The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-14
Cuban Commissioners Chosen 60 Ass
sist in Distribution OF the Money
Have Declined to Act.
GOMEZ UNABLE TO EXPLAIN
HE Is SAID To BE PLATING ~
sHREwD GAME OF POLITICS,
Hoping TO Restore Himself In FavoH
with His Men and Involve
General Brooke.

HAVANA, May 1s.-General Gomez Is act-
ing queerly regarding the distribution or
the 81. 600 600 advanced by the United States
government for the payment OF the Cuban
troops and the commissioners chosen by
him to assist in the distribution. as repre-
sentatives of the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth
army corps either refuse to act or fail TO
appear. AS the arrangements 10 pay tho
soldiers have been pending for three and a
half months further delay is especially an
roying Generals Betancourt and Nodarze
were appointed to act for the Fifth Army
Corps, but the latter declined TO serve ana
Major General Wilson. military governor
of the newly formed Matanzas-Santa
Clara department, asked that Betancourt
be excused on the grourh OF his holding the
post OF civil governor of Matanzas. sug-
gesting to Governor General Brooke that
General Carlos Rojas be selected The gov
ernor general thereupon wired General
Rojas at Cardenas and the latter accepted.
arriving at Havana to-day. General Rojas
called upon the governor general and in
the course OF a pleasant interview promised
to meet the other commissioners on Mon
day. Rojas then called General Comes
and an hour later wrote a note to General
Chaffee, General Brookes chief Of stan. de-
clining to serve, but giving no reason for
his action.
Gen. Francisco Carrillo, one Of the come
missioners of the Fifth Army Corps ar
rived i'm the city yesterday, but did not
visit the American headquarters. The com>
missioners for the Sixth Corps. who were
to meet at 10 o'clock this morning. did not
make their appearance and General Brooke
sent Captain Page to inquire Of Gomez why
none OF his generals was on hand In the
interview with the governor generals rep
resentative the Cuban commander appeared
Indifferent and seemed not to care whether
the commissioners came or not. He made
no suggestions. AS the United States au-
thorities are unable 10 begin the disbarse-
ment of the money without the assistance
of the Cubans General Brooke Is astonisheo
at the indifference shown by Gomez
The evening papers assert that Gomez il
dissatisfied with the terms OF Governor
General Brooke's order for payment ana
did not consent to have the arms of the
disbanded troops placed in the custody OF
the American military authorities This
evening General Brooke sent Major Ken
non, OF his staff, to see Gomez regarding
the situation. Gomez declared that he was
unable to explain why the generals would
not serve and expressed the belief that their
action was due to the influence OF his
enemies. He said he would call on General
Brooke on Monday.
ANOTHER CHANGE OF FRONT.
Senior Nolasco Gomez's secretary. said to-
night that Gomez would not agree to have
the arms in the arsenals under control of the
Americans, and wanted them TO be In the
custody of the Cubans exclusively. As Gen.
eral Gomez saw the order regarding the
disposition of the arms before IL was made
public and approved it. this is a new atti-
tude. The fact seems TO be that the Cuban
commander feels that he Is losing his hold
upon Cuban opinion. He has been startled
by the caricatures and attacks which have
appeared IN the local press, and wishes ap~
parently TO prolong the payment or tho
troops and then gain time for his political
maneuvers, and possibly to withdraw alto
gether from the negotiations. laying the
blame for his course upon General Brooke.
and then to lead violent anti-American
party Gomez Is said TO be greatly disap-
pointed at being unable &c get General
Brooke to agree TO has suggestion for an
army of 1900 Cubans.
The Cuban Col. Enrique Colazo. In a let
ter TO La Lucha, published to-day, sounds
alarm and calls the cubans to witness
the danger Of the country in longer submit-
ting TO the Americans. In his communica-
ton Colonel Colazo says: The conclusion
Is logical that we cannot serve Cuba and
America, their ideas being contradictory.
We are treated as enemies. our customs are
destroyed and We are compelled 10 speak
English. The Americans have proved the
falsity OF the promises they have made. ana
our ideal OF independence Is endangered.
Fighting as We fought. 10 abandon II to-day
is impossible. The moment has arrived.
without doubt. when We should unite with
the same energy with which we fought the
Spaniards" The writer declares that the
Mckinley administration is the mortal en-
emy OF the Cubans.
General Rodriguez has received telegram
from Santiago signed Veterans" saying;
Wire the amount II is decided that soldiers
shall receive The soldiers OF the province
refuse to deliver their arms" Rodriguez
replied that Sach mans share would be sss
A meeting OF army officers Will be held on
Sunday to decide finally upon the acceptance
or refusal of the American terms. General
Lee to-day moved MS headquarters from
Buena Vista TO ouemados. which is q much
better location and infinitely preferable for
the summer months.
The temperature in Havana at o'clock
this afternoon was % degrees Fahrenheit.
A delegation representing citizens OF Ma
tanzas waited upon Maj Gen. J. IL. Wilson.
governor OF the department Of Matanzas
and Santa Clara. to-day with petition for
TIE revocation OF the decree prohibiting
cock fighting In reply TO their representa-
tions General Wilson said: Il am here to
make you understand that liberty II not an
object OF ridicule. You must learn % -