The record-union., 1899-05-28
Allotted by the United States for the Sur
render Of Their Arms.
The Representative Of Gomez Takes
a Gloomy View Of the Affair,
Saying That the Americans, in
Stipu1ating That Cubans Must
Give UP Their Arms, Had
Caused Bad Impression.

HAVANA May Pill a. m.--Not a
soldier has thus far appeared at La
Punta to receive the honorarium of $40
allotted by the United States for the
surrender Of arms and diSbandment
of the men composing the Cuban army
At three minutes Of 10 this morning,
the hour set to begin the payment of
the troops, Major Francis Dodge of the
Paymasters Department drove up in a
four-mule team with $4,000 in gold
and $4,000 in silver. Six guards ac-
companied him and details of men from
the Eighth Infantry were under arms
to preserve order among the mobs
which it was supposed would gather.
Colonel George M. Randall of the
Eighth Infantry was present as Com
missioner of the United States.
General Ruiz Rivera, who was to-day
inducted into the office of civil engineer
of Havana, was there to receive the
arms with representative of General
Gomez, four or five Cuban officers and
fifteen reporters. Half a dozen Ameri-
can clerks, with the rolls of the Cuban
army, sat about a long table and at
the headquarters of the Eighth Regi-
nent. A bag of gold was displayed,
but there were no applicants for
share of it,
The spectators spent the time in dis
cussing why no Cubans appeared. Gen
eral Rivera said that though there were
4,319 enrolled privates and non-com-
missioned officers in the Fourth Corps,
few of them lived in Havana He ex-
planned that they were outside the city,
and would probably appear at other
places. in the province and get their
apportfonment. Nearly all the officers,
he added, are in Havana.
The representative of Gomez who has
been acting for the latter in the inter
views with Governor General Brooke
took a gloomy view of the affair He
said the Americans in stipulating that
the Cubans must give up their arms
had caused a bad impression among
the Cubans.
A group of Cuban officers who proved
to be some of General Mayai Rod
riguez's staff, had in the meanwhile as
sembled. They smiled at each other,
twisted their mustaches and grew con-
fident as the quarter hours passed and
no soldiers appeared. Finally they
jeered in a quiet way at the whole pro-
ceeding.
Toward II o'clock an unarned col
ored man in a Cuban uniform came
across the dusty square attended by
all the American spectators. He was
shown to the Paymasters, but turned
out to be an assistant" or camp fol-
lower. The American military men con-
suited, and, as it was thought he was
not entitled to a share of the $3O0O,-
OOO, his name not being on the rolls,
he was dismissed.
Major Scott, General Lud1oW's Adju-
tant, sent word that a man named
Harris, a Cuban American serving SEN
tence in the penitentitary would be
sent under guard to get his S75, so at
least one man was sure to take the
gratuity. About 400 men had been ex-.
pected, and possibly many of these will
come LATER But the scheme of pay
ment, so far as Havana is concerned,
looks like a failure. Quite different
results are expected in the country
districts, where the Cuban Military
Assembly and anti-Gomez influence is
not so strong.
At noon General Rivera left, remark
ing that it was wasting his time to stay
there, and Major Dodge went to the
Hotel Trotcha, informing Governor
General Brooke of the state of affairs
Four professed privates appeared at
about 11:30 without arms, but as their
names were not on the rolls they were
not paid.
Seven Cubans We're paid S75 each as
the result of the first days distribution
of the money allotted by the United
States for the payment of the Cuban
soldiers The cabal of the members
of the former military assembly to pre-
vent the soldiers from accepting the
gift of the United States and giving up
their arms is successful, therefore, so
far as Havana is concerned. 1t is too
carly to predict what will be done in
other cities and in the interior but the
indications are that the money will
not be asked for to any great extent.
Some arms may be turned in voluntar-
lily.
The anti-Gomez and anti-American
elements are cheerful tonight, thinking
that the Americans are baff1ed and an
cry. Governor Brooke does not regard
to-day as settling the question or as
especially significant. The payment will
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