Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-15
J1ILU
Dutch Batesh Gratifying Success Of the Pro-
Government. Heany md Evrdinq
Of
LARGE oj Il WoulBe Cardf
the
Casros Cdrs
Gratifying Success of the Pro-
visionaI Government.
RETURN OF TRANQUILITY
Republic Freed From Its Burden of
Debt.
+ LAWS PASSED LAWYER GAVE HIM MONEY
Two Large Projects Affecting the
Sanitation of the Island
Undertaken.

Secretary Wright has made a report tt
the President regarding the operations OF
| the provisional government of Cuba
That government. he says, has proceeded
satisfactorily during the past fiscal year
and has now reached the stage where its
| termination Is at hand. During the two
and one-half years Of its existence there
has been a condition Of peace and tran
guilty In the Island Of Cuba, Secretary
Wright says, that is creditable in the
highest degree.
All of the laws which the peace commits
sion of 1905 (Mr. William H. Taft and
Assistant Secretary of State Bacon)
deemed Indispensable have been either
enacted or are now 80 far advanced In
process of enactment that they will be-
come laws before the termination Of the
present government. In addition many
other laws essential to the welfare OF
Cuba have been enacted.
Republic Found in Debt.
while on the establishment of the pro-
visional government in Cuba" says Sec
rotary Wright. there was apparently
$40. 600 900 in the Cuban treasury. yet OF
that amount the Cuban congress had by
special laws appropriated approximately
50. 0O0, 600 for various public purposes IN
addition to the regular budget. There
were numerous acknowledged and audited
debts Of the Cuban republic remaining un-
paid. and number Of additional obl1ga-
tons incurred as a result Of the insurrec-
ton and the resulting increase of the
rural guard. 1t was also manifest that
amounts because of damages due to the
insurrection. An examination OF the
treasury within q month Of the establish
ment of the provisional government show
ed an estimated deficiency of .OOO
after meeting existing obligations. In
estimate the cost to Cuba OF the tnsur-
rection of 1908. Results have shown that
this estimate was something over $1,000.
600 less than what proved to be the actual
cost of this brief disturbance.
Expenditures Held Up.
LAS a result of this condition of the
Cuban treasury it was necessary Temporal
rily to suspend a number of the special
acts of the Cuban congress apprOpriating
money. in order to apply these sums to
liquidate obligations Of the class hereto
fore indicated.
"All Indebtedness Of the provisional gov
eminent up to and including November l
tthe last report Of the provisional govern
rnent) has been paid and discharged in
FULL and it is believed that the provisional
government will close its administration
without leaving a floating Indebtedness
and with a substantial cash balance In
the treasury.
There have, however. been undertaken
during the existence. Of the provisional
ton Of the subject by the President. the
Secretary Of State and the Secretary OF
war, two large projects Affecting the san
itation of the Island of Cuba. Involving
an expenditure of probably $15'UO.OOO.
of the city of Havana and the installation
of a. water and sewer system in the city
of Cienfuegos. The original contracts
for these works had been let during our
former occupation and the adrS nlstrat'on
of President Palma, respectively.
Bond Issues Authorized.
ITO insure the ability of the Cuban re-
public to meet these obligations. while at
the same time maintaining an efficient
government. the provisional government
will probably. by decree, authorize the
President of Cuba to issue bonds to the
total of IS OOO, 900 for each Of the succeed
ing three years, the money to be devoted
to the specific purposes referred to ABOVE.
OeSm " Say ShoI VIC Va
penditure made by the United States for
the Intervention and the extra cost Of
the army Of Cuban pacification main
tanned In the island during the existence
of the provisional government amounted
on June 80, 1908. to 1911 ,e22. OF. and this
amount will be materially increased be-
fore the termination Of the provisional
government and will be further increased
by the withdrawal and distribution of the
troops now in Cuba.
Elections in Cuba.
During the past year two important
elections have taken place. The first
municipal and provincial election. was
held August l. 1908. and was conducted
without confusion or disorder. In each
province there were three parties in the
field. and in each municipality there were
not less than three and in some instances
as many as five. In these elections all
parties participated and all acquiesced in
A1Actinp