The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-10-17
CUBA MUs1c PAX.
Island Government to Stand the Cost
Of Intervention-Win Probably
Amount to Million Dollars a
Month.

&
Amount to a Million Dollars a
Month.
Z Washington, October .1o.-The cost
of American Intervention in Cuba for
the purpose of restoring order Will
be charged up probably against the
Cuban treasury. It is no trif1e to
move large bodies of troops, police
an island like Cuba, administer its
affairs for some months, and put the
government once more on its feet.
But since the Cuban people have so
conducted themselves that intervene
ton was necessary, they must now
assume the burden that follow.
Department officials, discussing this
matter unofacially, estimate the ex-
penses incurred by the United States
at about s1,000,000 month. The
transport service alone is figured at
$4,000 a day. This is considered a
very moderate figure. There is 10
war risk attached to this service, and
the transports are not of the costly
sort used during our war with Spain;
neither have ships been bought at
any price the owners might be inclin-
ed to ask the government. But this
transport service is not the only item
of extraordinary expenditures forced
upon this country in its role Of peace
maker and setter-up Of weak govern
ments.
The market for horses and mules,
into WS5ch. the quartermaster's de-
.partment was compelled to go in pre-
pairing for troops for this service, at
once responded to the increased de-
mand for live stock by displaying a
strong "bull'' tendency. Hay, oats
and corn, and other quartermaster
supplies are not found in Cuba, and
all this stuff had to be purchased and
shipped to the island. This will be
continued so long as the American
troops occupy the territory.
The item of railroad transportation
of troops in this country to the sea-
board was matter Of many thous-
and dollars. There Will be no charge
made for the service OF the American
TROOPS while in Cuba, nor will the
subsistence of the army be charged
against the republic, as the subs1st-
ence of the men must be provided
wherever they happen to be. In the
debates in Congress on the army oil.
it is usually estimated that the aver
age expense to the government OF
the army per man, including officers
and enlisted men, is $1,000 year.
When all the troops ordered have
been transported, there will be $500
men on the island. Should they re-
main one year this item would aggre-
gate s5,s00,Ooo.
Governor Magoon, it is understood
will be allowed $4,000 year salary,
the same as that paid by the repup-
lie to President Palma. The salary
of the provisional governor will be
paid from the Cuban treasury. Should
affairs be found so badly tangled that
a number Of American civil officials
must be in Office, their salaries, also'
will be met in the same way; and ex-
perience has shown that these Amer
lean civil employees are not ineXpen-
sive luxuries for the Cubans.
The precedent set by this govern
ment in China during the suppression
of the Boxer uprising may be follow
60. TIE foreign governments partic-
i,ating in the relief Of Pekin charged
all the regular expenses Of their army
against the Chinese. Tie United
States asked repayment LOT only sucii
exnend;tures as were made necessary
oy the expedition, extraordinary eS-
nendi.ures that otherwise would not
have been incurred and these items
were estimated al very modest sum
in comparison with the total outlay OF
this government.
Cuba therefore will be required
to pay only that which her failure 10
MAINTAIN a stable government has
compelled the United States to ad-
vance in cause of law and order but
a+ the very lowest calculation this Will
amount to sum that will MAKE Sc
rious inroads in the revenues Of the