Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03
LIVING IS EXPENSIVE
Objections Military Officers Have tn
Service in Cuba.

ScFNlce IN CuDa.
When Gen. Leonard Wood was in Wash
ington he talked very freely about the con-
ditions in Cuba and gave a great deal of
interesting information. One of the inter-
esting points he made was the EXPENSE
which army officers are under. point
ing out that very few officers care to serve
| in Cuba simply because the expenses were
so. great. 1t was, of course, known that
all of the army officers under Spanish re-
gime had various ways of securing money
other than their regular salary allowance.
1t was stated on good authority before the
Spanish war that every army officer from
the captain general down to first Heuten-
ants had a way of securing certain brihes
and rake-ofrs, perqutsites which American
officers never had, never will take and
which would not be compatible with service
in the United States army. Although Gen
Wood receives a double salary, that is
1900 as major general of volunteers and a
like amount from the Cuban revenues as
governor OF Cuba, he says that it Is more
difficult for him to maintain himself in the
big rambling palace at Havana than IT
would be in the United States with much
smaller allowance. The governor general is
expected to entertain the captain of every
ship that comes into Cuba and all of tbe
commercial delegations that come from
South America and elsewhere are generally
his guests when they arrive. Some of his
pest omcerS, ne says, nave asked to ha
transferred to other service because thew
find their expenses so high, that thew are
unable to meet them. They say that thew
just can't stand it, and are getting poorer
every month they remain said General
Wood, land / know from personal exneri
ence that such is the case On this ac-
count, If no other, the officers Of the United
States army will be glad when they are no
longer serving in Cuba. They are all any
icus however, to make very good record
while they are there. and SO far they have
been able to do so.'
According to General Wood Cuba has not
been left out in the prosperity that has
come over the United States. There seems
to be enough of it to go around to our
island possessions In the synopsis of his
report, which has been published he points
out how the conditions have improved.
Speaking more generally, he said: Cuba is
good place for any energetic young man
with few dollars in his pocket Peace
has been restored. There Is now no danger
of property being destroyed. Those who
have made purchases of real estate are
doing well with the lands There is no
particular difficulty about titles, as it has
been found that clear title can be had to
most or the property that is for SALE We
no longer fear yellow fever, and it lis not
as dangerous as typhoid fever in some sec
tons OF the United States. Outside of the
city of Havana there Is no difficulty what
ever, and 1t is to be hoped that In time
yellow fever will be very nearly Suppressed
In that city. Cuba Is going to be q great
and growing country, Notwithstanding the
difficulties she has undergone. and it has be-
come evident that peace meant prosperity
to that island"