Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-01
HIS DEMANDS PREPosTERoUs
WANTS THREE YEARS FULL PAY
FOR OFFICERS AND MEN.
Cuban Commander Antagonizing the
Work of Americans-Gonxalo
Quesada and n. r. Porter
to Negotiate With Gem
eral Gomez.

1AAouHc 1IOul w dSuluSlOh soy
Maxine Gomez, the Cuban commander,
has demanded nearly $50. 100000 from the
United States and, refuses to disband his
army" until the money is paid. He has
repudiated the arrangement made by Ca
iSto Garcia, who came to Washington with
authority from Gomez to provide for the re-
turn of the Cubans TO their peaceful pur-
suits and whose work was barely accomp-
lished before his sudden death on Decem-
Der II. 1t was then agreed that the United
states, In order to secure the prompt re-
sumption of labor on the plantations of the
| island with view of promoting the speedy
revival of prosperity and settled conditions.
should distribute about S3.0O0OO0 among the
$1,000 said to be still under arms In the
ratio of 500 a man. the officers In pro-
portion to their rank to receive a greater
amount. the ordinary enlisted men to be
discharged with sums less than $780, de-
pending on the length of service and other
considerations. For over month the pay
corps Of the army has been making ready
to carry out this arrangement. the national
defense fund being available for the pur-
pose.
Accurate lists of the soldiers entitled to
compensation had to be prepared and other
formalities gone through. 1t was intended
| that the Cubans at the proper time should
apply at established American garrisons in
the various provinces, where, on throwing
down their arms and presenting the proper
credentials they were to receive their quota
of the allotment from the army officers at
tthe stations
In the meantime. General Brooke and his
chief subordinate have been endeavoring to
give employment. mostly Of a permanent
character, to large numbers Of Cubans. in
order to reduce the number requiring
bounty, and at the same time to give the
inhabitants opportunity to begin governing
themselves.
which was operating satisfactorily to most
Cubans. and has struck for greater stakes
| 1t is ofhcially known here that he Is en-
deavoring to dissuade Cubans from accept
ing offices under the American occupation.
| and Is urging all the natives of every grade
to stay with him in the field until the
| United States Is compelled to accede to his
terms of dsbandment.'
Gomez alleges that his army consisted Of
49, 900 men and he insists that most OF them
shall be paid for three years service at the
| army. He fixes the date of the Cuban
declaration of independence, February a.
1893, as the beginning Of the period FOR or
rank of lieutenant general. he will be sat
isfied with sll.ooe annually. the American
Gomez also has about twenty mateno q Dr.
generals. for each Of whom he wants s. 500
annually and his army" is equipped with
cording to the United States army pay table
snm ss ss the slons
then there are colonels. Lieutenant colonies
and majors. whose numbers run into the
mueh' raD for they are i comparatiyely ira few. but
| each Of them will require $64S. and the
army paymasters who figured o cut IT. the '' total al
required to crafty all the demands Gomez
| has made, which is an average Of N,425
| a man.
1t is to meet these demands and show
Gomez their absurdity that Gonzalo Quesa-
| da, who for the last three years has been
ington, started for Cuba last week. after
| reaching thorough understanding with
the war department apthGritles; M ns,.a Robert
official representative OF the United States
| in the matter.
at the war department that Mr.. Robert P.
| Porter's mission to Cuba is entirely of a
financial and statistical nature and that
| ment to the Cuban troops. 1t is admitted
that he may find 1t within the lines of his
ton to gather all the data he can respect
| ing the strength and condition of the Cuban
| troops.
| erai Gomez headquarters under fnstruc-
| tions from President Palma, OF the junta,
| the officials preserve discreet silence, but
| 1t seems entirely probable that II our gov
| ernment found It expedient to make any
proposition to Gomez touching the pay
| Of Cuban soldiers that Mr.. Quesada would
| not only because of his intimacy with Go
| mez and other Cuban leaders. but also be-
cause Of his executive ability.
The best informa ton obtainable so far at
| the department.. and perhaps 1t is part of
| Mr.. Porters duty to verify this. is that
the Cuban troops who might properly apply
fo,,r in oh ho aoiI Ial xo
pay them off. number 30. 0OO 1t is prob
| able that by basing a calculation Of 500 per
man upon this M number 1ab .ha that & people in Ha-
to disburse coo for this purpose.
1t is well understood that the sum de-
back pay is. fully ten times this sum II
probably will be represented to them that
| as any payment whatever on this account
Cuba. the United States. as the temporary % w
| guardian of the island. is in duty bound to
'Rd With oad OF M
| its ability to bear in the shape Of obliga>
| tions. The Cuban soldiers will be asked
leaving the the future e government Of Of .; Cuba to
add to the remuneration later on IL it shall
see fit. The condition precedent to this
The officials here believe that General
eaty that arose at SANTIAGO tnf he d e
| sire CT the people there to retain all Of the
customs receipts by retaining 20 per cent
| of the total receipts for the benefit of the
general government, of the island and al al
| lotting the remainder. not to Santiago
alone. but to all of the ports of the prov
| ince. II the arrangement works as well as
| 1t is hoped. 1t will be extended to the other
provinces of Cuba.
The decision to send Mr.. Porter to Cuba
was reached after full discussion of the
| situation of the insurgent army. between
the president and his cabinet. Mr. Porter
will confer first with General Brooke. and
his mission Is not to make nor promise
any payments. but to gather information.
| He VIII ask if the Cuban army will disband
on present payment of $3 100000 Our legal
right to make this payment was referred
| to the attorney general, who held that this
sum might be lawfully advanced to the in
surgant troops. on condition that the
| treasury be subsequently reimbursed from
| the revenues Of the island. and 1t is under
stood that the course will be pursued IL 1t
| is found that the desired results can be
obtained thereby. Mr.. Porter was also tn
structed to inquire into the workings of
the customs regulations and local taxation
matters. The cabinet, at to-day's meeting
discussed very briefly the purposes Of M.
Porter'S visit to Cuba.
Second Semester at NJ. s. u.
COIIIMRIA MO Ian 81 -iSpec;oI IT..