New-York tribune., 1908-02-03
GOV. MAGOON'S MISSION
Oulu -Four Problems to Bring to
Washington.
EFrom the Tribune Bureau. !.

= i- Washington. where he has come TO lay
,,x,ra the Secretary OF War four problems in
,-,ection with his eminently successful admin
.+-ation Of Cuban affairs. the only problems Of
H. raanH which have presented themselves which
- has not been able to settle in Havana. 1t is
,.evrortlly moreover. that no one Of these prob
- = distinctly Cuban. each having an Ameri-
- ans 10 conplcate its character
rp,e fo,,r problems which Governor Nagoon will
,-.eo-a secretary Taft this week known
.hs f-ienfuezos water and sewer system, the
s-a,-s-a hzrnor Improvement, the Marianao tele-
,-,o system and the Havana sewering and paw
-. oortract All four involve concessions grant
= -ior "a Governor Magoon's administration and
e ,.-7c,,,,e II The rapid and radical changes in
=. aar,inistrstion Of Cuban affairs which have
,ooeese6 the spanish war
-, 80 can,plicated case is that of the Glen
<a,s wafer and sewer system. involving con-
~ -. a-,,,roxirnatelv s3.e0O. eco. awarded TO
- 1 Reilly New York contractor. TO install
u-ora- and sewer system in Cienfuegos. the sec
= ,srrest city in Cuba Bids on this contract
-. .5,-ar- fse5 for and The contract was awarded
:, =. .-,,9ef OF Cienfuegos. then completely con-
- s,r the Moderate Palma. party The
,s,trnr Of the contract was approved by the Pro-
.ssI Governor. in accordance with a provision
-, ,sv- When the contract awarded.
- citizens Of Cienfuegos. presumably MEM
= ,fs o7,,,osifion. Liberal. party. appealed
, : rl-oeisert Palma. alleging cerBin SPECIFIC ir-
s,7,larities and praying the cancellation OF the
+-sr- President Palma investigated their
ffrr
- sy-a-aiRe Of the contract and denied the ap-
L., --l,ereupon Mr. Reilly sublet his contract to
--.,-a-r,su A Co. also OF New York and they IN
- ,,laced contracts for all Of the material
-. v-ouid be needed Thus far all was going
well
= ,-,t., occurred and. in accordance with the
-ea-,ent made by Secretary Taft the more
-s-srr cases Of irregularity in the election of
,,.i-,s3 and provincial officials were invest-
he facf seemed warrant II
s,,-,,,-- elected Noderates We're replaced with
-s+,.-s1= SJch was the with the Municipal
(o,7rcfl Of Cienfuegos. and thus the Liberals &C
-t-a5 control Of the Council. They Immediately
,,S,s,sed the Reilly contract, alleging as their
-, so- so doing that il had been unjustly
.,-s-5ad The Provincial Council refused to ap-
r,a.,e The action OF the Municipal Council and
Re -ss4,l. vas an appeal TO Governor Magoon
,tbo designated Colonel Crowder 80 conduct an
Investigation
CONTRACT FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL
Colonel C-oHder found and reported to Governor
rseoor that the contract was Illegal in that IN
gave 10 the contractor certain advantages not
sneciaed II the advertisements and which, had
tney heen Incorporated in the advertising, might
have led 10 other bids These advantages consisted
Of an advance OF sl59oco in cash: an allowance OF
y54 month for policing the work. the aggregate
g paid u be deducted from the last payment cue
OF the contract. and payment for the material to
ne Used as fast il placed on the ground
tu before i was Incorporated in the work Coionei
Crozde- further reported that by cancelling these
PROVISIONS the contract could be made TO accord
with the advertisement for bids and would be
legal. Governor Magoon approved the recon-
rnen6ation Mr.. Reilly agreed 10 the proposed
notifications OF his contract and the complications
seemed 10 have been removed. but here another
factor into the situation Mr.. Reilly hao
deposited as security the certified check of Upp-
-nzn & Co Of Havana. for s254leee When UPp-
nan & Co. learned OF the modification OF the con-
tract they demanded the return OF their check and
Il was returned by the Municipal Council
Nov Mr.. Reilly, presumably after consultation
with the sub-contrac1ors in New York, refuses 10
proceed under The modified contract and demands
that the original be carried out He further
maintains that the council had right TO return
70 Tpprnan & Co. the check which he deposited
es security and which he alleges could properly
have been returned only to him. Tuckerman &
CO maintain that the contract should De carried |
out as otherwise they must sustain great loss |
sn6- q course. the firms which have furnished
supplies are also involved. The work under the
contract is at a standstin and all concerned are
experiencing daily loss.
TIE various claimants in this case are repre- |
EsH1ed by Robert II McCarter. Attorney General
G New Jersey and by Representative Sulzer OF
New York The case will be laid before Secretary
Taft for adiudica1io1l tomorrow and he hopes 10
conclude The taking Of evidence in one day as
OF Tuesday he VIII hear the evidence in the case
q The Havana HarbOr Improvement
concession awarded in 1eo5 TO Scovel & Co for |
ths construction and operation of r deep water |
per hsrbOr OF Havana II carried out II /
would give this company monopoly Tor forty 1
years al the end Of which time the pier was 70 |
revert 10 the city OF Havana. The Board OF /
PuaHc Works has reported 10 Governor Magoon |
tas- this concession is grarely inimical 10 the |
further Improvement OF the harbor and that II |
Eh02l5 h- cancelled Governor Magoon has sus- |
pended The work under The contract and the fur |
will
decision Of Secretary Taft. This presents no /
cumpLcstioue- The Scovel Company admits the |
Justice of the representations OF the Board OF 1
Public Works and merely asks compensation Tor /
the work already done. the amount OF which VIII |
doubtless he determined by Secretary Taft
TELEPHONE PRIVILEGES
On Wednesday Secretary Taft viii hear evidence |
II TIE csse OF the Marianao telephone system An /
American company procured concession for es-
te5llshrg telephone system with q central sta |
uon a. Ma-isnao q suburb OF Havana Under fhe |
Aaoan coGe the proprietors of a central teiephone
sSlon NAV extend their service ten kilometres III /
eFery direction and a circle of that radius with /
is centre IN Marianao. would include pracucallE /
a. O, the city Of Havana. When President Palma !
tEoke 10 realization OF this fact he decreed that
ho further telephone lines should be constructed
4 NE city % Havana The company Appeared 10 |
ne courts. and both The lower and the superior
courts have affirmed the legality of the Presi-
cents decree After gaining the concession. how
f'e- ihe company sold securities in England 10 |
lie amour. Of s. aget.,o. The company now prays |
soe form q relief preferably general telephone
AK which Ni apply the entire island OF cuba |
@ao Gncer which they can carry out the work and |
,-aoish the system they have planned Governor |
@-esoon is understood oppose such a law. or al |
-ssf sUch q law would satisfy the company |
me administration in Washington is understood |
= regard sulh q law as the solution OF the prob
N Ths d1al adjudication rests with Secretary |
Tar
N Thursday Secretary Taft will hear the case |
: tte Ncfiruev & Rokehy contract Governor |