The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-19
SITUATION AT SANTIAGO
General Wood Explains His Conduct Of Al.
fairs on the Island.
CuBANS GET PREFERENCE IN EMPLOYMENT
Natives Cnu nj All Times See The
Books-Schoois neing Estah'tsh-
cd and Roads being iiuilt.

Washington. January 1s.Gcncrai Leon
ard Wood, military commander Of the de-
partment OF Santiago, was before the son
ate committee on military Affairs today, lilo
gave detailed account OF hts operations
In the province and In tho city o. Santago
4 and also hs estimate OF the military force
necessary to maintain order In the island
| In the latter point he expressed the opn-
| ion that FOR some tmo the 1000 men now
! in the province of Santiago should be con
| tinued, but that after time 5000 would
be sufficient for the service,
| lie considered, h0wcyrr. TINT n
miIitnry force wouId hc necessary tn
the nan iDtcnnNcr ,f order for Sontr
y cnrs aud said IL should be suftI-
c,cnt eRcctuniIy nnd quickly to
chccI> Any trouble before 81 could
gain hca,i,Sny. This rcmnris applied
10 the island ns whole aud he
Thought ms many Us 10000 troOps
should be stationed throughout
Cubu.
With proper precaution and tact he did
not anticipate trouble and he believed that
/
Itegra;e In all parts Of the island. Santiago
had been great stronghold OF tie cuban
insurgents under Garcia. but they had now
practically disbanded,
| Outlining his mode Of governing tho
province, he said he had made no appoint
mcnts to office except upen the recon-
mendations OF Cubans and that he had In
all cases put them on their honor in max
ing such recommendations. He had shown
absolute trust In them In all matters 60
ing among them always unarmed and lcay-
Ing the books of the administration always
open TO their inspection. He had CuDaDH IN
all departments and his private secretary
had ut one time been u member OF Gomez
staff Thus They always knew how their
money had been expended and know just
what he was doing as their governor.
General Wood said his effort had been
to encourage the people of all the towns
to establish self-g0vernment and he had
been especially Jealous In having them
select their local officers open schools. cs-
tablish courts, buiid roads. etc, and IN
cases whore they did not have The money
for these purposes he had aided them by
making contributions from The general
fund. This system WAS entirely diHerent
from the old enc under Spanish rule. when
all tho collections We're forwarded TO Ha-
yann and never came back, only ~ per
cont Of the revenue being devoted 20 local
uees. He had found the people especially
Jealous OF their rights In this respect and
the recent public meetings and protests
against sending their revenues to Havana
was due 10 this feeling
General Wood spoke especially OF the
establishment Of the schools and building
trades Ha said he had 1000 men making
roads and that he was getting many
schools started.
Replying to question from Senator
Hnwlcy he said The people were anxious
Tor the separation Of church and stale In
educational matters and that they seemed
TO want 10 be Ike the Americans IN this
~ well as in other respects.
Speaking OF Santiago city he said the
collections mainly from customs have bpeil
sufficient 10 pay all Legitimate expelags
and leave balance OF s2sD,00p which he
meant 20 devote to cleaning out the harbor.
This harbor, he said. had nm accumulation
of ten feet OF filth and with this removed