The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-22
SECRETARY ROOT ADMITS 1T.
HE APPROVES EXTRA ALLOW
ANCES FOR OFFICERS.

They Were First Given Under AIger
Who Secured the Attorney. GEN
erals Opinion Says the Total
Amounts to $4,000 CIR $4,000 a
Year-OnIy Four Favored Army
Officers in HaVnna-Their Pay Not
Sufficient for Expenses.
Washington, April H.-Secretary Root
made a brief statement at the war de-
partment to-day in reference to The
charge that eXtravagant allotments had
been made to the principal army o1scers
been made to the principal army officers
their establishments out of the revenues
of the island.
He said that about a year ago, before
he came into office, representations were
made that it was impossible for army
officers to live on their salaries in Cuba.
The question of providing for their extra
expenses out of the revenues of the is
land was suggested to Secretary Alser,
and the Attorney General was called upon
for an opinion on the subject. The latter
holds that there was no legal objection
to such procedure, and his opinion was
approved by the then Secretary of War.
Attorney Generals Opinion.
Secretary Root said that allotments
Were made at that time in accordance
with the Attorney Generals opinion and
they have since been continued. In re-
sponse to a direct inquiry, he said that
allotments for extra expenses had been
made to four officers, namely the mill
tary governor OF the island, the military
governor of the city of Havana, the col
lector of the port of Havana and the
atreasurer of the island. The Secretary said
he did not recall the exact amount of the
allotment in each case, but that alto
gether they did not exceed $4,000 or &c.,
900 a year.
In answer to another question, Secre-
tary Root said that Col Black, the en-
gineer officer at Havana did not receive
any extra allowance, but that he was
certainly entitled to 1t.
Although showing that the plan was
fully approved by him, Secretary Root
made 1t clear that it was originated by
his predecessor, Secretary Alger.
The Officers Favored.
At the time of the original allowance,
the office of Governor General was held
by Gen. Brooke, who was recently sue
ceeded by Gen. Wood, the incumbent
Gen. William Ludlow was the military
Governor Of Havana, and received an al
| fOWance as SuCn. Inc OlICS HGl0 Dy ultil
has been abolished 90 take effect May /.
The military department, formerly in his
command, has been merged into the de,
partment of Havana, and Pinar del Ric
in command of Gen. Lee. 1t is not known
whether the latter officer will receive
the allowance heretofore made to Gen.
Ludlow, but 1t is a fair assumption that
he will.
The other two officers favored with ex-
ira allowances are Col. II. H. Bliss of the
commissary department, who holds the Of
flee of collector of the port Of Havana, and
Maj. Eugene Ladd, quartermaster of vol
unteers and captain of the Ninth Cavalry,
who performs the functions of treasurer
of the island.
Secretary Root further stated that full
particulars of the transactions will be fur
nished to Congress in response to the reso-
luton of Senator Bacon In the event Of
the passage of that measure. The reply
will include a copy of the opinion of the
Attorney General upon which the action
of the war department is based.
The secretary was asked If similar al
Iowances for extra expenses were made in
the cases of officers in Porto Rico or in
the Philippines, and he replied most en-
phatically, mo"