The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-16
LIVING IS EXPENSIVE.
Objections Military Officers Have to
Service I'm Cuba.
Washington Star.

Washington Star.
When General Leonard Wood was IN
Washington he talked very freely about the
conditions in Cuba and gave great deal
of interesting information. One or the In
teresting points he made was the expense
which army officers are under, pointing
out that very few officers care 10 serve
in Cuba simply because the expenses were
so great. 1t was, OF cource, known that
ali 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 way Of securing certain prloes
and rake-offs, perquisities which American
officers never had never will take ard
which would not be compatible with service
in the United States army. Although Gen.
Wood receives double salary, tnat Is,
81 500 as major general of volunteer and a
like amount from the Cuban revenues as
Governor of Cuba, he says that II Is more
difficult for him TO maintain himself in the
big rambling palace at Havana than II
would be in the United States with a much
smaller allowance. The Governor General is
expected TO entertain the captain or every
ship that comes into Cuba and all OK tho
commercial delegations chat come from
South America and elsewhere are generally
his guests when they arrive. Some OF his
best officers, he says have asked TO pe
transferred 10 other service because they
find their expenses so high that they are
unable to meet them. 'They say that they
just can't stand IL, and are getting poorer
every month they remain, said General
Wood, land 1 know from personal expert
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 anx-
;ous, however, to make a very good record
while they are there, and so Ear 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 SO 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
q good place for any energetic young man
with a 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 1t has
been found that clear title can be had 70
most of the property that is for sale. We
no longer fear yellow fever, and 1t is not
as dangerous as typhoid fever III 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
i'm that city Cuba is going TO be a great
and growing country, notwithstanding the
difficulties she has undergone, and ii has
become evident that peace meant prosperity
&c, that island