Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-05
THEY LIVE VERY QUIETLY.
Denial of story as to Extravaganza
of Army Officers in Cubn.

Denial of Story as to Extravaganza
of Army Officers in Cuba.
A dispatch from Havana last night says:
Considerable comment was caused here this
afternoon by the publication of a dispatch
from the United States embodying the
charge, made by New York newspaper,
that Gov. Gen. Brooke, Brig. Gen. Ludlow,
military governor of Havana; Collector
Tasker Bliss and Maj. Davis, sanitary Of
ficer at Havana, have been receiving extra
allowances out of the Cuban revenues to
maintain themselves In luxury. The feeling
among Americans in Havana is that this
charge is based upon a serious misappre-
hension of the facts of the case. The sug-
gestion of luxurious living perale,las the
Cubans, who are in position to contrast
the democratic way in which men holding
the high rank held by Gems. Brooke and
Ludlow conduct their establishments With
the prodigal habits of the old Spanish re-
gime.
expended money in repairing the palace,
the Americans reply that this old and his
toric structure had either to be repaired
and renovated or to be pulled down, and
consequently about 100000 has been ex-
pended on it. But, it is pointed out, instead
of being, as heretofore the private resi-
dence of the governor general, the palace is
now veritable network of public Offices,
mayor and the municipal officials.
Gen. Brooke's private quarters are I'M
equal to what would be allowed him at any
station in the United States. Aside from
the official reception room, his apartments
are only modestly furnished.
AS to the governor generals carriage and
horses, the fact Is that. the necessary ex-
penditure in this direction does not come
out of the insula rzfundSi but is met by the
United States. Gen. Brooke's coachman is
paid in the same way. 5As the members of
his staff say, it is hardly to be expected
that an official of Ger. Brooke's military
and administrative status would pay his
own transportation expenses.
The same answer to the charge can be
made in the case of Gep Ludlow, who has
only few rooms and is literally surround
ed with offices. He has very few servants.
Not many men ofiequa1 rank aud means in
the United States would be content with
what satisfies Gen. Ludlow.
Brig. Gen. Lee lives in house which he
rents, and Gems. Wilson and Wood, the mil
1tary governors of the departments of Ma
tanzas Santa Clara and Santiago, live most
democratically
AS for Col. Bliss and Maj. Davis, army
officers of their rank who hold high admin
istrative office are put to many expenses,
especially in this most expensive country,
and the opinion is generally expressed that
II Is only fair to make them an allowance
10 cover what Is reasonable.
Ell l)la of Caibarien says: "One of the
most important questions confronting Cuba
Is the question of immigration. The influx
or foreign capital will call for plenty of la
Dor, without which the country cannot be
developed"
Ell Diario de la Marina says: "The Span
iards, being the best people among us be-
cause of their capacity for work and be-
cause they can stand the climate well. will
nafmoniZe with the present population, If
the latter will try to forget old prejudices.
it Is important to preserve white major
ity, which, if universal suffrage We're adopt
ed would be lost
Brig. Gen. Lee visited the governor gen.
eral today and informed him that there
mad been complete cessation of robberies
IN the districts under his control.