The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-19
MANY OFFICIALS IMPLICATED
CORRUPTION SYSTFMATICAL EN-
COURAGED BY THE ALCALDEs.
How the Latter Were Taken Of Their
Guard and the Frauds Ferreted
OUt-The Penalty.

Havana have been stealing water with the
connivance of the Alcaldes De Barrios and
the mayors of thirty-nine wards, who are
also water inspectors in their respective
districts, the city losing through this means
between $4,000 and $4,000 a year. percent
age Of this amount going into the pockets
OF the alcaldes. The frauds have been per-
petrated for years back.
Ernest Lee Conant, chairman of the COM
mission, aided by Ensign Poweson, who is
here on sick leave, William B. Whitney, a
New York attorney, and Accountant Hask-
ings did the preliminary work and directed
the efforts of so policemen in ferretng out
the frauds. On entering six thousand houses
which were down on the books of the Span
ish Bank as not using water the officers
found 1900 Of them secretly connected with
the water pipes in the streets or with those
in adjoining houses, thus getting a supply
of water without paying the rates, which are
from so to $40 annually. The commission
has secured much evidence Of corruption on
the part Of the alcaIdes, who Systematically
encouraged and approved the frauds and
made regular levies of portion Of the
water rates upon the householders illegally
using the water.
In order to prevent the alcaldes from
warning their clients the commission sent
messengers in cabs yesterday to invite the
alcaldes to confer with the commission re-
garding the interests of the city. By
o'clock in the afternoon every alcalde was
at the palace in his best clothes. Commits
sioner Casanova said they ought not to be-
gin their deliberations until Mr.. COnant
came in. After a wait Of two hours Mi.
Conant arrived and he and Commissioner
Casanova made some general remarks re-
garding the water frauds and were given
volumes of assurances by the aIcaldes that
they would aid in breaking up the system.
The members Of the commission were also
privately informed by individual alcaldes
of misdeeds which We're being committed in
adjoining wards to their own. BY this time
it was after o'clock, and the eXamina-
ton of the suspected dwellings was nearly
finished. The alcaldes went home and were
beWidered and frightened by what they
learned.
PENALTY FOR THE FRAUDS.
The penalty prescribed for the frauds will
probably be the payment of two years back
taxes upon condition that the guilty per-
sons be not prosecuted criminally. The city
treasury will thus get from $120,000 to $780,
600. The commission has traces of similar
frauds in other departments and proposes
to dig out the cOrruption and institute re-
forms. The moral indifference of the citi-
zens of Havana causes great astonishment
to the investigators. Official honesty in the
former regime, it is declared, was almost
unknown and the number Of citizens will
ing to profit by the lack or 1t Is amazing.
Governor General Brooke has received
several petitions from members Of the
families of Cubans who are confined IN
Spanish prisons on charges OF political OIL
lenses, of having taken part in the rebel
lion or having made use OF dynamite, ask
ing him to obtain their release, General
Brooke will forward these petitions TO
Washington. There has not been any re-
quest for a general release Of the Cubans
now in Spanish prisons, the petitions re-
ceived relating only 10 specific cases.
The military administration is experience
ing difficulty in sending rations to points ON
the northern and western coasts Of the
province of Pinar del Rio, where they are
greatly needed. The mountain ranges in the
province make it impossible to send them
from points on the railroad in the southern
part Of Pinar del Rio province and no coast
wise steamers are available for the purpose.
Col. S. S. Dunwoodie, chief signal officer
on General Brookes staff, is proceeding with
the construction of the telegraph line to San
tlago The erection of a second line from
Havana to Mantanzas and from Havana to
Cienfuegos will, it is announced, be COM
pleted next week.
The announcement that a 20 per cent. dis
count from the Spanish pay rolls of the sal
aries of the civil employs has been mlSunder-
stood and the employees are already prepar-
ing protests and otherwise ag1tatlng against
the alleged arbitrary injustice being done
them. Preparations are being made Tor the
celebration of the twenty-fOurth anniversary
of the beginning of the last revolution. 1t IS
asserted that General Gomez will surely be
IN Havana IN time Tor me eeaeDFaom ana
to be slightly i'll from the effects OF his traV-
els and labOrS in the interior during the past
ten days. The Havana papers are full of re-
ports Of his doinSS. Every wreath of flowers
presented to him and every banquet which
he has attended has been described in detail.
According to these accounts, his travels have
been a series of delirOuS oVatlonS. Many
people will be relieved when he reaches IIa-
vana and takes up the business of disburs-
ing the So O00 900 appropriated by the United
States government.
GOMEZ AT CARDBNAS.
Gen. Maxine Gomez arrived at Cardenas,
near Matanzas, yesterday. The Cubans alone
welcomed him, the Spanish element not be-
ing represented in the demonstration, their
leaders saying: I'VE are foreigners"
Hugo Won Reitzenstern, representing a
syndicate composed of John c. Tom
linson, Senior Rafael Gown, former
United States Senator Eustis and
Senior Francisco Garcia and other prominent
people, has contaminated a deal for the
puchase of a number Of the largest tobacco
factories in Havana and much tobacco land.
The combined output of the factories is
10000 cigars daily, besides vast number
of cigarettes. The properties already ac-
quired are valued at a million dollars and
Otner purchases are contemplated. Experts
are examining accounts OF business 10 be
taken over in a few days.
Holman, proprietor Of the Washington
Cafe, was again arrested last night and his
cafe closed on the charge of disobedience Of
law, which after his previous arrest, he mad
promised to observe. He exhibited Il sign
in his cafe. in Spanish and English saying
he would cater to whites Only. lie was re-
leased on furnishing $50 bail.
The custom house brokers are complaining
of the alleged obscure and complex system
OF liquidation of customs dues They were
joined in this matter yesterday by the
merchants and will lay their cases before
Colonel Bliss, who represents the Treasury
Department here. The Colonel explains that
the complaints about the present system all
arise from the fact that re does not allow
the appraiser and importer to get together
and appraise and determine the value of
invoiced goods, which was the Spanish way.
the so-called complex system, when eX-
amned always lead back to a desire for the
re-establishment of the Spanish method,
which was responsible for the greatest part
of the corruption under the Spanish regime
and which made the position Of appraiser
worth $4,000 a year Colonel Bliss is de-
termined not to allow this condition of
affairs TO be re-established as under il an
honest Administered ton is impossible.
Michael j. Daddy, of Brooklyn, who in the
last months of Spanish rule in Havana en-
tered into contract for the construction Of
sewers and pavenleats, and which contract
was declared void after the Americans as
his case In writing TO Governor General Lud-
low The general answered that, owing to
the opinion given by the attorney general,
he is unable 10 act Ia the matter. Mr.