Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-16
PAYMENTS TO GOMEZ
Secretary Root Assumes the
Responsibility.
HE APPROVES THE ACT
BELIEVES IT TO HAVE BEEN
WISE AND JUST.
Has No Doubts as to Its Legality
Congress Informed Of the
Matter Two Years Ago.
Gomez Entitled to Consideration.

Gomez Entitled to Consideration.
General Wood thought, and Secretary
Root thought afterward, that General Go
mez was entitled to consideration, to
home which was supplied him. where he
entertained his old comrades In arms, and
to an income, which last might be set down
as small offset to the money due Gomez
from the Cuban republic. That the Cubans
themselves regarded the matter In the same
light was shown by the passage by the
present Cuban congress. among the very
first Of it's acts, of a bill providing a liberal
pension for General Gomez.
It is asserted that but for this assumption
of the costs of Gomez's living expenses, the
conditions In Cuba might have parelleled
those in the Philippines. and the United
States government, after fighting Spain to
secure freedom for the Cubans, would have
been obliged to turn upon them the force
of her armies.
No Doubt of Legality.
The necessity being present in Secretary
Roots view. the only other point of con-
sideration was the legality and propriety
of such payments. He satisfied himself
that there was not the slightest doubt on
that score. Congress might have assumed
the government Of Cuba 1t did not do so.
but left it under the military adminiStra-
ton. Gen. Wood. the military governor,
There is no disposition on the part of
Secretary Root to apologize for the pay
ment to General Gomez by General Wood of
any moneys, regardless Of what they are
calied-pensions, allowances, or the price of
peace. The Secretary has assumed full re-
sponsibiity for these payments to Gomez,
and if Congress asks for an explanation of
the matter he stands fully prepared to fur
nish what he regards as the most convinc-
ing proofs that the payments were dictated
by the wisest craftsmanship.
The conditions in Cuba two years ago. ac-
cording to this argument. were precarious.
Few Cubans believed that the United
States government would ever withdraw
from Cuba. and the half-famished veterans
of the Cuban army were clamoring for
their pay. Gen. Gomez was the head and
front Of their army. He had presented
spectacle unique in history In having serv-
ed the revolutionary cause as it's principal
leader without having received cent of
pay.
therefore represented all of the government
there was in Cuba up to the 10th of May.
He had full authority, it is contended, to
appropriate the funds of the CubanS them
selves as ne saw fit in their own interest.
There was no legislature, and no other
legal body to give direction to the military
governor. He was therefore obliged to as
sumo the responsibility for his diSburSe
ments and to exercise his discretion. Cen
eral Brooke did the same during his admin
istration. and after him General Wood, and
Secretary Root now fully approves of
everything they did, including the personal
payments to Gomez by General Wood.
Congress Informed Two Years Ago.
1t is pointed out at the War Department
that Congress has been in full possession
of the information that Gomez had been
receiving these payments for no less than
n
that far back. submitted to Congress the
full statement of expenditures in Cuba and
included in the list was statement Of the
payments to Gen. Gomez I'D to that time.