The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-23
BRISTOW'S ORDERS
Are to Make a Clean JOB of 1t
in Cuba.

Washington, May 23.-At the close of
routine business in the senate today
Mr.. Morgan (AIa.) called up his reso-
luton calling upon the secretary of
war and the secretary of the navy for
information relative to the cost of
transportation OF troops and supplies
to the Philippines, and it was agreed to.
The resolution previously offered by
Mr.. Bacon (Ga.) directing the commit
tee on relations with Cuba to make an
investigation regarding h receipts and
expenditures of money in Cuba was
called up.
Mr.. Piatt Comm, chairman of the
committee on relations with Cuba, said
that the recent disclosures in Cuba are
a blow to every true citizen of the
United States and that neither the ad-
miniStration nor the committee on re-
lations with Cuba needed any prodding
from the opposite party to induce them
to make g searching investigation and
to use every effort to punish Summarlly
and severely any person guilty OF wrong
doing or fraud in the island OF Cuba
He proposed to show that President
Mckinley has demonstrated his deter
mination that none guilty in these
Cuban frauds hail
Mr.. Plat said congress could not well
interfere with the investigation insti-
tuted by the postmaster general. He
read the following letter from Post
master General Smith to Fourth As
sta Postmaster General Br1stoW,
who is charged with conducting h in
May IS, 1900.
'Hon. J. L. Bristow. Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General:
Sir:-Suppementing my letter of May
II, directing you to proceed at once to
Cuba, the following further instructions
are given for your guidance; You VIII
Immediately on your arrival at Havana
confer freely and fully with General
Wood, military governor, and viii keep
in constant communication with him IN
the work on which you enter. You viii
cooperate with the military governor,
both in the investigation of all irregu-
laritieS in the postal service OF CUBA
and in any measures for the
cation of the system that may be I'M
dertaken. The examination by h in
spectors, already provided for, will have
begun before your arrival. You VIII as
sumo general supervision of this exam
ination and win enforce the instructions
heretofore given that it shall be of the
most searching and thorough character.
If you n that you need a still larger
force for the prompt and complete per
%for1nance of this duty you will call for
it. The investigation must be compre-
hensive and minute covering every
branch of the service and all classes of
officials. Its prosecution must be gov
erned solely by the purpose of ascer-
tanning the truth and the whole truth
and it must be uncompromising and IN
sparing.
Besides supervising the investigation
in cooperation with the military gov
ernor, it will be your duty to examine
the organization of h postal service
with it's system of checks and balances
and report what greater or additional
safeguards can be provided. Under lne
system established at the beginning OF
the American occupation of Cuba the
! administrative side of the service was
placed under the control of this depart
ment and the auditing or checking side
under the control of another. This is tie
system of United States government.
The irregularities and populations
which have been brought to light were
apparently accomplished because Off
GERS appointed by and responsible to
different departments and who should
have been a check upon each other, en-
tered into collusion n conspiracy to
! perpetrate these wrongs on the one side
and to pass and cover them up on the
other. You will carefully investigate by
what defects of supervision or defense
they were consummated and What fur
Their measures of protection III the pass
ing and auditing OF ccountS ana IN the
handling of public funds and property
may be needed. It is desired also that
the central organization Of the postal
service in Cuba shall receive your spe-
| cial attention. You Will xaml as to
whether it is framed in the best man
ner for efficient administration. You
will see whether conpatlbiy with a
good mail service for the people any re
trenchments can be made and whether
economies can be effected by a consoli-
dation and reduction of bureaus. 1t is
desired to bring the postal expendi-
lures within the postal revenues, SO far
as may be consistent with the obliga-
ton Of providing a satisfactory mail
| service.
your presence in Cuba as the repre-
sentative of the department with these
instructions makes you the ranking
I nfiRpT+ Af the nnEfQ4- 40naDlSTEaT7Tn
You will consider and advise what re-
movals or other action may be re-
quired in the cause of justice, for the
interests of the government and the
the service.
won are chnsan for this duty with