Evening star., 1908-01-20

4
Gov. Magoon ventures the hopeful en-
| courasement that there will be no more
Fiolence--no more attempts to stir up rev.
| olutions or resistance to authority. And
he says that for the first time in history
| the commercial and industrial interests OF
I Cuba on a conservative and solid
| foundation. But there Is a grave and
| widespread apprehension among both for
elgners and natives who have business
| interests and property at stake that the
| Presidents impulsive and generous with
| draWal of this condition Is very indiscreet.
| and his declaration that the government
will be turned over to the ma
| tiyes on the 1st of next February.
whether or no. will not only, destroy the
| good effect of Secretary Tafts agreement.
but will excite the contending politicians
to form conspiracies and revolutionary or
ganizations that will disturb the peace.
retard the progress and impair the pros
perity of the island. II the price of inde-
pendence had been kept at Secretary
Taft's terms. If the President had in
sisted upon the condition precedent in his
announcement, there would be no such
fear.
Fortunately. however. there is nothing
in the Presidents announcement about
the withdrawal of the troops. There are
now about 5000 soldiers of the United
States army stationed in different parts
of Cuba. and as long as they are there
peace will be maint aimed. although trouble
as they are withdrawn.
Secretary Taft's Assurances.
have not been able to see the Presi-
dent, but Secretary Taft is convinced that
| the good people of Cuba need not feel any
misgivings concerning the Presidents in
tentions. He is positive that the Presi-
dents letter is based upon the presump-
ton that the present good order in Cuba
will be prolonged, and the revolutionary
element can find no encouragement in 1t
| to organize conspiracies. Although the
President does not think 1t necessary to
make that clear. the condition precedent
to the withdrawal of our authority in
Cuba remains the same as 1t was when
Secretary Taft made his agreement with
the representatives Of the conflicting in
terests on that island. That agreement
reads:
THE carrying out of this plan, of
course, is strictly dependent upon the
tranquility of the country, which must
continue through two elections. and
which must give assurance Of the stability
OF the new government. because. without
this, the United States would not be US
charging the obligations devolving upon
1t by reason of the intervention
That holds good since the President S
letter was published, as we'll as before"
| said Secretary Taft, land the President
did not mean anything different. The
u
sumed the responsibility of protecting
and preserving the life and property of
our own citizens and the subjects of for
eign governments in Cuba, ana the trans
fer of authority will certainly not take
place as long there is any danger of
| disturbance
This assurance from Secretary Taft VIZ.
be consoling to the business element In
Cuba. and to all who are interested in
having the present prosperity prolonged.
Cuban Progress.
Gov. Magoon's report is full of statis-
| tics concerning economic and commercial
prosperity. He shows that the receipts
from customs have increased nearly 10
per cent during the last year, and although
| the next sugar crop will not be as large
as the last, the improvement in prices will
make up the difference to the planters.
There Is a surplus of about $15.OOl.o %
in the Cuban treasury. which is rapidly
increasing because OF larger receipts and
greater economy, but that is a dlsad-
vantage because the hungry adventures
of the liberal party are eager to get hold
| of the money. A considerable portion OF
| 1t is being used In the construction of
roads. bridges and other internal i'm
provements.' which are very much needed
The administration of President alma
did very little in that direction. .uba
Is far behind the times in its transporta-
tiOl ldGilllcSs Which, uOt. MdSOOu duO
Col. Black of the army. who is acting
| minister OF public works are energetic
ally trying to supply by building a
system of macadamized cart roads over
| the entire island.
The legislative commission, of which
Col. E. H. Crowder of the army is chair
man. has prepared series of laws. which
have been very much needed, to maze
the provisions of the constitution effect
i've. for nothing of that sort was done
during the fn1lr nf {n6anondopca A
commission of twelve members. represent
ing the different political parties, mas
prepared "a a municipal law embodying
| the requirements of the constitution; c)
| an electoral law under which the regis
tration and balloting can be conducted
| under the direction of a non-partisan
| bureau of elections: CD a law reorganiz-
ing the judiciary and defining the jurisdic-
ner in which they shall be appointed. and
| % law reorganizfng the civil service
upon non-partisan merit basis
Gov. Magoon explains that the work OF
the commission iS rapidly approaching
completion: the laws they have prepared
will be printed In pamphlet form and
given a wide circulation in order that
their provisions may be examined and
criticised before they are declared in
force: but he believes that they will be
plments Col. f. H. CrSwder of the judge
advocate generals bureau of the army
for the wisdom and ability he has shown
in the work.
The census of Cuba has recently been
taken simultaneously by 1,sOO enumerat-
ors under the direction of Victor III. Olm-
sted of the Agricultural Department at
Washington. and the returns thus far re-
ceived indicate population of about tive
millions. which is an increase of 25 per
cent since the first census was taken i'm
medately after independence.
Obligations of Foreigners.
A very important question now pending.
perhaps the most serious of all in the
Cuban problem, is whether the obligations
of citizenship shall be imposed by law
against their will upon the foreigners,
Americans and Europeans, who constitute
large portion of the population and own
or control the commerce, the productive
industry1s and the public utilities. The
greater part of the property in Cuba is
owned by aliens. and they pay Is
per cent of the taxes; but. as Gov. Ma
goon says. there is a manifest neglect of
even the obligations and civic responsible
ties devolving upon resident alien who
receives for his person and property all
the benefits Of orderly government and
the business opportunities existing In the
island, and makes little or no effort to in
fuence or control political powers by
which good government is to be secured.
Neither the foreigners referred to nor the
native Cubans are anxious or even will
ing to have the obligations of citizenship
imposed upon aliens. The future peace
of the island is so uncertain that nearly
all foreign-born citizens are afraid to re-
1 ~At Al~t