: * v *
, ' . , . . _ ; ? . , . ' . ' ' " ' '
y&vW : - V.v V ; i'1 , , - , ' - ; ; - ?
Vbe Conservative *
catiso of the unsettled conditions of
future government , and inability to bor
row money on farm lands to put in crops ,
to say nothing of making payments on
mortgages already existing.
This condition of affairs had been
recognized by the Spanish governor-gen
eral who , by decree , had postponed the
time for foreclosing mortgages on rural
estates in order to give owners thereof
the opportunity to save their property.
This period was extended by General
Brooke , and later again by his successor ,
Major General Leonard Wood , United
States Volunteers , until June 1 , 1901.
These extensions had given nearly
four years , more than two of them un
der American administration , in which
to arrange for the protection and re
demption of their lands , and it was
finally decided , in May last , that , in
justice to the creditors , payments should
begin to be made : a certain percentage
of the indebtedness to be paid each year ,
beginning with the present , for four
years , instead of permitting creditors to
demand the whole amount due , at once.
This will permit those whose land is
worth it , to save their property and in
cases where the laud is involved to the
full extent of its value , the creditor will
have opportunity to take it and seller
or develop it , as failure to make the first
payment will enable him to foreclose.
This is the present condition of mort
gaged rural states. The past two years
have seen great recuperation and good
crops where owners have been able to
cultivate their lands ; but some farms
have , for various reasons , such as ab
sence of owners or lack of funds , re
mained uncultivated. Another year will
bring these under cultivation , either by
present owners or their successors to
ownership , the past year having been a
remarkably prosperous one.
Difficulties of Reorganization of Gov
ernment.
The task of reorganization of govern
ment by General Brooke was an extra
ordinarily difficult one. He was in a
country occupied by a people whose lan
guage was foreign ; its system of laws
and of government entirely dissimilar to
those of his own country ; the habits ,
customs and character of the inhabitants
vastly different ; with existing condi
tions of antipathy after a long period oi
internal dissension and rebellion , and ii
required a strong and energetic ruler
acting with justice and equity towarc
all parties , after careful study of the
conditions , to do that , which in the
future , should be recognized as best for
the country and its people.
Most careful and deliberate considera
tion and action , based upon actual con
ditions , was necessary in the selection of
a cabinet from unknown material , to es
tablish and reorganize the departments
of government ; and it was in the face o :
many discouragements that Generpl
,
* *
f
3rooke began his effort to carry out the
duties imposed upon him.
In his proclamation of January 1 ,
1899 , addressed "To the People of Cuba , "
existing laws , were continued in force
until amended , and the assistance and
advice of the inhabitants in solving the
questions of future government in their
own interests , was invited ; but so chaotic
were the conditions and such distrust
of each other , or of themselves , existed
that but few responded to this oppor-
Tanity to assist ; but little help was re
ceived from them , and that , in great
measure , through the efforts of staff
officers to inform themselves of the
status of affairs for their information
and use. The staff , with General Ohaffee
as its chief , worked hard to accumulate
a knowledge of former methods of gov
ernment and existing conditions , and of
the character of leading Cubans of all
parties , and they acquired an unusually
Large amount of information and a work
ing knowledge of affairs within a re
markably short period of time , consider
ing the circumstances and obstacles met.
But all the work of decision and re
sponsibility lay with General Brooke ,
and it can be safely said that for him ,
as for his staff , there were many hours
of work , but little time for sleep , and
none whatever for rest and recreation
during the first months of military occu
pation.
First Steps in Government.
After most careful inquiry and con
sideration , General Brooke selected his
secretaries for the different departments
of government from representatives of
the different phases of feeling in the
island. The revolutionists , the autono
mists , and even the Spanish element ,
were represented in his cabinet ; all able
men , educated for professional life , and
all , except the Secretary of Agriculture
and Public Works , who was an engineer
of reputation , were members of the legal
profession , the Secretary of Finance
speaking excellent English , being an
American lawyer , admitted to practice
in the courts of the state of New York.
Although there was some criticism of
the official acts of one or two members
of this cabinet , time has developed the
fact that his selections were , in the
mam , most fortunate under the circum
stances , and no stronger cabinet has
since existed.
Eeforms were begun at once , but some
came slowly , and only as these men be
came acquainted with the benefits to be
derived from proposed changes. The
laws were found to be , as a rule , good
enough in themselves , and to provide
for necessary protection of property anc
rights ; but the methods of administra
tion of the law , the organization of
courts and their methods of procedure
especially in criminal cases , were very
bad and open to opportunities for cor
ruption. There had been delays in ad-
ninistration of and it " * * * * '
justice , was apparent -
parent that there were corrupt practices
ihroughout the entire judicial system.
The prisons were filled with prisoners ;
many awaiting trial , some for political
offenses , and a largo number had been
imprisoned under sentence of military
courts.
The different department commanders
released numbers of persons in prison at
once ; but as all records thereof were
kept in the Department of Justice , and
this summary release left the fact of
their pardon unrecorded , they were still
subject to rearrest and it became neces
sary , in behalf of the prisoners , as well
as following the due course of law , that
such releases should be made only by
the military governor through the De
partment of Justice. This caused some
complaint and criticism on the part of
those who did not understand the facts
and desired more rapid procedure , re
gardless of the law , but it was necessary
to the record and to secure freedom
from liability of rearrest of prisoners ,
and was in accordance with existing
laws , which had been put in force by
the military governor upon assuming
control of the government. Under Gen
eral Brooke , and under his successor ,
General Wood , prisons were repeatedly
and thoroughly inspected , cases investi
gated , and hundreds of prisoners , all
told , were released. General Wood has
taken especial interest in this matter ,
and the work has continued oven up to
the present year , so that now the prisons
contain only justly convicted criminals
or those properly indicted , whilst in
Havana at least , they will compare most
favorably in cleanliness and order with
the best prisons of the United States.
- i
Reforms. . ' ? * 4 }
The much complained of "Ihcomuni-
cado" of the ,
system Spanish regime ,
whereby persons arrested were shut up
in close confinement without oppor-
tunity to communicate with family , ' V * 'm ? ;
friends or attorney , was one of the first
things abolished by General Brooke.
Other remedial steps were taken to se
cure personal rights , numerous modifi
cations of the laws were made , a Su
preme Court for the island was created ,
and other important measures adopted ,
but it was only in December last that
the benefits of the important Writ of
Habeas Corpus was secured to the Cuban
people. It had long been advocated , but
was not favorably received , and was
held back by the unfavorable action , or
lack of action , of the Cuban secretaries
of Justice , partly because it was claimed
that this , and other remedial measures
proposed in behalf of the rights of the
people , wore provided for in other ways
under existing laws by a process of ap
'
peal. It was insisted , however , that
such process was a long and tedious pro
cedure to secure the release of persons
hold under illegal restraint , and-that the
