Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-21
G w E N ALLOWAN CES
ALLOTMENTS To ARMY OFFICERS IN
CUBA.
Statement by Secretary RoOt-SaIarfeS
Insufficient TO support
Them.

secretary Root made brief statement at
the War Department this morning in refer
ence to the charge that extravagant allot-
ments had been made to the principal army
officers serving in Cuba for the main
tenance of their establshm ents out of the
revenues of the island. He said that about
year ago before he came into office, rep
resentations were made that it was i'm
possible for army officers to live in Cuba
on their regular salaries. The question of
providing for their extra expenses out of
the revenues of the island was suggested
by Secretary Alger and the Attorney Cen
eral was called upon for an opinion on the
subject. The Attorney General held that
there was no legal objection to such a pro-
cedure, and his opinion was approved by
the then Secretary of War.
Allotment to Four Officers
Secretary Root said that allotments were
made at that time, a little over a year ago.
in accordance with the Attorney Generals
opinion and they have since been con-
tinued In response to direct inquiry, he
said that allotments for extra expenses had
been made to four officers, namely the
military governor of the island the mill
tary governor of the city of Havana. the
collector of the port of Havana and the
treasurer of the island. The Secretary said
he did not recall the exact amount of the
allotment in each case. but that altogether
the tour did not exceed $1,000 or $4,000 a
year
In answer to another QUESTION Secretary
Root said that Col. Black, the engineer
officer at Havana, did not receive any extra
allowance, but that he was certainly en-
titled TO it.
Although showing that the plan was fully
approved by him. Secretary Root made it
clear that it was originated by his prede-
cessor, Secretary -.-ger.
The Officers Concerned.
At the time of the original allowance
the office of governor general was held by
Gen. Brooke, who was recently succeeded
by Gen. Wood. the incumbent Gen Will
lam Ludlow was the military governor of
Havana and received an allowance as
such. The office held by him has been
abolished to take effect on the 1st prox-
imo- The military department formerly
in his command has been merged into the
department of Havana and Pinar del Rio
IN command of Gen. Lee. 1t is not known
whether the latter officer will receive the
allowance heretofore made to Gen Lud-
will.
The other cwo officers favored with ex-
ira allowances are Col. T. II. Bliss of the
commtssaIy department. who holds the i'm
p"rtant office cf collector of the port of
Havana and Major Eugene F. Ladd quar-
termaster Of volunteers and captain of the
9th Cavalry, who performs the important
functions of treasurer of the island.
Secretary Root stated this morning that
full particulars of the entire transaction
would be furnished to Congress in response
tc the resolution of Senator Bacon in the
event OF the passage of that measure
The reply will include copy of the cpin-
ion Of the Attorney General upon which
the action of the War Department is based
The Secretary was asked if similar al
lOWanceS for extra adj in
the cases OF any officer in Porto Rico or
in the Philippines and he replied most en-
phatically, No"
Bacon Revolutions Passed.
The Senate today passed without discus
sion the Bacon resolutions calling upon the
Secretary of W2r for information as to ex-
ira compensation Of army officers serving
in Cuba and expenditures for officers estab-
lishfnents out Of Cuban revenues
Afterward the vote for one of the reso-
lutiCnS was rcconSidered, merely to permit
Mr.. Pettigrew 10 talk and this opened con-
siderable discussion. 1t appears that the
expenditures referred to We're accounted for
in communication from the Secretary of
War on FEBRUARY 16, in response to a gem
eral resolution of inquiry as to the revenues
Of Cuba, but the facts were 50 obscured by
methods of tabulatton that the exact facts
were not made clear
The DEPARTMENT. Position.
ment will maintain full justification for
the expenditures and extra compensation
to officers complained of, on the ground
that 1t is necessary on account of the ex-
penses to which the officers are subject
on account of their positions, and that the
allowance is to meet expenses and not as
additional compensation. 1t will be shown
1t is said, that The governor general the
governor of Havana and two others re-
ceive extra allowance for extra expenses
amounting in one case to $500, in an
other to 5000 and in two others to about
Sl,Sn0 each.
The reason given for this allowance is
that the officers required to maintain
establishments pertaining to their civil
functions which they could not be eX-
pected TO pay for themselves.
Another resolution, one offered by Sena-
tor CUlberson, went over under objection,
which may bring up a question of extra
compensation to officers serving on some
one or more of the commissions.