Aug 19
THE L A CUBAN AMERICAN PAPER W __________________________________________________ A. San Miguel: Editor. Havana, Monday, __________________________________________________ QUESTIONS OF THE DAY. ---- star* star* star* ---- The chief of the health depart-
ment of Cuba, Major Jefferson R.
Kean, is now at Cienfuegos, making
a personal investigation of the san-
itary conditions in that city. It is
most likely that while there some
radical changes may be initiated for
the improvement of the public health
at that place, as it is admitted that
some safeguards should be taken. The fact that Capt. Thomason ac-
companies Major Kean on his trip
argues well for the future welfare of
that community and particularly for
the American troops quartered there,
because Dr. Thomason is a man of
recognized ability and is thoroughly
up-to-date, and what is better is en-
ergetic. The work that he will do
there will be well and quickly done
and his very presence should be an
assurance to the community. The condition in which Cienfue-
gos finds itself is mainly, if not sole-
ly due to little less than criminal
carelessness on the part of the mu-
nicipal sanitary authorities, who
permitted the situation to become
so grave, either of pure negligence,
or timidity, to reveal the situation
and their own shortcomings, for it
could scarcely be charged up to ma-
liciousness. If negligence in the
first place, or timidity, there is little
comfort in either for the chief of
the sanitary corps of Cienfuegos,
either case should be sufficient cause
for immediate dismissal, if such a
step can be taken. While about it for that matter the
nationalization of the Health De-
partment of Cuba should be effected
without a day's delay, for it is im-
peratively necessary for the promo-
tion of the country's most vital in-
terests. The longer it is delayed
the greater will be the difficulty and
danger. There can be no occasion
for not taking this all important
step right now, while the result of
not having already done so is plain. It is to be hoped that the Pro-
visional Governor will be firm in this
matter and do that which will do the
people generally the most good, not
heeding the objections interposed
by a few politicians who may not
wish to see a few of their wards
thrown out of the positions they
now hold on the municipal pay roles.
As compared to the good of the
country they are nothing and should
be given just so much consideration . It is noticed that the papers in
the States are widely commenting
on the re-appearance of yellow fever
in Cuba and what is said about it is
far from praise , and being so widely
disseminated works a serious in-
jury to the island. If the people
in the States were educated on the
subject of yellow fever they would
not regard it with such horror
which is unfortunate for them as
well as to Cuba. The American authorities now
have a splendid opportunity to do
a double service--educate the people
at home relative to this disease by
circulating a plain statement of its
nature through the press, and by na-
tionalizing the sanitary work in
Cuba. The proper board can find a
way of reaching the ear of the out-
side world with the facts about the
disease and at the same time give
great assurance to those who may
wish to visit or invest in Cuba. | 
