us quo. He refused to discuss the
question whether cockighting wa,
more cruel than other paStimeS which
prevail in AnglO-SaXOn countries. Sucl
Ia discussion was not necessary to his
= decision. The Position of the Wash
ington government as defined by til,
secretary was that Il provisional gov
ernmeIt could hardly he justified il
changing the existing laws prOhibtin.
COckightin% when the republic of Cubs
had refused to make such change.
When the question was recently pre-
Isented TO Secretary Taft whether th'
United States would consent to til,
erection Of monument to the mem
DRY of one of the distinguished Span
ish generals who served in Cuba whom
the SpaniardS of the island desired +
honor he promptly cahled GOvernO
MagOOn that the American government
. against whom the general fought. Ger
tainIy had no objection to the erection
Of Il monument to his memory, and h
| expressed the belief that the "higl
courtesy" of the Cuban people woul,
lead them heartily to acquiesce in am
course in granting the necessary per
mission. The consent of the authOri
ties to the erection of the memorial
has probably done more than any 9th
or one thing to win the sympathy o
the Spaniards in the island for tn
aims of the provisional government
Although Havana is the Cuban capita
its population includes 10000 Spar
iards and only about II, 900 Cubans.
Pain caused by boils, burns, cut!
scalds and skin diseases is prompt,
relieved by DeWitt's Carboiized Vito
Hazel Salve. Good for piles. Sold b