Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-24
SENATE \. Taxes ACTION
The Cuban Frauds Subject Of An.
other Heated Debate in the
Congress
Senator Plat Defends Administra.
ton and Declares Guilty Ones
Will Be Punished.
Hale Makes Fessimistic Predictions
and Calls Down the Wrath
Of spooner.

"a SpOOAOAs 4
Washington. May 24.--At the close of
routine business in the senate yester-
day Mr.. Morgan, OF ;Alabama, called up
ms resolution calling upon the secre-
tary OF war and the secretary of the
navy for Information relative TO the
cost of transportation of troops and
supplies 10 the Philippines. and it was
agreed to.
The resolution previously offered by
MIR Bacon, Of Georgia. directing the
committee on relations with Cuba to
make an investigation regarding the
receipts and expenditures Of money in
cuba was called up.
Mr.. Plat, If Connecticut. chairman
of the committee on relations With
Cuba, said the recent disclosures in
Cuba are n blow 10 every true citizen Of
administration nor the committee on
relations with Cuba need any prodairg
from the opposition party 10 induce
then To make Il most searching inyes
tisation and 70 use every effort 10 pun
ishsummarily and severely any person
guilty Of wrong doing OF fraud in the
island Of Cuba. He proposed se show
that l9rcsiien; Mckinley has demon
strated his denomination that NJ
guilty man in Ii, esa Cuban frauds shall
escape .Ms platt said congress could
not We'll interfere With the iivestiga
lion Instituted by the postmasts. gem
eral. Ee then read the letter of in-
istfGetion from Postmaster General
smith 10 Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General !sristoM, vino Is charged NTH
aenelieting the characterization. The lrt-
Ter IN part fo!foW;s:
The examination by the inspectors
already provided for. Will have begun
before yoil, arrival. You will ASSUME
general supervision of his examination
and Viii enforce the instruction here
tofore given that it shall be Of the
most searching and thorough charac
ter. Besides supervising he investiea-
tion in co-operation With the military
governor. Ii will be your duty 10 en-
anime The organization of tie postal
service. with its system of check anG
balances, and report what greater OF
safeguards ean ba provided
The irregularities and peculations
which have been brought to light wersa
apparsnt!N accomplished because Of
tiesrs appointed By and Responsible Is
aiercnt departments, ana Who should
have been 4. check upon each other
entered into collision and conspiracy
to perpetrate these wrongs an the ons
side and to pass and cover them up on
the other. You will carefully nvssii-
gate by What defects of supervision Or
defense they We're consummated. aud
what further measures of protection in
the passing and auditing of accounts
and in the handling of public funds ana
property may be needed Ii Is desire
also tina, the central organization Of
the postal service in Cuba shall re-
examine whether il is framed IN the
best manner for efficient administra-
ton. YOU Viii consider and aapise
what removals or other action may be
in the cause Of justice for the
interest Of the government and the peo-
plesof Cuba. ana for the welfare Of the
service. i'ou are chosen for this duty
with the approval Of The president.
who is deeply Shocked ii The betrayal
of trust on the part eff the officials in
whom confidence had been reposed,
anu who directs tilatin dealing with ali
irreguiarities which have been or rriay
beadiselosad the sole rule of action
shall be thorough and complete inyes-
ttgation, the rigorous ana unsparine
prosecution of all guilty persons and
theic swift and condisa punishment. 2.
Mr. Gilman asked Mr Plat IN re-
gard 70 the charges about the seven
mile military road near Havana, say
ing he could supply witnesses If an In
.vestigatipn should be inade
hlf. Plat said this road had beer
built in haste by the quartermasters of
the army. The road had cost ss.,g5., fe93tc.
Mr. BACON said his information Was
thar the cost OF the road was enor-
nous and he xpected TO prove this be =
fore the. Investigation was concluded
Mr. Piatt charged that MIR. Bacon.s s.
accusations were made for canpaiyr
purposes. Continuing Mr.. PLATE said
the postal officials had been selected
With great care, notwithstanding the
subsequent unfortunate developments.
Mr.. Plat said that MIR. Rathbone haf
been chosen because of his knoWiedge
Of the postotfice business. If he had.
been guilty of misconduct. it was not
the first time that a good
man had gone wrong. AS FIR.
Nicely, he had the confidence Of all
WHO knew him in Indiana. No one
could know how it happened that he
had gone wrong. Mr.. Plat expressed a
Willingness for congressional inyesti-9
CATION of Cuban affairs He dafIared5