THE CUBA REVIEW. 



GOVERNOR MAGOON LEAVES CUBA. 



On January 21, at the sug- 



Called to gestion of President Roose- 

 Washington. velt and Secretary Root, 

 Secretary Taft summoned 

 Governor Magoon to Washington, for 

 the discussion, consideration and de- 

 cision of a number of important 

 matters, concerning the government of Cu- 

 ba. Besides Colonel Crowder, Governor 

 Magoon took with him his aides. Captain 

 James A. Ryan, isth Cavalry, and Major 

 Jose Marti, and left Cuba for Tampa on 

 Monday, January 27, reaching Washington 

 on the following Thursday. The several 

 matters to be discussed include the contract 

 entered into between Judge Reilly, forrrterly 

 of New York, and the City of Cienfuegos, 

 to build a sewer system and a water sup- 

 ply for the city. This contract was later 

 annulled by the council of Cienfuegos, 

 which decision was sustained by Governor 

 Magoon on appeal. Within the last few 

 days, the residents of Cienfuegos have been 

 clamoring for the construction by the gov- 

 ernment, of these necessary works. 



Another matter is the contract of Mc- 

 Gibney and Rokeby, New York contractors, 

 for building sewers and pavements in the 

 City of Havana, and never completed. 



The third matter for consideration is the 

 franchise of the Marianao Telephone Com- 

 pany, which has a concession which ap- 

 parently included Havana. President Pal- 

 ma stopped operations at Havana, and the 

 courts sustained him. There the matter 

 stands. 



On February 2, Colonel Black, Supervisor 

 of Public Works in Cuba, was also sum- 

 moned to Washington for consultation. 



The Governor's departure from Cuba 

 naturally aroused widespread discussion 

 and brought out gratifying expressions of 

 good will toward the Governor person- 

 ally and unstinted praise of his adminis- 

 tration from all. The positive affection 

 in the hearts of the Cuban people toward 

 the Governor found vent in a series of 

 enthusiastic leave-takings, which indicated 

 in no uncertain way the strong hold on 

 the people the tactful, kindly, and skillful 

 methods of Mr. Magoon had secured for 

 him. Therefore, much uneasiness was 

 apparent here and there regarding the 

 Governor's return to his work in Cuba, 

 as though this might be prevented by 

 Washington, although the Governor him- 

 self said he expected to continue his work 

 m Cuba until the Cuban government has 

 been inaugurated. 



The Advisory Commission 



Want which has .been engaged in 



Governor drafting new laws for Cuba 



Magoon sent a communication to 



Back. President Roosevelt strongly 



praising Governor Magoon 



and expressing an earnest wish for his re- 



turn. The personnel of the commission in- 

 cludes Cubans of both political parties, as 

 well as non-partisans, and is significant evi- 

 dence of appreciation of the good work done 

 in the island under American administra- 

 tion. 



GENERAL THOMAS H. BARRY, 

 Commanding the American Army of Pacification 

 in Cuba, and Acting Provisional Governor of Cuba, 

 during the absence of Mr. Magoon. 



The New York Sun says 

 Cuba's New editorially of Governor Ma- 

 Foundation. goon that "as a nation build- 

 er he has really done more in 

 fifteen months than Leonard Wood did in 

 twice that time." 



"He has perhaps been cvercareful lest he 

 give offense, overconsiderate to some to 

 whom little or no consideration should be 

 shown, yet much of his work commands un- 

 qualified approval." 



On February 8 Secretary 

 Settling Taft and Governor Magoon 

 Cuban decided that the McGivney- 

 Disputes. Rokeby contract, with modi- 

 fications, be carried out, the 

 government participating in defraying th^ 

 cost of the improvement. 



The Reilly Cienfuegos contract was dis- 

 posed _ of in the same way, the national 

 and city governments paying the cost. 



The Marianao telephone dispute was 

 settled by the preparation of a law authoriz- 

 ing the letting of the telephone concession 

 for the city of Havana at the decision of its 

 council. 



