Iron County register., 1900-05-31
ARE NOT ALL ExTRAvAGANT.
Cuban Onicers Feel that They Have
Been UnjustIy Criticised by
American Newspapers

Havana, May 2S.-American officials
here feel that they have been unjust
| ly treated by certain newspapers IN
the United States which have pub
lished the sweeping statement tnat
they all live extravagantly. Army or
ficers point out that if they have 10
| live in cities their expenses are much
| greater than when at home More
over very few care to risk the health
of their families by keeping them IN
| Cuba during the summer. Thus two
establishments are necessary. As
| long as their duties compel them 10
| live in a tropical climate, they feel
| that the United States, like other gov
ernments under similar conditions
should pay additional stipends.
Nothing Extravagant About This
So far as officers of high rank are
concerned it should be pointed out
that Gen. Wood occupies only sman
portion of the palace for residential
purposes, the rest of the building De-
ing utilized not only for the divisional
offices, but also for all the municipaa
offices. A number of employees have 10
be kept at Gen. Woods expense
cleaners and helpers generally-and
he says that if he did not have some
private resources to exc out his pay
and his allowances it would be next
to impossible for him to live in the
palace at all.
Collector Bliss lives quietly in sim
gle room at the Hotel TELEGRAPH, going
to and returning from his office in
hired vehicle of the most ordinary de
scription. Maj. Ladd, chief quarter
master, lives at FL Vedado in a house
which he shares with three other fam
lilies.
Gen. Lee lives at headquarters at
Quemados, where do all his staff ofn-
GERS, who are unmarried. Gen. Wilson.
governor of Matanzas-Santa Clara
lives in house for which he pays .
small rental. Col. Whitside, at Santi-
ago, lives in a little wooden bunga-
low, formerly occupied by Gen. Wood,
and leased from Mrs. Ramsden, wife
of the former British consul.
Gen. Humphrey, Col. Black, Maj
Scott, Capt. Pitcher and many other
officers live in buildings used by the
government either as offices or police
barracks.
Closest Investigation COurted.
Gen. Wood, when asked what he
thought of such charges, replied that
he considered charges of extravagance
in departments, except the postal. un-
founded, adding that he believed no
other department had anything to
fear on that score, and that all could
endure the closest investigation pOssi-
BILE.
The Postal Swindles.
A postal official who has been in the
island more than a year, says that
when the Americans first came there
were no records and no furniture even;
that Spanish postmasters. the only
ones who knew anything about the
service, could not be employed because
of the cry "Cuba for the Cubans," and
that consequently the service had to
be built up upon practically no foun-
dation at all. He also points out that
Cuban postmasters were found very
difficult to teach. The loose methods
at some points, even to the present
day.
An Open Door to Peculation.
One feature that enabled l.. II. w.
Neely to divert funds in fashion ex-
ceedingly difficult to detect was the
custom of many postmasters to- pay
cash for all stamps taken out of the
while there was no rule
for keeping books of account AS
result the inspectors had no way of
finding out how many stamps were
sold, and the statement of Neely il in
collusion with the postmaster, would
tally with the latter's statement.
Probable Amount OF Shortage.
This official believes that when all
books and papers have been investi-
gated the shortage will not amount
to more than 100000.
1t is possible, however, that $4,000
more has been taken, which can not
be traced. His estimate is consequent
lv a mere sYlrmiSe