Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-17
CUBAN CUSTOMS
Must Now Settle for Food for
the Cuban Poor.
Cash for Cuban Troops Arrive and Is
Held Under Guard.
Anxiety as to Course Of Certain Cuban Gen
erals Toward Gen. Gomez.

Havana, March 16.-S p. Man Or
der was issued by the United States
military authorities, today, to the eff
feet that all rations distributed to the
Cuban poor after the supply now on
hand is exhausted, shall be charged
against the customs receipts of the
province in which they are distributed.
Monthly acquisitions will be made as
heretofore. and the United States au-
thorities will be made as heretofore,
and the United States authorities will
supply. buying. in the Cuban markets.
such articles as sugar and rice. If they
can be obtained to better advantage
here. The rest Of the rations will be
bought in the United States.
The supply ship Comal has delivered
her entire cargo and will return North.
arriving at her port of destination
about the end of the month. The next
load she brings will be chargeable to
the customs. II what is now on hand
does not last until her return. what
ever is necessary will be bought here.
The United States transport Meade,
which left Newport News. Monday.
with the $3.OO0.00O allotted to the Cuban
troops by the United States govern
mcnt, is expected to arrive, tomorrow.
AS yet arrangements have not been
made for storing the money. and until
the matter is settled the allotment will
be left OH board under guard.
Governor General Brooke is still
waiting for the muster rolls, which will
probably need handling before they can
be got into shape to proceed properly
with the distribution. To this end a
corps of clerks will probably be in
stalled at Elvedado. near headquarters.
Gen. Pedro BetancOurt has arrived
from Matanzas and conferred with
Generals Pedro Diaz, Jesus Monteas-
udo. Luis Robau. Alberto Nodarse, and
Francisco Paraza, who. last night. de-
cided to act in conjunction with him in
condemning the action of the Military
Assembly. -s
Considerable interest attaches to the
attitude they will adopt with respect to
Gen. Gomez. because they command
orve 10000 Cuban soldiers. If they adj
here to Gomez it is asserted that their
action will probably be the Assembly's
death blow.
The general feeling is that they will
support him. but they would like to Sc
Rodriguez, commanding general in the
province of Pinar del Rio, MatanXas.
Havana and Santa Clara. but this may
prove difficult, as he has already pub
licly expressed his adherence to the
Assembly.
Should Rodriguez continue to defend
the Assembly's course and should these
generals declare in favor of Gomez.
trouble might follow. They are corps
commanders under him. but their united
influence Is considered stronger than his.
The meeting they had arranged for this
afternoon was postponed.
Gen. Gomez will visit Gen. Brooke, to-
morrow.
Gen. Chafree. the governor general
chief of staff is suffering from malaria
and unable to leave his room.
The Official Gazette. The organ of the
military administration, complains that 1t
cannot make its expenses because of the
larger number of military orders pub
liShcd gratis and because the local papers
earlier publish official informa ton.
The talk of Gen. Gomez for President of
the Cuban republic is increasing. The
customs department has decided to col
lect former taxes for improvements at the
various ports. 49,
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee has returned here
from Cienfuegos.
Chief of Police Menocal owing to the
resignation in his pocket. He has ten
dered it two or three times but has with
drawn it. The new police force has I'M
fortunately created Il bad impression: The
only person the Cubans will obey is an
American soldier.