New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
CUBAN CASES DECIDED
NR. TAFT ACTS ON FOUR.
Sonitation of Island Mast Be Com
oIeted-Hacaaa Telephone System.
IFrom The rribvne Burcau.l


washington. Feb. S-The sanitation of Cuba
-,st be completed. and to that end the contract
,rsrsed by Governor General Wood to McGiv-
-, & Eokehy for the construction of 4 COM
80 sewer and water system in the city OF
1Y.,ana must be carried out. This decision was
,oc,ed bv Secretary Taft to-day, with the con-
,--enoe Of Secretary Root and the cordial APP
,,-sI OF the President. following the hearings
:, the case which one of the most i'm
-,r4ant brought TO Washington by Governor
,,.roo, FOR final adjudication. Work under this
o,,rract. which involves an expenditure vari-
- estimated up to Slo.ooooo will begin at
- T. Is 10 be completed within four years,
- ,ha. one-fourth can be accomplished before
,,o nresent American occupation of Cuba terni-
,o,es II is probable that the national govern
=. ~ c,,ba Will divide the cost with the mu-
.,ali,x, and the former win exercise super
- and administrative control In reaching
"a, decision Secretary Taft was largely in
ee-cea by the Secretary of State, who firmly
.dteres 10 the argument. repeatedly submitted
.. ,be Palma administration. that under the
.o-r,s of the Platt amendment Cuba is bound 10
- This 1,recaution against unsanitary condi-
.,o,s N her chief city
eao-e+arv Taft also decided the other three
-.see brought 10 his attention by Governor
,,coon and iIl each instance the decision of
,,a Secretary was approved by the President
= ,,,.o with the decision on the McGivney &
-,oreby contract is that on the Reilly contract,
.t,ch ,,roxides for the construction Of sewer
s ,,-ate- system in the city Of Cienfugos, the
"a LARGEST CITY in Cuba The illegal feat
- ., ,be contract which were described at
-, ~ .bese dispatches to The Tribune last
80. era 10 be eliminated. The contractors
-. consented TO the necessary modification
"a -,,a work will now proceed Cninterruptedly-
--,a most difficult case submitted to Secretary
-f- MAS that of the Marinao Telephone Com
,.-v which had acquired a concession in
,,a-snao a suburb OF Havana, and had sought
So q technicality of the Cuba law 10 include
a. &c territory the city Of Havana The Cuban
courts had twice decided against the claims or
~. oo-,nany but il asked some relief in the
g., of 2 national telephone law. Secretary
,-,f- decided that the company had no right TO
oo,s--,ct It's lines in Havana. but further ruled
,hs- an open competition should be conducted 1T
h,cb all should enjoy an equal opportunity to
hsd for a concession TO operate system in
psrsra There is now in existence in Havana
.slenbone system which in two years will revert
n the government. Mr. Taft decided that the
h5ders for the new concession must include
reasonable sum 10 be paid TO the present COM
-anv in conversation for the cancellation of
The remaining two years OF their contract and
also a sum sufficient to compensate the govern
rnent for loss Of the equity which would revert
10 il ct the end Of two years The effect Of
this decision will il is expected. give to the city
@. Havana an adequate telephone system almost
Immediately. While the Secretary left the de-
tails 10 be worked out by Governor Magoon Il
is assumed that in the new concession arrange
,neuts will be made for payment of a per
oentage Of the gross annual receipts to the
municipality.
The fourth case submitted TO the Secretary.
the ffty-year concessin granted TO Scovel &
Co 10 construct and operate pier in the har-
Dor Of Havana, was quickly disposed Of. The
concession IS to be cancelled and the company
compensated for the work it has already DONE
indicated in The Tribune on last Mon
Gay.
The decisions Of Secretary Taft affect only
The principles. and the details to be worked
out by Governor Magoon and the officials of the
bureau Of insular affairs in time for the final
approval Of the Secretary when he returns to
Washington on February 20