The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-28
AMERICAN OFFICERS IN CUBA.
OF EXTRAVAGANZA IN
LIVING ARE DENIED.

xUood Asserts There Has Been
"A Extravagnnce or Fraud in Amy
pot the Postal Department and All
Of Them Court Full investiga-
4;or--Hoyy the Officers Live-Pro-
,,ress of the Inquiry Into the Pos
,al Frauds.
havana. May 2.-American officials
,ars feel that they have been un1ustly
4.,atad by certain newspapers in the
1-,ited States which have published the
su,osning statement that they all live ex-
travagantly.
Army officers point out that If they have
h live in cities their expenses are much
Greater than when at home. Moreover
,.sr,. few care to risk the health ofstheir
families by keeping them in Cuba during
tho summer Thus two establishments are
necessary. AS their duty compels them to
remain in a tropical climate, they feel
that the United States government, like
otbsr governments under similar condi-
tons should pay additional stipends.
So far as the offices of high rank are
concerned it should be pointed out that
Gen. Wood occupies only a small portion
of the palace for residential purposes.
the rest of the building being utilized not
only for the divisional offices, but also for
all the municipal offices. A number of en-
Moves have to be kept at Cen Woods
expense-cleaners and helpers generally
ard he saws that if he did not have some
nrivate resources to exc out his pay and
lis allowances it would be next to i'm
~, To live in hn oil OF
all
Collector Bliss lives quietly in a single
room at the Hotel TELEGRAPH, going to and
returning from his office in a hired Vehi
Gle of the most ordinary description. Maj.
Iadd, chief quartermaster lives at Ell
Vedsdo in house which he
shares with three other families
Quemados, where do all his staff Off
GERS who are unmarried. Gen. Wilson,
Governor of Matanzas-Santa Clara, lives
in a house for which he pays a small
II rental. Col. Whteside, at Santiago. lives
in a little wooden bungalow, formerly Oc-
cupied by Gen. Wood and leased from
Mrs Ramsden, wife of the former Brit
sh consul Gen. Humphrey, Col Black
Mai Scott Capt. Pitcher and many Off
GERS live in buildings used by the gov
eminent either as offices or police bar
racks.
Says They Are UnfOunded.
Gen. Wood. when asked to-day what
he thought of such charges, replied that
he considered charges of extravaganza
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 clos
Est investigation possible.
A postal official who has been in the is
land more than year says that when the
Americans first came there were no rec
ords and no furniture even; that Spanish
postmasters, the only ones who knew any
thing about the service, could not be en-
ployed because of the cry, Cuba for
Cubans," and that consequently the SER
vice had to be built up upon practically
no foundation at all. He also points out
that Cuban postmasters were found very
difficult to teach. The loose methods of
former Spanish times have been carried
on at some points, even to the present
day.
one feature that enabled c. F. w.
Nicely to divert funds in a fashion exceed
ingly difficult to direct, was the custom
of many postmasters to pay cash
for all stamps taken in the departments,
while there was no rule for keeping books
OF account. AS a result the inspectors
had no way of ascertaining how many
stamps had been sold; and the statement
of Nicely, If in collision with the post
master, would tally with the latter's
statement.
This official believes that when all the
hooks and papers have been Investigated
the shortage will not amount to over $780,
900 1t is probable, however, that 5000
more have been taken, which cannot be
traced. His estimate is consequently a
mere surmise.