The Washington herald., 1909-05-06
COST IN CUBA GREAT
Island Owes Fully $1,000, 1000
for Intervention.
BILL MAY NEVER BE PAID
Question as to Whether United
States Can Call Upon Southern Re
Charged Only for Extraordinary
Outlay Above Regular Cost.

The government OF Cuba now owes that
OF the United States between $7O00000 and
s. Oo0. 600 on account of the expenses OF
recent intervention, but there seems to be
some doubt as TO whether The bin viii
ever be collected.
4 careful account has been kept at the
War Department Of all expenses incurred
by the United States during the recent IN
terventien, when the army OF Cuban paci-
ficatioa was sent into Cuba and kept there
for several months more than two years
There are powerful people in the govern
ernment who believe that when the
United States was given by Cuba the
right to intervene should things so wrong
in the island, the United States incurred
the obligation for the expenses OF such
Intervention. The matter has not been
under discussion recently. but probably
VIII be brought up before long, possibly
IN Congress Some members Of the House
have evinccd interest in the question. and
have been seeking information as TO the
amount Cuba owes this government As
far as can be learned. nothing has ever
been said TO the Cubans about the matter.
and their attitude on the subject IS rot
a matter Of record. II the United States
should insist upon payment, the Cuban
government doubtless viii settle
Increased Expense Figured.
Cuba IS not supposed 10 reimburse the
United States for pay Of officers and men.
OF for rations and forage, for this gov
eminent would have borne that expense
Il the troops had never been sent 10 Cuba
But extraordinary expenses, such as
transportation. \ large item. and foreign
service pay have been included in the
compilation. A soldier serving abroad
gets - per cent increased pay and ar
officer receives 10 per cent more than II
he remained AZ home This increased pay
is considered as riShtfuIly belonging on
the account
Extraordinary expenses as far as now
known amount 10 S6.1z5.55454- This sum
does not include the account OF the guar
termaster generals department, which is
q tTemendO- : item. covering the transpOr-
tatiOn Of the entire army from Cuba 10
the United States and its distribution af-
ter its arrival here
l,000009, and possibly q good deal more
The cost OF getting the army TO cuba vas
nearly 000.C00. but the army was sent
down on chartered boats. and IN a great
hurry, increasing the cost greatly, while
il was brought back gradually in army
transports and navy boats For the re-
tarn trip the only vessel chartered was
steamer to take the horses from Havana
10 Tampa
IN 1861 it was evidently the thought Of
Congress that Cuba should reimburse the
United States The deficiency bin Of
June 60 OF that year said
The President is hereby authorized 10
receive from the treasury OF the Cuban
republic. and pay into the Treasury Of
the United States, from time to tine.
such amounts 10 reimburse the United
States for the expenditures from the
United States Treasury. made necessary
on account Of the present intervention, as
he may consider the Cuban treasury then
able 70 pay without serious embarrass-
ment''