The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-25

elections have taken place; namely,
the municipal and provincial election
and the national election, both or
which were conducted without confu-
sion or disorder. The national cleo
ton marks an epoch in the history or
Cuba. The registration for both cleo
tions was secured by a national CEN
suS.
The provisional administration has
been able to meet not only the usual
and ordinary expenses of the govern
ment, but in addition thereto, to dis
charge the cost of the instruction,
including the obligations incurred by
the government in attempting to pro-
vide for the national defense, and also
the damage inflicted by the 1nsurgenr
forces It has also discharged a large
amount of interior indebtedness OF the
Cuban government, including the exc
eution of the contract for the pur-
chase of the church property entered
into by the military government 1901;
it has maintained the rural guard at a
force fixed by the Cuban congress at
the time of the insurreetion OF 1906,
being an excess of 2, 400 over the size
of the rural guard prior TO August,
1906; it succeeded in extirpating an
epidemic of yellow fever prevailing in
the island at the time the provisional
government was established.
Public improvements.
The provisional government has
done much for the sanitation of the
cities and towns of the island, and in
addition entered upon and made sub
stantial progress in the execution of
broad plan of public improvements,
including road and bridge building,
harbor improvements, waterworks,
the erection of court houses, custom
houses, school houses, market houses
slaughter houses and other municipal
works; also the construction, repair
and reconstruction of the charitable,
penal and reformatory institutions; re-
built and extended the government tel
egraph and telephone systems; in
creased the number of postofficeS and
improved the mail service; accom-
plished many reforms in the customs
house and adopted methods to en-
courage and promote trade and COM
merce. Especial attention has been
given to expanding and increasing the
efficiency of the public schools system
of the island, instruction in English
being introduced and special attention
devoted to instruction in the domestic
sciences.
While on the establishment Of the pro-
visionaI government in Cuba there was
apparently 100000 in the Cuban treas
ury. yet of this amount the Cuban con-
gress had by special al laws. approPria1tfGsd
purposes in addition to the regular budget.
There were numerous acknowledged and
audited debts of the Cuban republic re
tional obligations incurred as a result OF
the instruction and the resulting increase
fest that it would be necessary to pay
large amounts because of damage due to
the insurrectiOn. An examination of the
treasury within month of the establish
ment of the provisional government show
ed estimated deficiency of 4O00000,
after meeting existing obligations. In
making this appraiSement II was necessary
to estimate the cost to Cuba of the in
surrection of 1906. Results have shown
that this estimate was something over
81. 100000 less than what proved to be act
ual cost of this brief disturbance. 4.
All Debts Paid.
AS a result of this condition of the
Cuban treasury it was necessary tenn
porarily to suspend a number of the
special acts of the Cuban congress APP
propriating money, in order to apply those
sums to iquidate obligations of the class
heretofore indicated.
All Indebtedness of the provisional gov
eminent up to and including November /,
has been paid and discharged in full, and
it is believed that the provisional govern
ment will close it's administration without
leaving a floating indebtedness and with a
substantial balance in the treasury. "a
There have, however. been undertaken
during the existence. of the provisional
government, after the fullest considera-
ton of the subject by the president, the
war, two large projects affecting the Sani-
tation of the island of Cuba, involving an
expenditure of probably SIS. O00,O00. These
works are the sewering and paving of
tracts of these works had been let during
our former occupation and administration
of President Palma, respectively. To in
sure the ability of the Cuban republic 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 100000
for each of the succeeding three years
the money to be devoted to the specific
purpose referred to above.