The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-26
ROOTS REPLY TO THE SENATE.
OFFICERS IN CUBA WHO HAVE HAD
EXTRA COMPENSATION.

Washington, April 2o.-Secfetary of War
Root to-day sent to the Senate his reply
to the resolution of April q as 10 whether
officers of the United States army in cuba
or Porto Rico have received any compan-
sation for their services their other than
the compensation to which they were en-
lowances; and, if so, names and rank Of
the officers and the amounts received by
them. The reply is as follows
Pursuant 10 the orders of the Secretary
of War, dated respectively. March t. 1879
April 49, 1899, and May 9, 1899 copies OF
which are annexed hereto. allowances have
been paid four officers of the army wto
have been required to live in the city of
Havana, and TO perform important civil
functions in connection with the admin s.
tration of the government of Cuba as fol-
lows:
ITO the military governor of Cuba at
the rate of $500 per year
ITO the military governor of Havana,
at the rate Of 5000 per year.
TO the collector of customs for the isl
and Of Cuba, at the rate of 81, 500 per year
at the rate of $l.S00 per year.
In Addition to Salaries.
'These payments were in addition to the
salary and allowances which the said OFF,
GERS were entitled as such 20 receive out
of the treasury of the United States. l
am not aware of any other payments of
the character described in the resolution
to any officers in Cuba. l annex hereto
a report received some months since from
the headquarters division of Cuba show
ing that none others have been made. The
payments have been made monthly from
the dates stated in said orders until the
present time. The precise dates of pay
ment will appear in an itemzed statement
of receipts aud expenditures now in the
course of preparation under previous
resolution of the Senate. Payments to the
military governor of Havana will cease
with the termination of that office on May
l, 1900.
THE names and rank of the officers re-
ceiving the payments were. as military
governor of Cuba, Mai. Gen. John r.
Brooke, until the 18th day OF December
1899 and Maj Gen. Leonard Wood, Unitad
States Volunteers since that time; as mil
itary governor of Havana, Brig. Gen Will
lam Ludlow; as collector of customs for
Cuba, Maj. Baker NJ. Bliss; as treasurer
of the Island of Cuba, Maj. f. F. Ladd,
United States Volunteers.
No allowances have been made TO any
officer in Porto Rico others than the s at
utory salary and allowances out of the
treasury of the United States.
THE payments specified were out of the
revenues Of the Island of Cuba on account
of government thereof and they were
made on that account for the reason that
il was impossible for the said officers TO
properly perform the necessary duties per
tanning to their positions without the ex-
penditure of the full amount of such al
lowances in addition to their statutory
salaries and allowances out of the treasury
of the United States
Amount of the Payments.
THE aggregate of the payments thus
made prior TO the first day of the present
month was ST Al. The total receipts Tor
the Island OF Cuba collected by said ofll-
GERS during the period covered by the
aforesaid expenditure therefrOm amounted
to $21, SIP. and the total disbursements
under their direction amounted to $,92S1,-
512.
Similar allowances to officers of the
army performing civil functions in Mexico
and California were approved by Con
gress by the act of March 3, 1919. and the
act of Feb. 3, 1853 CA copy of the section
of the said first mentioned act is annexed
hereto).
1.-The said payments were authorized by
the President of the United States upon
the oral advice of the Attorney General
that the same were in all respects lawful
Very respectfully Elihu Root,
Secretary Of War"
was Allowed In Mexico.
Secretary Root accompanied his reply
with the following:
Section 2 of AN act to provide. for the
settlement of the accounts of public Of
ficers and others who may have receiv-
ed moneys arising from military contrt-
buttons, or Otherwise, in Mexico. ZAP
proved March 8, l49 stats. at large, vol
g. D. ALB.
that where an officer has had the super
vision of the collection of the military
contributions in any Of the ports in Mex
leo, and has. al the same time, exercised
civil functions under the temporary gov
eminent there established, or where an
officer or other person shall have per-
formed the duties OF collectors at such
ports, such officer or persons shall be al
lowed a compensation which shall be as
simulated in amount, as nearly as may
be- including the regular pay and emou-
ments of such officer. to that allowed by
existing laws TO officers of the customs
duties where the services are similar In
amount and importance; such allowance,
in all cases to be determined by the Pres
ident of the United States. And all Of
hcers of the army and other persons in
public employment, who have received
payment for their services in collect
ing. keeping or accounting for said mon
eys and for other necessary services, are
authorized to retain so much OF the
amounts so received as, In the opinion of
tie Pr sd nt of the United States, may
he fair compensation for said services"
He also encloses a report from Assist
ant Adjt Gen. w. V. Richards saying the
records Of the treasurer of the island show
the amounts as named above for the four
officers are he only allowances from the
insular fumes made 10 United States army
officers In Cuba since the military occu
pa ion began, the allowances beginning
March l. except the treasurers allowance,
which began May /.
Secretary AIger's order.
The next in order is the following:
War Depart Washington, March
l. 1899 Whereas the commanding generals
OF the divisions of Cuba and the depart
ment Of Havana and the collector OF Gus
toms for the Island OF aba and the port
Of Havana are respectively performing, in
addition to their ordinary military duties
civil functions in connection with the ad-
minis ration Of the government Of Cuba,
which require outllys and expenses 10
-