The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-25
ALL THE FACTS WANTED
The Cuban Postal Frauds Again
Discussed in the Senate.
Mr.. Bacon Insists Upon a Congress
siona Investigation of the Finances
of the lsland-A Departmental En-
guiry Not SufHcient-Rcply to the
Speech of MIR. pintt of Connecticut.

Mr.. Bacon yesterday addressed the SEN
ate on his resolution providing for an in
vestigation of the postal frauds in Cuba,
in answer to the speech of Mr.. Platt Of
Connecticut on Wednesday. Mr.. Bacon
scored the officials who had stolen and
wasted funds and presented a long list of
questions which he desired answered
through an investigation. An amendment
offered by Mr.. Platt providing for sub
committees to investigate the matter was
adopted.
The Bacon resolution provides that the
Committee on Relations with Cuba is
hereby directed to investigate and report
to the Senate as early as practicable re-
garding the moneys received and expended
in the island of Cuba by. through, and un-
der the officials and representatives of the
United States, both civil and military,
from the date of the occupation of Cuba by
the military forces Of the United States
until and including the 30th day of April,
1900.'
Mr. Bacon referred to the statement Of
Mr. Platt that a legislative investigation
was not necessary, as departmental in
vestigation was being made. He states
that he has seen nothing in fact which
would make a Congressional investigation
Necessary said he.
Now, with reference to the postal
frauds which should be investigated by
Congress. and net let alone, as the Senator
from Connecticut would have it, in the
hands Of an expert accountant. An ex-
pert accountant might trap tiil-tapper,
but not the great. the mighty thieves who
have been obtaining millions in Cuba.
want to find out whether or not the $l4.-
600, coo expended was mostly misappro-
priated.
How far has the postoffice investiga-
tion gene? 1t is charged that this man
Nicely has gotten away with some $4,000
this year. but there are other things and
other men to be looked after. How about
the dishonest sales of postal stamps? /
want a commission provided with power to
swear and call witnesses and search
everything. The report gives a general
expenditure of over $500. 900 in the depart
ment of posts in the first six months in
1899. OF this over S49, 900 is classed as
miscellaneous The people OF this country
must know and will know what this money
went for Then under the head OF salaries
comes an item of S219, 900. Now to whom
was this paid? Who got the money? This
is what want to know. The report itself
states that all of the clerks, postmasters,
railway postal clerks. and letter carriers
were only paid s145, 900. Who got the bal
ance?
Then there is an item of $ii 900 marked
per diem Who authorized per diem pay
ments, and who got them? Then $1,000
are marked carriage and harness Who
got these? / also find a discrepancy be-
tween the original report and the detailed
one Of over LOCO. and want to know
where this went"
"All of these things call for an immediats
Investigation by the Senate. l see in an
other place where the report charges up a
big sum. s506G00. to rural guard and sd-
ministration.' l see in this item need for
the examination of great many witnesses.
The salary list is the most enormous ever
shown in proportion to public expenditure
"One of the most remarkable matters in
the whole thing is the fact that when we
called for reports the War Department sent
UP the report for the last six months in
1889. and have failed to send the reports
for the first six months in 1899 because.
as they state. the accounts have not yet
been returned. Think of this. and then
say that we should not have an investiga
tion.
Here is an item of s23 600 for 'provin-
N.
next item S21 GOO for eventual expenses
What are eventual expenses and why was
81 .0o0 spent7 This is not newspaper talk
but the report of the War Department
He then read from the New York Trib-
une" and other papers I'm the orthodox
class so that the Senator from Connecti-
cut cannot call them mud batteries" he
said.
Mr. Fairbanks and Mr.. Platt attempted
to defend the action OF the officials In
Cuba by referring to the report OF General
Brooke.
-'This is all the more reason for an in
vestigation." said Mr.. Bacon. when Cen
eral Brooke's report says one thing and the
reports from the War Department contra
dict 1t and themselves"
Mir. Bacon referred to the Van Horne
syndicate. which is building and operating
in Cuba. He stated that Robert
p. Porter. the tariff commissioner to Cuba.
had been connected in some way with the
syndicate and had for some strange reason
removed the tariff from railroad materials
for twelve months. SO that the syndicate
could get all they required free of duty.
do you know that Mr.. Porter is con-
nected with this syndicate?' asked Mr..
Chandler.
Il have been told personally by those
who claim TO know. that he is,' said Mr..
Bacon.
well, he may be- said Mr.. Chandler.
"but / would like some further proof.
will vote for an investigation
1.-THE Senator from Connecticut states
that my resolution of investigation was
introduced for the purpose of manufactur-
Ing campaign material. Is it 10. better to
root out and bring to justice thieves and
absconders and make campaign material
than to cover up and hide this filth so that
there might be no campaign material?"
said Mr.. Bacon. THE Senator from Con-
necticut has acknowledged that he does
not believe there is anything TO find and
sees no use in an investigation. For this
reason, there is all the more need OF
Investigation. He gives a
clean bill of character to these gentlemen
who have been caught in thieving He |
Il