The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-05-02
Threatened with Arrest for
Inciting Riot in Havana.
GOMEZ'S FIGURES FAR TOO HIGH
Great Discrepancy Between the American
Entitled to Share In the - 900, 600 Dis
tribution-Cuban General Considering
OutIswry In Puerto Principe Province.

Havan. May 1.-During the last few
days some OF the local papers that are
printed In English have published sensa-
tional stories regarding the disputes be-
tween the soldiers and the Cuban police,
evidently with the intention of preventing
an understanding between them, and, II
possible. Of stirring up more trouble
Without doubt there have occasionally
been instances where both the Americans
and CubGns have been blameworthy. sun,
there has really been nothing TO warrant
such comments as have appeared. and
consequently Maj. Gen. Ludlow, Military
Governor Of the Havana Department,sum-
moned an offending editor before him and
warned him that he must desist trying 10
enbroi the soldiers and the police.
IF you refuse" said the General, Il
know of two ways 10 compel you. One
would be to put into force the military
regulations and send you TO the guard
house; the other would be to send you be-
fore the local Judges, for the application
OF the old Spanish law. Personally, you
may abuse ne as much as you like, but
for the future you must abstain from your
present methods in the other matter"
Gen. Ludlow complains that one of the
principal difficulties Havana is now 5uf-
fering from is the presence Of many
worthless Americans"-men who come
here virtually TO change their usual
sphere Of idleness.
In the opinion of Gen. Ludlow, Il is ad-
visable to wait until autumn before en-
deavOring TO raise the $l00O0,OO0 or $l20oO,-
600 necessary for the contemplated system
Of sewerage and other public improve
ments in Havana. He believes it quite
probable that the money can be obtained
here in Cuba.
Biooke and Gomez Confer.
Governor General Brooke and Gen. Co
meZ. both of whom are annoyed at the
slow progress made in arranging for the
distribution of the 100000 to the Cuban
troops, held another conference to-day at
the Salon Trotcha, Gen. Brooke's head
quarters. The latter emphasized the ne
cessity OF dispcsing of the question at
once. and Gen. Gomez quite agreed with
the Governor General.
At their previous conferences the Cuban
commander had freely admitted that the
rolls, drafted by the Cuban military
assembly. were too large. and Gen. Gomez
undertook TO get the facts from the indi-
Vidual commanders and to make the cor
rections accordingly. In the mean time
Gen. Brooke was to make Independent in
quirios. The results of the two investiga-
tions are nowhere near an agreement For
instance, the agent of Gen. Gomez in the
Province of Santiago reports that there
are 1900 Cubans there entitled to share
in the distribution. Maj Gen Wood, the
military Governor of Santiago Depart
ment. does not figure out half that num-
Der. Gen Gomez roughly estimates the en-
tire army at about % 900 men.
The Governor General thinks IL would be
an unbusiness-like proceeding to begin
the distribution Until something more
definite is known, and he has been urg-
ing Gen. Gomez TO collect more facts
upon which they could proceed.
The conference to-day consisted of an
exchange Of oral propositions several of
which were rejected, but ultimately Gen.
Brooke wrote one out which Gen Gomez
took home with him for further considera-
ton.
TerroriZed by Banditti.
According to dispatches from Puerto
Principe Province, the village of San An
dres was recently raided by a band Of
forty outlaws. led by Antonio Barcelo,
formerly a citizen of Holguin, Santiago
Province. The place was completely
sacked, the bandits carrying of twenty
horses, large quantity of clothing and
groceries, and s., 200 in money. Five mount
ed armed men, the dispatches say, attack
ed store IN the village of TieLa AzuI.
abducted the proprietor and his wife and
carried away 500 in money.
The people Of the locality are frantioaI
ly begging for protection, and a force of
rural guards is greatly needed The
country folks are moving into the larger
towns for safety, While the planters. MANY
of whom have bought quantities of sugar
cane in isolated localities, fear that Iha
marauders viii destroy it before IL can
be gathered.
La Nerdad. the leading newspaper in the
city of Puerto Principe, commenting uno,
these conditions, bitterly denounces the
Aemrican administration, charging the
United States authorities with being "sIov
10 relieve need" and with being '.more
occupied with trifies Jnan with the serious
work of reconstruction"
Mr.. Beattie, a wealthy sugar plante-
who has arrived here from ManzaniIIo
declares that he would much rather have
Spanish than Cuban rule as the latter is
now expressing itself. In his opinion. the
United States should remain in military
occupation or cuba AT least ten years
and he would have Washington make an
announcement 10 the world al once 10
that effect This would make practicable
the immediate investment of capital, a
large amount OF which Is now living idle
in Cuba only waiting for a definite ex-
preston of policy by President Mckinley.
Collector Tasker II. Bliss has hereto
fore exercised his discretion in allowing
the importation Of arms into the island
when both the conslgnee and consigno-
were known 10 him 10 be responsible
concerns For this he had received Gen.
Prooke's authorization. For the future,
however. under the terms OF the rev
order published to-day, the prohibition
extends to all arms except those 10 he
used in hunting or for personal defense.