30 THECUBAREVIEW. 



Tliird : \\ orks of imperative necessity, wliicli should be carried out at once. 



Major Black advises the government to appropriate six millions for repairs of public 

 roads, which are required by the people on account of the absence of railroads in some 

 districts, more than on the line of travel. 



So far, no measures have been ordained for water works, sewerage and other matters, 

 which will probably be provided for later. 



The government palace has been whitewashed and repaired and. many necessary 

 repairs have been effected on other public buildings. A regular housecleaning is going 

 on all over Havana, and paint, whitewash and water are freely used on all public build- 

 ings. Nature has already begun her work, and the trees in the parks are budding out 

 again, and soon will be covered with foliage. 



Governor Magoon has rendered an important benefit to the public school system 



and appointed inspectors to aid the others already engaged in drawing up improvements 

 for the education of the rising generation. 



A petition embodying an appeal for an American protectorate over Cuba has 



been in circulation with signatures of prominent men of affairs, natives of Cuba. The 

 document formulates a request for the preservation of the Cuban republic under the 

 watchful care of the United States, with a proviso that all the branches of government 

 shall be administered by Cubans, under an American protectorate. This paper which has 

 been submitted to President Roosevelt, has provoked a war of words from the Cuban 

 press. The consensus of opinion trends to American control over Cuba — however this 

 subject is a weighty one for consideration. Not many months ago the Ateneo, a literary 

 society of Havana, held a number of debates upon the electoral laws. Among the 

 orators were Manuel Sanguily, Juan Gualberto Gomez, and other well-known Cubans of 

 varying political beliefs. To a thoughtful mind the diverse opinions voiced at that time 

 were like straws which show which way the wind blows, and the revolution was fore- 

 shadowed in their utterances. The liberal party was loud in its denunciation of the 

 Piatt Amendment and some hot headed politicians even went as far as printing thousands 

 of copies of the Cuban constitution without the clause embodying the Piatt Amendment, 

 as though they could thus wipe out the moral obligation which was the frame-work of 

 their independence, without which the inauguration of the Cuban republic was impossible. 

 Those very men later appealed to American intervention for help to settle their diffi- 

 culties, saying, "We desire that the Piatt Amendment be a guarantee more effective 

 than heretofore." 



Gov. Magoon will make a tour of the Island early in December to investigate 



the conditions of the country for himself. His report will furnish a fair estimate of 

 Cuba's needs. 



The rumor that England will not send a minister at present is followed by a 



report that France will follow England's example as well as other European countries, 

 who consider that their governments only require consular representatives in Cuba under 

 the Provisional Government. However, the American Legation will be retained. 



Rumors of discontent and incipient revolt were brought to the Governor and he 

 decided to take a trip in his automobile and inspect the surrounding country for him- 

 self, and he discovered that these reports were greatly exaggerated. Nevertheless Gov- 

 ernor ]\Iagoon held a conference with Gen. Bell and strenuous measures will be carried 

 out to prevent or punish petty thieving which has been very frequent of late. The rural 

 guards shall patrol the country outside the towns. No one shall carry weapons without 

 a license. Bands of disorderly persons in the rural districts who disturb the peace, shall 

 be dispersed for the good of peace and tranquillity. 



The error in the decree regarding return of horses appropriated by the rebels and 

 which they had at the time of intervention was due to an alleged omission on the part 

 of the translator, and whereas it was issued in the official gazette, and to rectify it would 

 have caused unpleasant complications, therefore Commissioner Taft allowed it to stand. 

 It ivas not the intention of the government to allow these horses to remain in their pos- 

 session. The rebels were to ride to their homes after disarmament and then return their 

 mounts to the legal owners. Many farmers thus deprived of their horses have entered 

 complaints against the rebels, and the loss of their property has been an irreparable 

 injur}'. 



The sum that has been assigned to Gov. Magoon as his salary of Provisional 



Governor, of $20,000 per annum, serves as a curious comparison with the salaries enjoyed 



