The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-25
CAME OUT OF CUBA.
Extra Salaries Paid to United States
Officers.

Washington, April 25.-Secretary of
War Root today sent to the senate
his reply to the resolution of April % as
to whether officers of the United States
army in Cuba or Porto Rico have re-
ceived any compensation to which they
were not entitled by law as salary and
allowances, and if so asking the names
and rank OF the officers and the amounts
received by them. The reply says that
allowances have been paid four officers
Of the army who have been required to
live in the city of Havana, and to per-
form important civil functions in con-
nection with the administration of the
government of Cuba, as follows:
ITO the military governor of Havana,
at the rate of $1,000 per year; to the col
lector of customs for the island of Cuba
at the rate of 81 800 per year; to the
treasurer of the island Of Cuba, ut the
rate of ST. 800 per year.
The report continues: These pay
ments were in addition to the salary
and allowances which the said officers
were entitled as such to receive out of
the treasury of the United States. am
not aware of any other payments of the
character described in the resolution to
any officers in Cuba.
Il annex hereto report received
some months ago from the headquarters
division of Cuba, showing that none
other has been made. The payments
have been made monthly from the dates
stated in said orders until the present
time. The payments to the military
governor of Havana will cease with the
termination of that office on the first
day of May, 1900. The names and ranks
Of the officers receiving the payments
were, as military governor of Cuba. Ma
jor General John r. Brooke until the
18th day of December, 1S99 and Major
General Leonard Wood, u. S. V, since
that time as military governor of Ha-
vana, Brigadier General William Lud-
low, as collector of customs of Cuba
Major B. NJ. Bliss; as treasurer of the
island of Cuba, Major Ladd, U. s. v.
mo allowances have. been made to
any officers in Porto Rico other than
the statutory salary, and allowances
out OF the treasury of the United States.
The payments specified We're made out
! of the revenues of the island Of Cuba on
account of government thereof and
| they were made for the reason that it
| was impossible for the said officers to
! properly perform the necessary duties
/ pertaining to their positions without the
| expenditure of the full amount Of such
/ allowances in addition to their Statu-
/ tory salaries and allowance out of the
| treasury of the United States.
The aggregate of the payments thus
made prior to the first day of the pres
! ent month was ST.. AL. The total REGENTS
of the island of Cuba collected by these
! officers during the period covered by
4 the aforesaid expenditure therefrom
amounted to $21,026, 572, and tie total
disbursements under their direction
amounted to SIS, 2S0,51Z.
Similar allowances to officers of the
army performing civil functions in Mex
leo and California were approved by
| congress by the act of March 3. 1S49
and the act of February 3, 1853. Said
payments were authorized by the pres
! ident Of the United States upon the ora
| advice of the attorney general that the
same were in all respects lawful.
Very respectfully,
/ ''ELIHU ROOT,
Secretary of War;