The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-08-05
Magoon's Contracts Exposed
By a Havana Paper.

Cuban Opinion, which describes
itself as "a fortnightly bilingual re-
view devoted to Cuban affairs has
reached The Journals exchange table
1t is printed In Spanish with an
English translation of the principal
articles.
This is the first number of the pub
LEGATION and apart from a rather ex-
traordinary boost for one General
Eusebio Hernandez, who, it declares,
occupies "a foremost and enviable
position as a political leader, as an
orator and as a gynecologist (wOman
suffragists please take notice. it
states facts from a Cuban viewpoint
which are worth the attention of
fair minded Americans.
1t is necessary to quote at length
from the Opinion in order to make it's
purported revelations clear. These
revelations are contained in an "edi-
torial' headed "Mr. MagOon's Con-
tracts" and are worth considering:
The late provisional administration
OF the United States in Cuba made
itself famous for the large number
OF contracts OF all sorts into which it
entered, especially with American
contractors, for the construction of
high-roads, bridges, aqueducts and
for other public improvements. Many
of these contracts were made in the
most informal, not TO say, immoral
manner and gave rise to much scan
dal and to the complete diseredit of
the provisional administration. They
cost the Cuban treasury vast sums,
and It is the general impression that
in many cases the execution OF the
works has been very deficient.
No better proof of these assertions
could be found than the following off,
eial and most startling statement con-
tanned in the minutes of the session
of President Gomez's cabinet held on
June 9, 1909, which as usual were
given out to the newspapers for pub
lication- (See, for instance, La Dis
custom of that uate): Some contracts
have been spontaneously rescinded by
the foreign contractors themselves,
because they were formulated reck-
oning with certain favoritism and GER
tain tOleranCes, to which the govern
ment of the republic cannot consent,
because they 1.-THE contracts) are
based on profound immoralities"
Other contracts of the provisional
administration, to all appearances
Just as profoundly immoral as those
TO which reference is here made,
have been recognized by the Cuban
government, such as the contracts for
the sewering and paving of the cities
of Havana and CienfuegOS, because
there is no way Of resembling them
without producing international diff
cuIties of a serious and complicated
nature.
But the American public should
know that these are the sort Of con-
tracts which are creating embarrass-
ment of q political and financial ma
ture to the new Cuban administration,
and that the best energies Of the gov
eminent at Washington are at pres
ent devoted TO sustaining these ques
tionable transactions
The above certainly has the ring of
truth. 1t is written without perSihage
without the exaggeration OF facts
and circumstances which accompanies
an effort to deceive. If it is false, it
gives evidence of a finesse in duplicity
which will be envied by the most sue
cessful liars.
In advocating the war against
Spain the people of America were &C
tuated by but one motive. and that
was to give Cuba its freedom, and it