Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-01
BROOKE TEsTTTIEs.
Former Governor of Cuba Scores Gen
 eraI Wood.

Former Governor of Cuba Scores Gen
 eral Wood.
 WASHINGlON Dec. 1.--Major Gem eraA John R. Brooke, retired, former governor general of Cuba, gave testi- mony before the senate comniittee on military affairs which charged insub- ordination against General Leonard Wood. For more than two hours he occupied the entire time ia telling of General Woods conduct at Santiago. The witness offered in support Of his statements many documents taken from records at the war department and several papers from his personal col lection. At the close of his testimony a member of the committee said that 1t is probable General Wood will have to return from the Philippines and tes- ttfy.
 One of the charges made by General Brooke is that General Wood violated the order which required him in mak- ing Improvements in Santiago to sub init estimates to the governor general. As evidence Of this violation General Brooke called attention to the building of barracks at Santiago near the Nor TO without General Wood first having given notice to the department at Ha- vann. General Brooke said also that General Wood continually sent com munica tons to the war department over the head of his commanding of hcer The witness assured the commit teA that he cared nothing for the ignor- ing of his authority. but said that the proceeding had been detrimental to military discipline.
 General Brooke called to the atten- ton of the committee in support of an allegation that General Wood had neg lected to work in harmony with the military government the matter of Gen. eral Woods attitude toward the news papers at Santiago which repeatedly made attacks on General Brooke's ad- mintstrAtion. General Brooke read a number of these attacks and also his recommendation to the war department that the papers De suppressed unless they desisted.
 One of the extracts from the Inde- pencia, published at Santiago. which was read, was a bitter denunei t1cne of General Brooke under the caption of God Save Cuba The article was based on General Brooke's order for the standardization of affairs of the is- land, by which receipts from all cus- tom houses were ordered sent to sHa- vana. The article, among other things, said that if carried into effect the order soon would prohibit the people of Sam tiago from breathing without perrnis- sion from General Brooke; that it was a matter of life and death to the prov- ince of Santiago to get the order re- scinded. A large number of telegrarns of indignation sent to President Mo Kinley were appended to the article-
 General Brooke read a letter which he had sent to the adjutant general of the war department asking that Gen eral Wood be instructed to prohibit the publication of such articles during the period of military government. He also read General Woods reply to the adju- tant general, which, the witness said, had been sent over the head of his su- perior officer, saying that freedom Of speech, untrammeled criticism of the military government and absolute tnde- pendence in all matters was a ineces- sary part of the education of the Gu bans to it them to conduct liberal government.
 The witness declared that the atti- tude of General Wood was responsible to great extent in adding to the dis quiet of the Cubans.
 Major Rathbone was before the com mites for half an hour. The commit tee asked him if he desired to have ad- dittonal witnesses summoned, and as q result number of subpoenas were is- sued Dr. Pablo Desvernenie, who was secretary of finance under General Brooka's administration. will be called to tell what he knows concerning or ders issued to the courts by General Wood which are alleged to have brought about the conviction of Major Rathbone. It was decided also to recall <-t rWs- " vA.S. Al.