New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-12
THE NEWS FROM CUBA.
GENERAL WOODS INDEPENDENT COURSE
IN SANTIAGO.
CIVIL MARRIAGE DECREEs-GoMEz oFFENDs
HIS sTAFF-MANy-coLo KHAKI.

HIS sTAFF-MANY-coLORED KHAKI
Havana, May 1.-THE civil marriage decree
recently issued in the Province of Santiago diff
fers from the decree on the same subject in
course Of preparation at headquarters here The
Military Governor OF Santiago Province, Cen
eral Leonard Wood. acted without consultation
with the Governor-General, and his decree was
first heard of here through the local newspapers
Probably II will not be annulled specifically. but
it will be rendered nugatory by general para
graph in General Brooke's decree. covering the
entire island.
General Woods action in this particular is one
of series OF incidents In line with the theory
held by some. that the provinces not so
many departments in military division. but
rather. so many States. loosely connected and
semi-independent. A letter has been addressed
to General Wood pointing out to him the un-
desrability of an attempt to handle the affairs
OF one province without regard to similar con-
dit!ons in the provinces, and alleging the
necessity OF a uniform system in order to make
the people homogeneous.
GOMEZ AND HIS STAFF DISAGREE.
The decision of General Gomez to abandon
Quinta de los Molinas the old summer resi-
dence Of the Captains-General where he has
been living. and to take house In the city. or
to live with friends here was announced to the
members of his staff to-day, who were simul-
taneously instructed to repair to their homes.
The order aroused considerable resentment
among them, all accusing Gomez of deserting
them and declaring that they have no
homes, work or money. The disagreement is
serious. especially the anti-Gomez papers
continue to attack the settlement of the amount
the Cuban soldiers are to receive.
La Discussion" and "El Reconcentrado' seem
determined to cause trouble. The former. in a
bitter editorial to-day. declares that the pay
ment of $40 for an exchange of arms is merely
an attempt to place the Cubans in the power
Of the Americans. The article. which is sup
posed to be inspired by Manuel Sanguily, says:
! These traitors have caused all the compnca-
! tions which have placed our country in the ex-
| listing conditons-conditions that, If continued
| longer will cause ferocous and bloody strife be-
/ tween the Cubans and Americans.
The inspection by the Board appointed to
investigate the minimum OF clothing that will
answer for troops in this province took place
to-day, the first endeavor being to ascertain
the amount of suitable apparel now hand,
particularly Of underclothing and abdominal
belts. 1t is not believed that for the present
it is practicable to alter the existing khaki,
the supply Of inferior material. is many
! coored, but the hope is generally expressed
that the Board will make such a report as Will
| insure the supply by future contractors Of ma
! terial that will change to color only after
washing. Tomorrow the Board will examine
the qualities Of khaki that has been ironed, par
ticularly the kinds showing the least change
| OF color after protracted wear.
sTEvEDoREs ON STRIKE
More than seven hundred Cuban stevedores
are now out Oh strike, and the work on ships in
the harbor is being done by Chinese under
| police guard. The stevedores had been receiv-
ing 25 cents an hour, and are striking for an
by the strike, and the boats that due to
leave tomorrow will not be able to sail be-
fore next week.
. In the event of Mario Menocal, Chief of Police
of Havana accepting some other office, which is
! quite probable there is considerable speculation
| as to who will succeed him. new candi-
| date now being put forward by many Cubans
/ and likely to be indorsed by former members
! of the dissolved Cuban Military Assembly
| though strongly opposed by the Gomez faction
| is Carlos Garcia, eldest son of the late General
| Calixto Garcia, who served colonel in the
revolution Colonel Garcia has had considerable
| experience in managing men, but II s not likely
that the selection of General Alexandra Rod
riguez made some time ago and announced in
these dispatches will be changed, II II becomes
| necessary to find a successor to Menocal
The Commissioners of the Fifth Army Corps
did not meet to-day as was expected, to ar
range TO begin the payment OF the Cuban troops,
es General Pedro Betancourt declined TO serve.
General Carlos Rotas has been requested TO
act in his stead