The Washington herald., 1908-01-23

Gov. Magoon of Cuba, and Col. Enoch
II. Crowder, L. S. A. the legal adviser
TO the governor. have been summoned
to Washington by Secretary of War Taft
at the request Of President Roosevelt
and Secretary Of State Root, for the con-
sideration Of important Cuban matters.
Gov. Magoon and Col Crowder will
probably arrive in Washington in the
first week Of next month and after spend
ing a couple of weeks here, Will return
10 Havana the latter part Of February.
Secretary Taft made the following state
ment in regard 10 the return of Gov.
Magoon late yesterday afternoon:
A. the suggestion Of the President aud Secretary
Root. the Secretary q Mar summoned Gov Ma
COON 10 Washington 10 he here between The Isl and
sth q February for the discussion consideration and
decision Of a number Of important matters in the
government Of the island
COZ. Msgoon will not be gone from Cuba more
than month 81 The utmost. aud dunng his absence
Gen Barry viii be designated by executive order
q the President TO act provisional governor.
GOV. Mago0n viii be accompanied by Col. Enocl
h. Crovder, who has been as legal adviser while
governor
The Cuban matters, which viii be dis
cussed by the President. Secretary Taft.
and Gov. Magoon, are principally re-
lated TO franchises and concessions for
public works Of Havana and other cities
of the island.
sewer and Water supply.
one OF these is a contract entered in
to between Judge O'Reilly, forery of
New York. and the city of Cienfuogos.
granted in 1900, by which Judge O'Reilly
was 10 build "a sewer system and water
supply for the city.
This contract was later annuiled by the
council Of Cienfuegos on the ground that
the former council, which granted the
contract. was fraudulcnuy elected.
Another matter 10 be discussed Is the
contract Of McGibney and Rokeby New
York contractors. who were granted a
contract in 1892 for building sewers and
payemeuts IN the city Of Havana. When
the American occupation ended this work
was 20 have been carried on by the
Cuban government. but il was never COM
plctcd IN spite Of the fact that the
government promised to do so when the
American government was ended
The third matter for consideration is
the franchise OF the Mariana Telephone
Company. which has the concession for
operating a telephone system tn Mariana
for radius of ten kiIometcrs from its
central station. Marianao is a suburb Of
Havana, and the ten kilometer circuit
would include most OF the city Of
Havana.
Shortly before the establishment Of the
provisional government in 1896. President
Palma ordered the telephone company 10
stop work. on the ground that its fran
cbise did not contemplate including the
city of Havana. The company appealed
% the courts. which decided it had no
legal right TO extend It's telephone sys-
TEN into the city Of Havana. Out Of this
case may arise international difficulties.
from the fact that a large portion OF On
issue Of g. 90. go worth Of bonds issued by
the telephone company are held by British
citizens. and Ambassador Bryce has APP
pealed 10 the State Department 10 pro-
teCt their rights in the matter.
GOV, Mag3on VIII also discuss with the
President and Secretary Taft the means
Of terminating the provisional government
on February J. 1893 and several other inn
portant subjects