The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-29

Havana. Jan. H-After more than two
years in the dry dock Of American inter
vention. the Cuban ship Of state. over
hauled and repsired Of the damages OF
the revolution Of 1906. was reIaunched AT
noon to-day. when Gen Jose Miguel
Gomez took the oath Of Office as President
Of the republic on q balcony Of the
palace.
While the guns Of Cabanas fortress,
across the bay. and those OF the battle
ship Mississippi. in the harbor. saluted
when the Cuban flag huttered upward
from the staff on the palace, the Cuban
soldiers stood at attention" and the
crowd in the Plaza de Arrnas and on the
roofs Of nearby buildings cs.eered en-
Enthusiastically.
II was q great day for Cuba, but the
frenzled. deHrious happiness Of May ..
1902. the original Independence day. was
not equaled-
The whole city was gayly decorated
Many Of the narrow streets were trans
formed into tunnels by the blue and
white bunting, while here and there the
red snd yellow Of Spain. with a spatter-
ing Of the American coiors. could be
seen. II was q national holiday AL the
shops were closed
Escort MagoOn TO Palace.
Police kept clear a prescribed route
from the residence OF Gen Gomez 20 the
palace, a distance OF q mile Mr. Ma
goon was driven TO Gen Gomez's house
at Il o'clock. escorted by a squadron OF
rurales- Meanwhile a brilliant assem-
blage gathered in the red room OF the
palace, including Gen Barry. command
ing the Army Of Cuban Psciheation. his
entire staff. and various other officers.
all wearing white uniforms and carrying
SIDE arms. The yari-colored uniforms Of
the diplomats added TO the brilIiancy OF
the scene.
The members OF Congress. the new Of
fcials OF the provisional government.
prominent civilians, and a number OF
ladies'. among whom were Sonora Gomez
and Mrs Charles P Taft, completely
filed the huge room, and the crowd over
flowed 20 the blue room, in which mir
rored doors concealed miniature chapel.
which has been used By the Catholic Oc-
cupants Of the palace for the past seventy
years.
Shortly before noon Gen Gomez arrived
with MIR Magoon. Vice President-eIect
zayas had already arrived After Gomez
ally declared the election OF Senores
Gomez and Zayas. the new President and
Vice President elect, with Mr- &agOon, en-
tered the palace. The entire membership OF
the Supreme Court came IN in black robes,
wearing queer eonical hats Silence,
which It is generally hard 20 obtain
among the Cubans. was supreme Gen
Gomez bowed right and left. and shook
hands with several. including the visit
ing ENJOYS
Promptly at noon Gen. Gomez, the
chief justice Of the Supreme Court and
Mr.. Magoon stepped out on balcony.
The crowd, confined 10 the plaza De
Armas by ropes, cheered wildly.
Impressive Oath Is Taken.
The chief justice raised his hand, the
crowd became silent, ard the chief jus
tIce administered the oath to Gen. Gomez.
As the ceremony was completed a new
silk flag fluttered from the palace. the
soldiers started nring a salute Of twenty
one guns. in which the Mississippi and
Maine joined, the band played the Himmo
de Bayama, and the crowd cheered
madiy. while the steamboats, IN the har-
Dor screeched, and rockets were dis
charged from all sides OF the plaza
Mr.. Magoon was the first to conzratu-
late the new President He embraced
Gen. Gomez in true Cuban style, and
called out to the crowd: Viva la re-
publica-~
Then President. Gomez and the others
of the party re-entered the red room.
where Mr. MaSoon read a proclamation
issued by President Roosevelt turning
over the government and declaring the
Magoon administration ended It was
also announced that all debts incurred
by the provisional government must be
considered debts Of the Republic OF Cuba.
anf~ that all contracts made must be
executed
Hints from the United States.
An unexpected feature OF the procIa-
nation was the declaration that the
United States understands that the second
article Of the appendix Of the Cuban
constitution forbids Cuba to assume any
lebt in excess Of the debt already con-
tracted or authorized by the provisional
government, and that the United States
viii not recognize any bond or other evi-
dence OF debt which may Be issued n
violation of this understanding
Further. Mr.. Magoon was directed by
President Roosevelt &c say it would bs
the final conclusion OF the provisional
government that all claims OF soldiers OF
/ the war OF liberation have been fully
satisfied, and that the United States would
regard further obligations to pay such
/ Indebtedness as Invalid.
! In concluding. Mr. Magoon said he ex-
tended in behalf OF the President. ths
government. and the people Of the United
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