the necessities of your department, remembering, however, that the funds for this and for other purposes are limited at present. You will exercise a wise discretion in the distribution of food; it is better to make an error on the side of humanity always. Medical attendance and medicines will always be afforded and given where necessary. Please keep these headquarters fully advised as to all conditions in your department at all times, and to this end you will acquaint yourself with affairs by an active use of the means at hand. For the present, and until proper arrangements are made for remission of customs revenues to Habana, or disbursement of same at port of collection, subcollectors must understand that they will be held to a strict accountability under Executive order of December 9, 1898, to the collector of customs for the island for all funds received by them. Very respectfully, ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major-General, U. S. V., Chief of Staff. GENERAL ORDERS, WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, [Extract.] 7. The ration for issue to troops of the Cuban army and to Cuban destitutes will consist of the following articles: 8. Separate abstract of issues (Form No. 40, Subsistence Department) will be made of issue to troops of the Cuban army, to Cuban destitutes, and to prisoners of war. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION OF CUBA COMMANDING General, Department of Matanzas. SIR: The commanding general of the division directs me to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 21, inclosing report of board sent by you through the province of Matanzas to inquire into the condition of the people, etc. I am directed by the division commander to inform you that since January 10 the following number of rations have been shipped to your department for distribution to the destitute. These rations are sent to you to be distributed under your direction, with due inquiry as to where most needed and with such aid of societies of citizens as you may estab lish. In the distribution of rations by Mr. Gould throughout the province of Matanzas let it be understood that some sort of labor was to be performed for the benefit of the community in return for these rations, and it is believed that much useful work might be secured under proper management. The rations sent are as follows: To Matanzas, January 10.... 50,000 Again to Matanzas, two days ago, 175,000, transferred to the quartermaster at this place yesterday, to be shipped to the following places: The foregoing in compliance with your request of January 21. If no arrangement has been made by you for the distribution of the rations at the last-named places, it should be attended to, as the stores should be at their respective destinations within two or three days, perhaps sooner. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. V. RICHARDS, Assistant Adjutant-General. COMMANDING General, HEADQUARTERS DIVISION of Cuba, Habana, June 7, 1899. Department of the Province of Habana and Pinar del Rio. SIR: The division commander directs me to inform you that the chief commissary of the division will turn over to such officer as you may designate to receive them and make the distribution 282,000 Cuban rations, the amount of the two estimates herewith returned. I am directed to call your attention to the fact that from December to April 27, about four months, there were issued to the commission in charge of the distribution to 54 towns in the province of Habana 537,850 rations. Your estimate for the month's supply amounts to 282,290 rations. Dr. Finley, in his final report, says: "From the local information that we have obtained from our connection with the different towns of the province, we consider that there is no longer a pressing need for food, excepting amounts to some number of sick men, women, and children." The number of rations issued by the committee during the four months to the towns mentioned by you are inserted in brackets for comparison. It would seem as necessary that very thorough inquiry be made regarding the necessity for issue of rations to the destitute, and that this inquiry be made as frequently as possible. Comparisons in some cases are very significant, indicating a marked increase, rather than a diminution, of destitution. Attention is invited to the fact that these estimates are for June, and that the first week of the month had about expired before these headquarters were informed that rations would be required for issue. Information on the subject should be gathered immediately, and an approximate estimate of the number of rations required for the month of July forwarded as soon as possible, Very respectfully, ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Brigadier-General, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION of Cuba, COMMANDING General, Department of Matanzas and Santa Clara. SIR: Referring to your indorsement respecting the quantity of Cuban rations on hand in your department, dated June 27, the division commander directs that you render to these headquarters, as soon as practicable, a return showing the quantity of Cuban rations on hand in your department and where same are located. You report a million rations of bread and less than half that amount of other components of the ration. Please explain, for the information of the division commander, how this great discrepancy in the component parts of the ration has occurred. I am also directed to say that the transfers of subsistence stores of the Army to Cuban rations must not be made at any station in your department without the authority of the division commander being first obtained. It is impossible to keep an account of the condition of the Cuban rations issued, without its being under the direction of the division commander, and he insists that hereafter his instructions be asked for respecting the matter of obtaining supplies for free distribution, and that his directions in the matter shall be observed. Very respectfully, ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Brigadier-General, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION of Cuba, Commanding General, Department of Habana, (And all other departments in Division of Cuba.) SIR: The major-general commanding enjoins upon department commanders the strictest vigilance and care in the disbursement of funds on this island derived from customs and turned over to them for the maintenance of the civil service in their commands. Absolutely correct and detailed accounts of receipts and expenditures must be kept, and receipts taken for every expenditure. Schedules of accounts should be sent to these headquarters monthly for audit. As it is undoubtedly true that these receipts and expenditures will be made the subject of rigid investigation in the future, care must be taken that all accounts shall be clear and complete and for proper service. Very respectfully, W. V. RICHARDS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION OF CUBA, THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE, Habana, Cuba. SIR: The military governor is desirous that your department should, as soon as possible, extend its influence and resume its functions in all parts of the island. Under the abnormal conditions which now obtain in Cuba, and by which all authority is temporarily vested in the military governor, he believes that the orders necessary for the guidance of your subordinates, in carrying out any general line of policy, should issue in due form from this office, and be published in the Official Gazette. In this way there can arise no clash of authority due to a divided responsibility. He desires, therefore, that all orders relating to the general conduct of affairs in your department be submitted to him for approval and publication. Orders so issued will be binding both upon the civil and the military authorities, and the possibility of conflict avoided. If any such orders have already been issued, he desires that they be sent to this office for publication by his direction to insure respect by the military authorities now controlling affairs in the provinces. Very respectfully, ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major-General of Volunteers, Chief of Staff. (Similar letters to secretary of state and government, secretary of justice and public instruction, secretary of agriculture, commerce, industries, and public works.) HEADQUARTERS DIVISION OF CUBA, Dr. DOMINGO MENDEZ CAPOTE, Secretary of State and Government, Habana, Cuba. SIR: The military governor directs that, in order more speedily to establish a system of civil government in the island of Cuba, the administration of the several departments be put into operation as soon as practicable, each under the direction of its appropriate secretary. This order will not, however, relax the military control announced in the proclamation of January 1, 1899. Commanding generals of military departments, within their respective limits, will continue to exercise supervision of all matters pertaining to the government of Cuba, not specially excepted from their jurisdiction. They are charged with the duty of examining into and reporting upon the administration of civil offices within their departments. Immediate report will be made of any case of maladministration, or want of proper qualification of any public officer, for the performance of the duties of his position. Copies of all official communications between the several branches of the civil government and their representatives in the provinces will be sent to the commanding generals of military departments. Very respectfully, ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major-General of Volunteers, Chief of Staff. (Similar letters to other secretaries and all department commanders (7) in the division.) HEADQUARTERS DIVISION Of Cuba, Habana, April 11, 1899. COMMANDING GENERALS, Departments of Habana, Province of Habana, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Puerto Principe, and Santiago. (Copy of indorsement in full to commanding general, Santa Clara.) SIR: The division commander instructs me to furnish you the following extract copy from an indorsement upon a recent communication, for your information and guidance. In the supervision of government affairs reserved to generals commanding military departments (see letter from these headquarters, dated February 21, 1899), it is competent for any department commander to suspend from office any civil official who, in his judgment, may be guilty of maladministration or neglect of duty, making immediate report of his action. ORDERS, MODIFICATIONS, AND CHANGES IN EXISTING LAWS. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION of Cuba, It is ordered by the military governor of Cuba that the decrees relative to passports, which were in force January 1, 1899, the date of the establishment of military government by the United States over the island, are hereby rescinded, and such passports will no longer be required. .ADNA R. CHaffee, Major-General of Volunteers, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION OF Cuba, Habana, January 11, 1899. In pursuance of the authority vested in him by the President of the United States, and in order to secure a better organization of the civil service in the island of Cuba, the military governor orders that hereafter the civil government shall be administered by four departments, each under the charge of its appropriate secretary, as follows: First. The department of state and government; Third. The department of justice and public instruction; HEADQUARTERS DIVISION OF CUBA, The military governor of Cuba directs that all taxes due, under Spanish laws in force on this island, and unpaid on January 1, 1899, be remitted. Taxes collected on railway passengers and freight prior to that date, and not heretofore deposited with the Government, will be paid at once into the treasury of the island. ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major-General of Volunteers, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION Of Cuba, Upon the recommendation of the Secretary of State and Government, and with the object of perfecting the organization of the Department, created by the order of January 11, 1899, and of insuring a more economical administration of the Government, the military governor directs that— I. The office of president of the council of secretaries and the department of general government are hereby abolished. II. The department of state and government will be divided into three sections: 1. A section, which shall be known as the section of state, will have charge of all matters relating to the consular and diplomatic service and foreign affairs. 2. A section, which shall be known as the section of government, will have charge of matters relating to municipal affairs, so far as these are connected with the general government of the island; sanitation, cemeteries, statistics, penal establishments, and charitable institutions. 3. A section, which shall be known as the section of general government, will be under the immediate direction of the assistant secretary, and will have charge of correspondence; preparation of such matters as require approval of the chief executive; officers and employees of the provinces, so far as these are connected with the general government of the island; matters relating to newspapers; censorship of theatrical performances; public libraries; archives; elections, and miscellaneous matters. III. The minutes and records of the sessions of the former council of secretaries, and the archives of the former department of general government, will be transferred to the archives of the section of general government. IV. Matters of business, pending in any office abolished by this order, will be considered in their appropriate sections as hereby created, or in that department of the government which has jurisdiction in the case. V. The administration of the department of state and government will be conducted under the laws in force on the 31st day of December, 1898, so far as these may be compatible with the existing government, until the same shall have been modified by competent authority. ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major-General of Volunteers, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION of Cuba, On the recommendation of his secretaries, the military governor directs as follows: I. The provincial deputations of the island of Cuba are hereby abolished. II. Pending the reorganization of provincial administration, all matters of business which have heretofore been under the jurisdiction of provincial deputations, or which may now be pending before the same, will be submitted to and acted upon by civil governors of provinces. III. The secretary of state and government is charged with the execution of the provisions of the preceding paragraphs. ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major-General of Volunteers, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION OF Cuba, On the recommendation of the secretary of justice and public instruction, the military governor of Cuba directs the publication of the following order: The decree, dated July 19, 1898, issued by Captain-General Ramón Blanco, then Governor-General of Cuba, is hereby revoked. The jurisdiction of the audiencias of Matanzas and Puerto Príncipe will hereafter be limited to that which, under the law, was appropriate to each, prior to the publication of the above-mentioned decree. ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major-General of Volunteers, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DIVISION OF Cuba, The military governor of Cuba directs the publication of the following order: The capitation tax at all Cuban ports is abolished, to take effect on and after March 1, 1899. ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major-General of Volunteers, Chief of Staff. |