The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-08
ABUSING A PRIVILEGE
TOO MANY CUBAN OFFICIALS FRANK
ING THEIR LETTERS.
Many Persons Arrested for REFUSING
stamps-Quesada Appointed Conn
missioner to Washington.

HAVANA. June 7-Major Rathbone. the
director of posts, has discovered an i'm
mense abuse of the franking privilege Ev-
cry official in the island owns one. There
are about 800 persons. in all. who are using
the frank for personal communications and
those OF friends. The letters of alcaldes
and police captains in the various villages
are sent under franks in envelopes inciosing
ranked envelopes for replies. The post
masters have been ordered to keep strict
record of the franked mails handled for a
week and TO estimate for revenue the loss
In this way.
Many persons have been arrested in Ma
tanzas for reusing stamps. and among them
are several prominens merchants. The Span
isb law provides for only a small fine In
such cases. unless the offense Is frequently
committed. and consequently there has been
no let-up in the practice under the new
regime. Major Rathbone, however, has in
hand a draft postal penal code for Cuba.
similar to that In force in the United States.
and as soon as General Brooke has given
his approval this will go into effect.
Governor General Brooke issued orders to-
day appointing Senior Gonzales De Quesada
special commissioner for Cuba at Wash
ington. with salary of 5000. Those who
Gomez is wise one, and they include ma.
jority of the most prominent Cubans in Ha-
vana. are much pleased with this appoint
ment and consider IL just reward OF years
OF faithful service: on the other hand. the
and those who always oppose everything
the government does complain bitterly say
Ing the appointment Is an Intentional in
suit. the ground, as they allege, that
Senior De QueSeda Is traitor TO the real
interests of the island. which will not be
safe in his hands. They assert also that he
is an American in his IDEAS holding views
which are not suited 10 Cuba.
General Gomez and his advisors held
conference to-day. The proceedings were
brief and of no special Importance. He IS
still. weak and suffering the effects of long
setsry ana vs pbat snSr e ms seG
he desires TO visit San Domingo, is even
more anxious TO see the Cubans and the
view to promotion OF the political and COM
mercial prosperity of the island. General
Gomez refers TO the lynching OF Jose Lab
regat, at San Antonio de los Banos, by the
Cubans. as an outrage and declares that
II, in the days of his command. Cuban SOL
dfers had been implicated in such act.
they would have been promptly hanged.
Colonel George NJ. Randall paid 1893 Cuban
soldiers yesterday at Jaruco and rejected
"A others: This makes l,437 Cubans paid by
Colonel Randall so far. 1t was discovered
four Cubans were selling fraudulent certi-
fcates Of service in the Cuban army. charg-
ing 81 each for them. This so enraged sew
eral of the soldiers who had legitimate dis
charges that they badly beat the sellers
OF the bogus certificates Three of the four
men escaped on train bound for Havana.
but the fourth was arrested. Lieut.. Col.
Bisbee paid pa insurgents yesterday at
Consolation. Lieut.. Col. Rofferty will begin
paying Tomorrow. Lieut.. Col. Randall will
begin his work on June Is. but there will
probably be additional pay days for Ha-
vana.
According TO a dispatch from Camajurani
the prolonged dry spell there. quite extra
ordinary in the history of the district is
causing great damage. and a large part
or the province OF Santa Clara is suffering
A good deal OF ground was prepared during
the spring for sugar cane cultivat ton, but
the cane could not be planted I'm many in
stances and In others large fields were
burned IL was impossible to bank the earth
around the sprouts and consequently the
delayed tobacco still remains insufficiently
cured Nevertheless the farmers now feel
safer. owing TO the excellent rural guard
in the province. and the increasing activity
in one or two branches of agriculture is
giving employment TO a certain number OF
laborers.
Major Rathborne has adopted a flag for
the vessel carrying Cuban malls. II is
red burge, with one white star.
At p. m. the temperature in Havana
was 80 degrees