The evening times., 1899-01-05
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3. 1899.
The snn,iago Excitement.

Tho people cf Santiago are reported -
he in q highly excited if not riotous state
as q result Of the alleged demand OF Cen
eraI Brooke that all the revenues of the
mort shall be sent to Havsna. The mis-
sion cf General Wcod, in command At
Santiago To Washington. is said to be TO
protest against the policy which depriTes
hiu uf the means to continue the "orA
he has begun with so much promise. IL
is explained that the instructions from
WASHINGTON have been misunderstood ,
thai il is not The intention 10 withdraw
the moneys, but only TO require week ;
statement Of receipts. If there is MS
take. il IS obviously on the past OF Gsn-
cral Brooke, who has ignored General
Wood and issued orders directly to tne
subordinates Of that commander Anon :
Others there was che TO the acting codec-
tor OF customs TO bank no money at san
JiagO.
II ume. OF course, it Will be necessary
for all the revenues of the island TO be
placed under the control of somebody, and
che appropriation for the work in the diff
fereat municipalities 10 be regulated By a
central authority. il is not expected tnat
Santiago officials. for example, will make
IEeir expenditures for municipal improve
Iupuis conform TO the customs collections
o. that port. But Inc present situation
is peculiar. General Mood was put in com
lnand at Santiago while Havana was
sian in possession OF the SpaAiards, who
turned al the duties on imports into the
span sh treasury. Santiago was in hor-
I55le condition. The streets, hospitals
iaiis and other lubIic places We're inde-
sorihably filthy and q menace to health; the
people were starving. and there collected IN
the IoEn Cabsn soldiers who laid down
Their arms az the request Of General Wood,
OF The offer 10 ind work for them al rea-
soaalle wages With the approval Of the
authorities here he assumed the task OF
cleaning and improving the city. His sue
cess has been margelous. At this time
be has in hand many works that are es-
seuttal TO the cleanliness OF the place. and
he employs an army Of native laboreTs
rGo. if deprived OF their work, must be
come charges on The Government
In all this ne has had another purpose
IN view-to convince the Cubans that The
American officials consider the welfare Of
the people. Under Spanish aGministra-
tiJn all the revenues were appropriated
10 Spanish uses and there could be no bel
Ter lesson as to the sincerity Of our friend
ship and the honesty Of our administration
than the policy adopted by General Wood.
It is safe 10 say that no municipality OF
1ke same size in this country has ever ex-
pended the same sums with as little waste.
The people there are enthusiastic over
American rule, and the political dema
Eogues who have tried to create disTust
have failed. The influence OF General
Woods policy has extended over a large
territory and has had its effect in The in
difference with which the Gomez mani
festo has been received by The former sol
diers Of Cuba.
II is apparent that sudden demand for
the funds on which General Wood has de-
pended. and without which all his opera
lions must cease, is a sufficient cause OF
anxiety to all the Santiago officials and Of
Indignation on the part of the people en-
ploycd on public work. There had been NJ
consultation with the commander at Slnti-
ago. no notification of an intended change
OF policy, that he might adjust his affairs
10 meet the new condition; but simply an
order TO a subordinate which he under
stood 10 mean the transfer of all cOllec-
lions TO Havana. That the Washington
authorities did lot intend TO cause a stop
page of all improvements at Santiago, and
THAI General Brooke merely required q
weekly statement Of the receipts, is not the
understanding OF General Wood from the
order not TO bank the funds. Evidently
there is jealousy somewhere, which is on
OF The dangers that viii be met wherevel
the powers and duties Of army officers arc
not distinctly defined.