Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-27
MONEY HAD BAD EFFECT
Gen. Gomez Discusses the Gratuity to Cuban
Soldiers.
La Lucia Makes n Plea for CheaI
Houses for Working People
of Havana.

In an interview with General Gomez,
printed in La Lucha at Havana yesterday,
the Cuban commander was quoted as say
ing:
Never has plague more affecting fallen
upon Cuba than the $3000,000 asked from
President Mckinley for the Cuban soldiers.
The money has been the cause of i'll will
among those who by right and justice,
should be eternally united. The history of
men is curious. 1t was thought at first
that it ought not to have been received, as
it was a dishonor to the cubans. The as
pect is changed now, and it should cause
pain to wandering through Havana SOL
diers begging for what it was supposed
they would refuse with serenity.
The formation of the supplementary lists
of persons incapacitated in the war and the
work of payment have already cost 5000.
This money was furnished by Governor
General Brooke, as the Cubans do not pos
sess the ground upon which they tread.
Those who do not know the work and ex-
pense involved are naturally impatient, and
hold responsible some one who in no way
helped to get the money nor asked any one
to receive ii. Those whose names appear
on the supplementary lists should not be
paid before those who are on the original
lists, SO as to preserve order
As the money was the gift of the Ameri-
can government l am panied by the inter
est shown by my soldiers, who were trained
10 go hungry on their march 10 HDerty
The republic will pay them, but when is
uncertain. Impatience will not further mat
ters."
Plea for Cheaper Houses.
Ell Diario de la Marina says editorially
that the working classes in Havana are in
very bad condition. The cost of living in
| the city is high, owing to the extravagant
! tendencies of the upper classes having
| raised the prices. The upper classes have
| been able to get money easily, the paper
says, on account of the natural richness
| of the Cuban SELL but the necessities of life,
| including the securing of clean, comfort
/ able houses, are out of the reach of the
| poor who, therefore, are forced to live
under bad, unhealthful conditions, although
! they are fairly well paid. Continuing, the
article says:
Havana city was built for rich people,
| and reforms should be inaugurated, mod
| eled upon the American plan of building
| clean, cheap houses for the working peo-
| pie, with the prospects that they may be-
come the owners of the same by paying a
small premium, thus encouraging thrift and
| self-help. The Cubans far have not
| shown any private initiative, but if the
| Americans really wish the country to pro-
| gress. with some guarantee of effort on
| their part, the Cubans themselves will step
| forward and help in the matter.
Societies of the building and loan sort
/ should be organized under the indirect con-
| troll of the federal or insular authorities,
and should build in the suburbs homes for
| the honest working people on the public
| land. Once this plan was started, money
| could be obtained here at a low rate of
| interest to carry it on. If other plan
| were practicable, readymade cottages
| should be brought from America and put
| together here. Now is the opportunity for
building of factories on the cooperative
| plan