Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-21
OF CUBA
Explanation ofithe governments Ex-
penditures.
q \
AMERICANS WHO HOLD OFFICE
The Number is Not Excessive as
Has Been Charged.
wHATMR. ME1KLEJoHN SAYS

Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn of the
War Department, who has special charge
of the business of United States insular
possessions, as well of Cuba. made
statement today in explanation of the
Cuban reports, transmitted to the Senate
last Friday by the Secretary of War in
further response to the resolution of the
Senate calling for informant ton on the re-
ceipts and expenditures of the military gov
eminent in Cuba.
'"These reports" he said, CONTAINED
itemized statements showing specifically
and in detail all expenditures which have
been made in the civil departments of
Cuba, and the department of post offices
for the year 1899, and all other expendi-
lures for the last six months of 1899. which
have been audited, paid by the treasurer
and reports for which have been trans
| mtted to the War Department by the mill
tary governor. These reports showed the
total receipts from all sources for the cal
endar year 1899 to be $16.316, $50 20, and the
total expenditures for the civil departments
81. 1854 BIS. IL. for expenditures directed by
the military governor, $44S.U79.92: for the
department of post offices. S612, 290.3S and
for the last six months of the calendar year
1899 for public works, ports. harbors, bar
racks and quarters, charities, hospitals and
aid to destitute, quarantine, aid to munich
palties. civil government of the provinces,
expenses of collection of customs. the
enumeration of the Cuban census and rural
guard and police administration, $4,317,
O2O.56. The expenditures for the first six
months of 1883, as audited, have not yet
been reported by the military governor.
but such report is nearly completed for
transmission to the War Department. For
the first six months of 1899 there was al
lotted by the military governor and paid
officers the sum Of 1904. 1876 10 for the ex-
penditures outside of executive depart
ments, while for the last six months of
1880. audited and reported for such pur-
poses, the expenditures were $4,377, 900. J6.
Therefore, the expenditures during the first
six months cannot exceed the amount al
lotted, thus making the total possible ex-
penditures in Cuba, $12, 516 $3.50 for 1899"
In the first letter OF the Secretary of War,
under date of February 49, 1900, in re-
Spouse to said resolution. the amount re-
ported disbursements was $1i.cS5, 5000.
This was the amount disbursed by the
treasurer to disbursing officers of Cuba for
the allotments made by the military gov
ernor for the various purposes therein spec1-
fed. The balances remaining in the hands
of disbursing officers for the first six
months of 1899 cannot be ascemained until
the vouchers for all of the expenditures OF
such disbursing officers are filed and duly
audited. 1t is not believed, however, that
the actual expenditures for purposes out
side the executive departments for the first
six months of the calendar year, when re-
ported by the auditor, will exceed the
amount expended Tor SuCH purposes LOT lIle
last six months, which was $i,3II, 023.56 If
this hypothesis be true the probable total
expenditures for these purposes for the
year will be $S.7I0112. which including
the expenditures of the military governor,
civil departments and post offices, S;.oi4,-
6y9.05 will make a probable total eXpendl-
ture for 1899. for all purposes. s11, l9S, III
Expended In Salaries.
When Mr.. Meiklejohn was asked about
the amount which has been reported as
expended for salaries in Cuba he remarked
that while such expenditures appear in the
report aggregating s3,122C52 they were
not confined to the executive departments,
but included salaries and maintenance OF
the various institutions of the government
under the jurisdiction of the several execu-
tive departments. There was expended by
the Department of State and government.
under the direction of the military gov
ernor, $640.975O9. The itemized report
shows that Of this amount there was ex-
pended in the office of the Department OF
State and government for salaries put
$44, $40 %, and for salaries for the admins
tration of the civil government through
| out the provinces in the island, $69,29o 81;
for services connected with sanitation and
| for salaries for insane asylums. board OF
health and charitable establishments. $l9.-
O25.27. This department expended Tor the
establishment and maintenance OF thor
ough police system In cities and villages OF
Cuba, necessitated for the preservation OF
peace anu OTueT, S)ft,o1l.vc. 4AC iilsoiici
| charities hospitals and asylums received
sos, 673.2O. The amount paid to munich
palities for deficits to enable the admins
tration Of municipal affairs was $50, !7541.
and for materials, rents. repair OF pu4dlnss
and inspection service, $l9,944.9i'
The Judicial Establishment.
The expenditure by the department Of
| Justice and public instruction for the MAIN
| tenance of the judicial establishment was
| 1888, 7774O. The courts in Cuba. established
| and maintained by this appropriation, are
| a supreme court, ten audencias. three ex-
amining courts in the province OF Havana
two courts Of first instance IN tne pIncaho of
of Puerto Principe, five in the province OF
Matanzas, four in the province OF finar
| del Rio, six in the province OF santa cara
and seven in the province or santiago. !he
expenditures for the establishment OF the
public school system by this department
amounted to 1886, 023.
The expenditures under the other Depart
| ments of the civil government OF CUBA, II
analysed and examined in the same man
ner. will show conclusiyely In detail the
objects for which expenditures were made
and the amounts involved.
Cost of OWL Government.
The assistant secretary of war. in speak
ing Of the cost Of the establishment or the
civil government in Cuba. remarked that
when it Is considered that there has been
reared, established and organized In CUBA
eminent in all its branches, it Is believed
that a careful examination. without preju-
dice or bias. will demonstrate that the
work accomplished and results obtained
are more than commensurate with the ex.
penditures incurred.
Paid Out for Labor.
There was reported by the Secretary OF
War an expenditure Of 81 .ss2. 1887 for la
Dor employed on public works. ports, har-
hors barracks ana Quarters, the privincial
rural guards, hospitals. distribution of
charity and aid to- the destitute, main
tenance of quarantine sanitary service and
the construction of roads. There was ex-
pended for labor in the work Of sanitation
alone the sum of $3.50, 1915 The expendi-
lures for labor have ,beeen commented upon
as extravagant and unW ,s , That
seems large is not surprising when one OF
the objects sought to be aeeom l?li,a by
cupation was the relief of starving people
through their employment upon pubic
feed. gratuitousIy. the absolutely helpless
far as possible-such gratuitous relief This