The record-union., 1899-01-19

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-General
Leonard Wood, Military Commander of
The Department of Santiago, was before
the Senate Committee on Military At
fairs to-day. He gave a detailed ac-
count of his operations in the province
and in the city of Santiago, and also
gave his estimate of the military force
necessary to maintain order III the ISL
and.
On the latter point he expressed the
opinion that for some time the 1,5OO
men now in the province Of Santiago
should be continued, but that after
time 5000 would be sufficient for the
service. He considered, however, that
a military force would be necessary to
the maintenance of order for some
years, and said it should be sufficient
to effectually and quickly check any
trouble before it could gain headway.
This remark applied to the island as a
whole, and he thought as many as 50,-
Coo troops should be stationed through
out Cuba.
With proper precaution and tact he
did not anticipate trouble, and he be-
l:eved that the insurgent forces would
rapidly disintegrate in all pats of the
Ao' o'dAiu OdllldSO Has DS6H a great
stronghold of the Cuban insurgents
under Garcia, but they had now prac-
tically disbanded
Outlining his mode of governing the
province, he said he had made no ap-
pointments to office except on the rec
concentrations of Cubans, and that he
had in all cases put them upon their
honor in making such recommendations.
He had shown absolute trust in them
in all matters, going among them al
ways unarmed, and leaving the books
OF the administration always open to
their inspection. He had Cubans in all
departments, and his Private Secretary
had at one time been member of
Gomez's staff. Thus they always knew
how their money had been expended,
and knew just what he was doing as
their Governor
General Wood said that kis first effort
Fad been to encourage the people of all
the towns to establish self-government.
and he had been especially jealous in
having them select their local officers,
open schools and establish courts. build
roads, ETC., and in cases where they
ca not have the money for these pur-
poses he had aided them by making
contributions from the general fund
This system was entirely different from
the old one under Spanish rule, when
all the collections were forw arded to
Havana, and never came back, only 16
per cent. of the revenue being devoted
to local uses. He had found the peo-
rle especially jealous of their rights in
this respect, and the recent public meet
irgs and protests against sending their
revenues to Havana We're due to this
feeling.
AFFAIRS AT HAVANA.
HAVANA, Jan. 1S.-The newspape
continue to criticise the action of the
American authorities in giving the
Spanish bank the contract to collect
back Spanish taxes. It is claimed that
Spain alone should do this, and it is
also asserted that if the hank collects
Spanish duties, it should also liquidate
Spain's obligations to her citizens, who
are still unpaid, and who are met with
continued reiterations that Spain is un-
able to pay them. Several offices have
been opened in Havana where citizens
can protest against the payment of
lack taxes, and also protest against the
collection of royal duties on transfers
CT property.
The formal delivery of the new offices
was made yesterday to Messrs. Capote,
Des Vernine and Vanez by Colonels
Dudley, Bliss and Dunwoody, respect
lively. The offices transferred are the
Department of Government. Depart
ment of Finance and Department of
Agriculture, Industry. Commerce and
Fublic Works.
The Havana Council will take up the
questions of education, sewers and other
municipal subjects by committees, pat
termed on the American nlan. which
will submit completed ideas to General
Ludlow, who will reject or approve of
them. Where the money is TO come
from is question which will require a
speedy answer. If new works are to be
started, the customs duties and taxes
must be sufficient to meet the paw rolls.
The Administration up to the present
has reduced them in some ways and
Increased them in others, especially the
police and sanitation taxec Bonds
probably will be issued for both muni-
ciral and island purposes.
NAVAL STA ArrnHc