The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-03
BRIBERY IN CUBA.
Native Court Officials Are as Corrupt
as the Spaniards.
The CLERKS TAKE EVIDENCE.
frequently Put in False Testimony
Against the Accused.
GENERAL GOMEZ EXPOSES ASSEMBLY.
It Was on Their Motion The s3,OOO,OOO
Was Asked.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MILLloNAlRFS
They Urged Conner to Work for .
Loan and on His Refusal He
Was Dcposcd.

Havana, April To-day, as under the
Spanish regime bribery and fraud direct
the Cuban courts. This is the firm conyic-
ton of the military administration.
Governor General Brooke is taking the
matter UP and intends to clean out the cor
ruption, TO revise the judicial procedure,
TO change the court personnel and to abol-
ish the barbarous practice of incommupl-
life person ignorant of the accusation
against him and of the names OF his ac-
cusers.
1t is true that the statutes allow only
three days detention incommunicado. but
q Judge, under the practice that has grown
expiration of the third day, another at the
expiration of the sixth ana so on without
limit.
More than this, the evidence in criminal
causes is taken by clerks. who for con-
slderation write into the testimony things
never uttered, thus often making the best
friends of the accused appear to condemn
him. Apparently the whole criminal and
evil systems have been arranged so as to
make it easy to buy and sell justice
General Maxine Gomez, in long letter
directed to his wife In Santo Domingo,
reviews his differences with the so-called
military assembly. He begins by describ-
ing the situation as it was when Robert p.
Porter the presidents specis. representa-
tive, visited Cuba after the assemblys rep
resentatives at Washington had obtained
promise OF $4,000. 600 from the president.
The writer. proceeding. says This action
on the part OF the assembly's committee
approved It was then that MIR. Porter
appeared and asked me as commander in
chief to decide to accept the 100000, to
aid in its distribution and in the disarming
of the army and to proceed forthwith TO
Havana TO assist the United States military
governor, Major General Brooke. l agreed
General Brooke concerning the payment
and the disarmament. 1t was decided that
General Brooke should request Washington
TO ship to Cuba the 100000 which had
been obtained by the representatives of the
assembly. saw to the adjustment Of all
questions that led up to the termination
OF the ridiculous armed situation and be-
gan to entertain hopes of an early return
to santo Domingo.
"Thc assembly hen called upon me to
visit its president, saying that the OBJ
Icct sought was an official exchange OF
ideas. But they placed me upon the bench
OF the accused, my crime being that / was
inclined TO accept the $4,000, 600 which the
assembly itself, through its representa-
lives. had induced President Mckinley to
promise a matter as to which mad not
been consulted H. appeared that had
broken off negotiations for Sl3 900 600. To
all this | replied that ! had acted In the
best faith but that nothing had been lost,
as 7 would withdraw the acceptance ! had
given. They then requested noe TO array
myself on their side in order to give
strength 10 their resolutions. / answered
that I had always had done so and wouid
continue to do so, except in cases where
the course OF the assembly was oivsISd TO
my conscience, TO my sense OF justice and
10 my idea OF the best interests OF Cuba.
Regarding the matter under consideration,
/ said | had no hope of obtaining more
than the 5000 900 from the United States
and disapproved asking charity. contend
ing that the only method left was to raise
a loan. for which the assembly lacked ade-
ouate authorization. Furthermore,
pointed out that the soldiers could not
wait: that .lready there was too great
burden on the people Of Cuba and that the
longer delay appeared to me 10 be cruel.
''The conference ended without accom-
plishing anything. / saw could not
make myself understood by the assembly
and decided not to be mixed up in its do
iuKs, but to await Developments few
davs later three men. whom I do not know.