laws, which, for obvious reasons, should also be under the supervision of a United States commissioner.

6. For the regulation of such other important matters of mutual concern as might be agreed upon.

It is a noteworthy fact that if free trade in natural and manufactured products, subject only to internal-revenue laws, could be allowed to this island with the United States, every essential condition of the reestablishment of agriculture and commerce would be fulfilled. Anything less than this would give only partial relief.

If it should happen that other nations having West Indian possessions should also claim the benefits of free trade with the United States under "the most-favored nations" clause, or that the United States could not spare the revenue which it would lose on Cuban products, and especially on Cuban sugar, this would perhaps be an argument in favor of the early admission of both Cuba and the other West Indian islands into the Union, or at least for much closer relations with the United States than they have hitherto enjoyed.

The settlement of these questions must necessarily be left to Congress, and hence I do not discuss them more fully in this report.

I feel confident, however, that the more seriously they are considered, the more likely they are to be decided in a manner which would be favorable to the adoption of the full measure of economic relief which is necessary for the complete rehabilita tion of the island of Cuba, and the maintenance therein of a stable government, supported by a prosperous and progressive people. Respectfully submitted.

JAMES H. WILSON,

Commanding Military Department of Matanzas and Santa Clara.

SPECIAL REPORT OF BRIG. GEN. FITZHUGH LEE, U. S. V., COMMANDING DEPARTMENT OF PROVINCE OF HABANA AND PINAR DEL RIO.

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF HABANA

ADJUTANT-GENERAL,

Division of Cuba, Habana.

AND PINAR DEL RIO, COMMANDING GENERAL'S OFFICE, Quemados, Cuba, September 19, 1899.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit the following report in compliance with the instructions of the division commander, dated August 18, 1899, which directed me to make a "special report on civil matters on the following subjects, namely: (a) A review of the governmental, economic, and social conditions existing in your department upon the assumption of control by the United States. (b) A résumé of the present industrial, economic, and social conditions, showing the net results of American occupation."

The delay in making this report is due to the time consumed in getting the necessary information from the civil governors and others.

I assumed command of the department of the province of Habana January 1, 1899, and of the province of Pinar del Rio April 19, 1899. The deplorable condition of the island after it was evacuated by the Spanish is well known. Business of all sorts was suspended. Agricultural operations had ceased; large sugar estates with their enormous and expensive machinery were destroyed; houses burned; stock driven off for consumption by the Spanish troops, or killed. There was scarcely an ox left to pull a plow, had there been a plow left. Not a pig had been left in the pen, or a hen to lay an egg for the poor, destitute people who still held on to life, most of them sick, weary, and weak. Miles and miles of country uninhabited by either the human race or domestic animals were visible to the eye on every side. The great, fertile island of Cuba in some places resembled an ash pile, in others the dreary desert. The "reconcentrado" order of the former Captain-General Weyler, it will be remembered, drove from their houses and lands all the old men, women, and children, who had remained at their homes because they were not physically able to bear the burdens of war. The wheels of the former government had ceased to revolve. Chaos, confusion, doubt, and uncertainty filled with apprehension the minds of the Cubans, who for the first time had been relieved of the cruel care of those who for centuries controlled their country and their destiny.

The rapid and brilliant victories of the American soldiers and sailors astonished the more intelligent class of people on the island, while the peaceful passage of large

bodies of American soldiers under the guns of Morro into the harbor of Habana amazed the lower classes. The sight of the flag of the United States waving over the public buildings and being carried through the streets of Habana was a most instructive object lesson, and conveyed to the minds of all the majesty of the American Government and the great reserve power behind it. The railroads on the island were in bad order, having been used to the extent of their endurance conveying Spanish troops and Spanish supplies over them, while the great calzadas or turnpikes were filled with holes, for the war prevented repairs to either railroads or roads. The municipalities were all greatly in debt. None of the civil officials had been paid, and school-teachers had large amounts of back salaries due. Judicial officers were discharging their duties as far as they could-for there was really no law in the island except the mandate of the captain-general-without pay, and many months of back arrears were due to the professors in the colleges of the larger cities. The whole framework of the government had to be rebuilt, and its machinery carefully and gradually reconstructed. Important government problems had to be promptly solved which involved social, economic, commercial, agricultural, public instruction, support of eleemosynary institutions of all kinds, means of communication, reorganizations of municipalities with the necessary town and city police, including a mounted force to patrol the adjoining rural districts within the limits and subject to the authority of the mayors and councils of their respective municipalities; the appointment of new alcaldes and other officers to replace those left in authority by the Spanish Government, and who would be more in accord with the inhabitants whose local affairs they direct. Many trying and troublesome questions arose and many difficulties environed on either side the situation.

Of the Cuban rural population less than 20 per cent were able to read and write, resembling children awakening for the first time to the realities of life. They were in the main obedient, docile, quiet, and inoffensive, and anxious to adapt themselves as soon as possible to the new conditions which confronted them. The Cuban soldiers, black and white, who had been in the fields and woods for four years, defying the Spanish banner, still kept their guns, and were massing around the cities and towns, producing more or less unrest in the public mind, with the fear that many of them, unaccustomed to work for so long, would be transformed to brigands and not become peaceful, law-abiding citizens. In eight months wonderful progress has been made. The arms of the Cuban soldiers have been stacked, and they have quietly resumed peaceful vocations. Brigandage, which partially flourished for a time, has been stamped out; tillage everywhere has greatly increased; many houses rebuilt; many huts constructed; fences are being built, and more and more farming lands are gradually being taken up, and municipalities reorganized with new officers representing the wishes of the majority of the inhabitants. Municipal police have been appointed, who are uniformed and under the charge of-in most cases-efficient officers. The debts of the municipalities in some cases have increased, because to the old debt which accumulated under Spanish rule have been added new obligations. It is proposed, however, to pay all the indebtedness of said municipalities as rapidly as possible from the central insular treasury. The value of property within these respective municipalities, while there are no figures to show it, has largely increased in consequence of the universal confidence in the future prosperity of the island.

In the province of Habana, one of the two provinces in my department, from December 31, 1898, to July 31, 1899, a period of seven months, the number of public schools has increased by 14, a small increase, because the work of rebuilding schoolhouses where destroyed, repairing old ones, and appointing teachers has been more or less tedious and difficult. There are now in this province 4,771 children attending school, being an increase of 2,658 in the period mentioned. In the same period 434 new houses have been constructed in the rural districts. On the 1st of January there were 7,189 beggars in this province; on the 31st of July last there were only 519, being a decrease of 6,670. Seven months ago there were 16,292 head of live stock in this province; on July 31 there were 52,102, being an increase of 35,810. It must be borne in mind that these figures relate to the province of Habana, in which the city of Habana and the adjoining suburbs are not included, though properly belonging to the province of Habana. A new department, designated as the department of Habana, embracing the city and suburbs, was created, and is not under my command. The province of Pinar del Rio, just west of the province of Habana, and the most western province in the island, belonging also to my department, is probably the richest and most progressive part of the whole island. A remarkable improvement has taken place in the pecuniary condition of the people already. The unrivaled quality of the tobacco raised there, and the high prices which have been obtained for the same, are the principal source of wealth in this province. Between the range of mountains running from the eastern section to the western, and the ocean on the

north side, there are excellent sugar as well as tobacco lands. The municipalities in this province are also largely in debt, because of the universal poverty of the people at the time of the American occupation and the difficulty of collecting the necessary taxes to support them; but these municipalities will grow more and more selfsupporting, and their debts and back obligations will be paid, as in the case of the province of Habana, from the central treasury. Pinar del Rio, a prosperous, lawabiding community, is eminently a rural province, and, with one exception, has never asked for distribution of public rations, with which the other provinces in the island have been so largely supplied. The demand, however, for these rations in my department has greatly decreased. During the month of July, in both provinces, I issued 156,380 rations to the destitute; in the following month of August only 28,500, which shows there has been a remarkable improvement in the general condition of the people.

More mules are gradually being employed for agricultural purposes, and fewer oxen than formerly. The Cubans are naturally very slow in all their movements, hence the gait of oxen is more to their taste than the swifter walk of the mule. These people walk and dance in slow time, but the introduction after awhile of sulky plows, drawn by mules, with a seat upon which they can ride, will greatly increase agricultural productions; in fact, a pair of large mules to an American plow will easily do the work of three or four pair of oxen, and stand the climate better. Steam plows could be used upon the long expanse of flat lands in Cuba with great effect.

I have the honor to submit herewith full and comprehensive reports of the civil governors of the two provinces in my department, and in doing so I respectfully call attention to the fact that everywhere within the boundaries of the department law and order have been established, and peace, progress, and prosperity prevail. The welfare of the people will be more rapidly promoted and permanently assured as soon as their future government is known and established. Capital, generally timid, does not seek the investment it would otherwise do on account of this uncertainty. The edu cation of the grown Cubans has ceased, and those of the voting age are as capable of organizing a form of government to-day as they ever will be. If they construct a "stable government" strong enough to protect life and property and give confidence to capital, they should be entitled to control their own affairs. If not, the strong hand of the United States must be placed again on the helm and guide the future course of this beautiful and fertile island out from the shadows of a dark past into the broad sunlight of a bright future.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FITZHUGH LEE, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

CIVIL GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF PINAR DEL Río,

September 14, 1899.

Gen. FITZHUGH LEE, Military Governor of the Provinces of Habana and Pinar del Rio. SIR: I have the honor to inclose report on the condition of this province that was asked by that department some time ago, and has been considerably delayed on account of the inability of the alcaldes to furnish some information required.

Very respectfully,

GUILLERMO DOLZ, Civil Governor.

REPORT OF THE PRESENT CONDITION AND FUTURE NEEDS OF THE PROVINCE OF

PINAR DEL RÍO.

DESTITUTION.

The amount of destitution was very great at the beginning of the present year and as late as April, but since that time a remarkable improvement has taken place in the pecuniary condition of the people-the effect of their inclination to work, the fertility of the soil, the subdivision of the farms, and the high prices obtained for the tobacco crop, the chief source of wealth in this province. There is still some destitution, though it is now rapidly decreasing, in the provinces of Cabañas and Bahia Honda, owing to the fact that they are mainly sugar-producing districts.

distuvets

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS, HOSPITALS, ASYLUMS, ETC.

There are only three charitable institutions in this province, namely, the San Isidro Hospital in the city of Pinar del Río, the San Rafael Hospital in the town of Guanajay, and an orphan asylum founded two months ago in this city, under the management of three American sisters of charity and a minister, and where twentyfive fatherless children are cared for and instructed.

The San Isidro Hospital is a substantial building, well located and suited for its purpose, and capable of accommodating 150 patients. Sixty are now within its walls, proceeding from various municipal districts, besides a dozen prostitutes of this city.

This institution was supported by the municipalities of Pinar del Río, San Juan, Consolación del Sur, San Luis, Viñales, Consolación del Norte, Candelaria, San Cristóbal, Guane, Mantua, Baja, Alonso Rojas, San Diego de los Baños, Paso Real, and Santa Cruz, which shared the yearly expenses in proportion to their population and revenue, but the devastating effects of the war have made it impossible for the ayuntamientos to meet this expense, and the institution has now to be supported by the state, which has granted an allowance of $500 a month and a number of daily rations equal to that of the patients and attendants in the hospital.

The system of water-closets and drainage in the building should be thoroughly reformed, and an abundant supply of water provided, if this hospital is to meet the requirements of hygiene and modern sanitation.

The San Rafael Hospital is also destitute of resources, all its expenses being paid now by the government, which provides rations for the patients and attendants. The number of the former is only about a dozen.

The privies are in an awful condition, and require serious and immediate alterations if the building is to be used as a hospital.

CIVIL OFFICIALS.

The civil government has the following officers, with the salaries herein stated: Governor, salary previous to December 31, $6,000, Spanish gold; after January 1, $4,000, American gold.

Secretary, former salary, $2,000; present salary, $1,600.

Third officer, $1,250; now, $1,000.

Fourth officer, $1,000; now, $800.

Fifth officer, $850; now, 680.

Five clerks, $500; now, as before.

Doorkeeper, $400; now, as before.

Two orderlies, $300 each; now, as before.

The civil government paid for a house $131 a month, an expense which is not incurred now.

The deputation provincial, which was a part of the government, used to cost $33,373 a year. This amount is saved now, as the deputation was abolished on the 28th of February last.

The offices of the government were transferred to the house where that assembly used to meet, saving thereby the yearly rent, since the building was bought with municipal funds derived from all the townships of the province.

The total amount paid in salaries previous to January 1 was $14,600, which, added to the $33,373 for the deputation provincial, and the $1,572, yearly rent of the goernor's house, makes $49,545. The present expenses being only $11,080, there is an economy of $38,465 a year.

JUDICIARY OFFICIALS.

There are four judges of instruction, corresponding to an equal number of judicial districts, namely Guane, Pinar del Río, San Cristóbal, and Guanajay, with jurisdiction for both civil and criminal proceedings. As to the latter, they initiate the proceedings till the facts are ascertained, when the matter is elevated to the superior court or audiencia, which pronounces sentence. These judges belong to two different categories, i. e., junior judge and senior judge, with salaries as follows: The first, $125 a month; the second, $150 a month.

Besides these salaries each judge has $15 for stationery. The junior judge has two constables, with a salary of $25 each, while those attached to the service of the senior judge are paid $30 each.

The audiencia of Pinar del Río consists of the following officials, who had the salaries here indicated previous to the order of June 15, 1899:

After the order of June 15, 1899, the officials and salaries are as follows:

First. Considering the importance of the interests intrusted to the judges of first instance, their salary is not proportionate to their work nor sufficient to enable them to assume their proper station in society. As they have to pay from their own salary house rent and traveling expenses, it seems but just to assign to them, as an addition to the salary, the amount of these two items, which are necessary expenses in the transaction of their business.

Second. As the clerks in these courts have no other remuneration than the small fees assigned to them by the tariff in the cases of well-to-do people, which are rare, and are compelled by the law to work gratis in those of the poor, which are the most frequent, the result is that the said clerks and assistants can not attend even to their most urgent needs. The old administration allowed them to live on illegal perquisites; but as this is not permitted at present, it becomes difficult to find men for these positions. For this reason it would be advantageous to assign a fixed salary to these officers, for without well-remunerated functionaries an honest administration of justice can hardly be expected.

Third. As the amount of business in the courts of Guanajay and San Cristóbal is small, on account of the decrease in their population, in consequence of the war, would be advisable to fuse into one these two courts, placing it at Candelaria. As this part of the province abounds with means of communication and the distances are short, the above-mentioned combination could be easily made and a large sum of money would, moreover, be saved, which could be applied to pay for the improvements recommended in the remaining courts.

MUNICIPAL COURTS (JUSTICES OF THE PEACE).

There are twenty-five in this province, one in each township.
A judge, a secretary, and a bailiff are attached to this court.

These courts are intrusted with a vast number of matters of great importance, both civil and criminal, as well as the business of the bureau of statistics recording office. According to the Spanish organization, which is yet in force, their only remuneration consists in the small and uncertain fees assigned to them by the tariff, which they can collect only in the cases of well-to-do persons, which are rare, and they can not charge anything in poor cases nor in many matters of a criminal nature in which they intervene.

Hence the illegal perquisites tolerated by the Spanish administration, which enabled them to live, but which converted into a farce the administration of justice.