The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-26

the settlement of accounts OF public Off
GERS, approved March 3, 1S49, after the
close of the Mexican war.
The reply also contains copies of the
official orders granting the allowances and
states that these orders were issued after
the President had been advised by the At
torney General and the former had ex-
pressed his approval. Following is the let
ter of Secretary Root accompanying the
correspondence:
Secretary Roots Statement.
War Department,
Washington. April 25. 1900.
ITO the Senate of the United States:
Il have the honor to reply to the follow
ing resolution dated April 81 1909, re-
ceived April %:
Resolved. That the Secretary of War
| is hereby directed TO report to the Senate
| the following information:
First Whether any officer of the Army
of the United States who is now, or who
has-been, on duty either in Cuba or Porto
Rico since the date of the declaration of
war by the United States against Spain
has received any compensation for any
service of any kind whatsoever other than
the compensation TO which such officer OF
the Army is, as such. entitled by law to
receive as his salary and allowances.
e" Second. If any officer of the United
States Army has, during said period, while
on duty in either Cuba or Porto Rico, re-
ceiyed from any source any compensation
other than that which he is, as such officer.
entitled by law to receive as his salary
and allowances; what is the, name and
rank of each such officer, and what the
amount or amounts received by him; the
date or dates on which each of said
amounts was so received; on what account
the said amount or amounts were paid: by
whom said payment or payments were an-
thoriZed, and out of what fund or funds
said payments weft made
Pursuant to the orders of the Secretary
of War dated respectively March /, 1899
April 10. 1899. and May g. 1899. copies of
which are annexed hereto allowances have
been paid four officers of the Army who
have been required to live in the city of
Havana and to perform important civil
functions in connection with the admins
tration Of the government of Cuba, as fol-
lows:
ITO the Military Governor of Cuba. at
the rate of $500 per year.
TO the Military Governor of Havana, at
the rate of $4,000 per year.
ITO the collector OF customs for the isl
and of Cuba, at the rate of $500 per year.
ITO the Treasurer of the Island of Cuba,
at the rate of 1890 per year.
These payments were in addition to the
salary and allowances which the said Off
of the Treasury of the United States. 1
am not aware of any other payments of
the character described in the resolution
to any officers in Cuba. / annex hereto
report received some months since from
the headquarters Division of Cuba showing
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
yvf1l in cts
ment of receipts anG 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 the list day of May, 1900.
The names ard ranks of the officers re-
ceiving the payments were. as Military
Governor of Cuba. Major Gen. John r.
Brooke, until December 13. 1893, and
Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood, United States
Volunteers, since that time; as Military
Governor of Havana. Brig. Gen. William
Ludlow; as collector of customs for Cuba,
Major Tasker NJ. Bliss: as Treasurer of the
Island OF Cuba Major E. F. Ladd, United
States Volunteers
mo allowances have been made 10 any
officer in Porto Rico other than the statu-
tory salary and allowances out of the
Treasury of the United States.
THE aggregate of the payments thus
made prior to the first day of the present
month was s17 441.66. The total receipts of
the Island of Cuba collected by the officers
during the period covered by the aforesaid
expenditure therefrom amounted to s21.-
OPS 512 16, and the total disbursements I'M
der their direction amounted to S19,2S0,-
512.21.
Similar allowances to officers of the
Army performing civil functions in Mexico
and California were approved by Congress
by the act of March 3. 1S49. and the act OF
February 3, 1853. "a copy OF the second
section of the said aforementioned act is
annexed hereto)
THE said payments were authorized by
the President of the United States upon
the oral advice of the Attorney General,
that the same We're ia all respects law
full"
Authority for Payment.
Following is the section of the act
above referred to:
Section OF IAN act to provide for the settle
ment OF the accounts OF public officers and Others
who may have received moneys arising from mill
tary contributions, otherwise. in Mexico
approved March 3. 1si9. Statutes-atLarge, Vol.
9, p. 4l3.)
And be It further enacted. That where an Of
fcer has had the supervision of the collection OF
the military contributions at any Of the ports in
Mexico and has, at the same time, exercised civil
functions under the temporary government there
established, where officer other person
shall have performed the duties of collectors at
such ports, such officer person shall be allowed
a compensation which shall be sssimilated in
amount nearly as may be, including the regu-
lar pay and enlolumeuts OF such officer to that
allowed by existing laws to officers Of the GUS
toms in the United States where the services are
similar in amount and importance; such allow
snce in all cases to be determined by the PTes-
dent Of the United States. And all officers OF the
Army and other persons in public employment
who have received payment for their services in
collecting. keeping, accounting for said moneys