The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-07

provinces might learn the oe0t metnooS
OF reconstruction
The receipts OF the customs house Ut
Santiago were used by Gen. Wood 10
defray the expense Of cleaning up the
city and putting II in a sanitary condi-
ton, and from the same source has
come the money TO pay laborers on the
public works. When Maj. Gen. Brooke
took charge as governor general OF the
island upon the evacuation Of the Span
iards on the first of the year. one OF his
first official actions was 10 order the
receipts Of the Santiago customs house
sent 10 Havana This caused much Ill
feeling and IL was not until Gen. Wood
visited Washington and had q personal
conference with the treasury officials
that the order was modified and the
work at Santiago went on.
The report now comes that the Ha-
yana authorities have issued orders
limiting the total expenditures IN the
tration TO $4,000. which has resulted in
throwing thousands of men out OF en-
ploymen, and stopping the progress OF
public improvements. Commenting up
on this Santiago paper says:
There is only enc course open to men
who are without work and food. nancy,
10 become bandits. Hunger demands
bread The proceedings CT the United
States authorities at Havana are EVIL
IDENTIFY antagonistic 10 Maj. Gen. Wood.
and bern of jealousy OF his sacce&s and
popularity among all classes OF Cubans.
Three thousand men have been thrown
out of employment al only days nosice.
which must mean a serious menace to
public peace and property.
This suggestion OF official jealousy Of
Gen. Woods successful administration
OF the province under his charge and
Of his popularity with the Cubans has
been made before this. and, were it not
for certain evidences Of culpable official
jealousy in other branches OF the serv-
their officials guilty Of displaying this
petty feeling to the detriment Of the
public service.
In reply to the complaints from San
tiago Gen. Brooke says that 1.-The funds
furnished the several provinces by the
authorities In Havana have in all cases
been equal to the respective requisi-
TONS" This Is not very satisfactory,
and. when taken in conjunction with
the conditions as described by the San
tiago press. the people will not be in
clined to give 1t full credit. Practically
the same explanation was made by Gen.
Brooke when the trouble occurred in
January.
Gov. Gen. Woods version Of the case
has not been made public as yet. and
when it Is announced 1t is to be hoped
that the department viii sustain him in
any recommendations he may make
Gen. Brooke's conduct OF affairs at
Camp Thomas was not successfuI: his
failure in Porto Rico stamped him as
untitled for an administrative Office,
and yet, possibly In hopes that he will
in due time learn his business. he Is
given the governor generalship Of the
island of Cuba. 6 position that requires
the greatest executive and diplomatic
skill. Gen. Wood has demonstrated that
he possesses the very qualities neces-
sary to deal with the situation, and
common sense would suggest that he
has earned promotion to the position
occupied. but not filed. by Gen. Brooke.
At this distance and unacauainted
with all the conditions. the public can
only judge the official by the work he
does--by what he accomplishes Judged
by this standard. Gen. Wood has won
the confidence, not only OF the Cubans,
but of his countrymen as well. and Gen.
Brooke has not.