The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-05-24

Havana. May ls.-w. H. Reeves.
deputy auditor OF the island, made q
confession at midnight and gave up
$4500 given to him by c. F. w. Neely,
the arrested financial agent Of posts at
Havana. to perform certain services the
day he left. General Wood and the
nature OF the confession, barely ad-
mitting that the confession had been
made.
1t is claimed that $lloo more will be
recovered to-day.
General Wood says that the report
from Muncie. Ind. that nearly s.. .ooo. 900
worth Of stamps have been printed
there and sent for distribution to Cuban
postofhces can be regarded as q ca
nard. There Is nothing here to show
that any such counterfeit stamps have
been sent. 1t is believed now that the
whole story is known. and that the
amount Of the defalcations will fall be-
tween 500. 600 and $l25. .0OO
Those who know the situation best
say that the confession Of Reeves was
the only link required in the chain Of
evidence. although the principal state
ments he has made will require inves-
tigation before they can be acted upon,
as il is generally believed that his ac-
cusatton Is Of such a startling char
acter as to render 1t unwise to proceed
before being absolutely sure Of other
evidence to cOrrCborate It,
Another charge against Nicely Is that
6PfYQndp6 0f
several thousand dollars worth Of du-
ties by importing. nominally for postal
use. large quantities Of paper, which
was afterwards sod to a printing house
In Havana. The Cubans are now be-
ginning to talk q good deal regarding
postal matters, the main idea appar-
emily being that the Americans. having
found 80 manv OF their countrymen
implicated. will not proceed to ex-
tremities. The Cubans do not believe
that Neely will be extradited.
With the confessions of Reeves and
Rich. supplemented by those Of the
stamp clerks and by the statements Of
the Baracoa postmaster. 1t Is consid
cred that the evidence against Nicely
is complete. especially in view OF the
assertion OF Reeves that the stamps
were not destroyed when they were
supposed to be. packages which were
apparently stamps were destroyed. but
t Is now said that these were % many
bundles Of paper bits.
The newspapers now begin to ask for
IN investig alton of the engineering de-
,artment. They say that this depart
lent has been even more extravagantly
'onGucted than the postal depart
nent.
Washington. Nay 18-The War De-
'artment to-day sent to the Senate. In
nsM er to a resolution, an itemized
taten.ert Of the receipts and expendi-
ures Cf all scrts in Cuba. including
,aia-ies and allowances to officers. since
he United states Government assumed
:ontrol Ct the island. This statement
5 an e>tcns:tn OF condensed one
%rIplied en- February 18th last. Gen
:ral Wocd having furnished the detaill
1t the direction OF the department. II
g shown that the actual cost Of the
frisco. ria railway. connecting the har-
bor Of Havana with the interior rail.
DAD sH.-:er, Gf Cuba, was altogether
<3s2.Gll. Tie ad was built in yellow
:eTer tine under great difficulties and
| n great i.ast. by the chief quartermas.
/ ters OF CT; n. ard the United States
Government has been since reimbursed
| rom the isl:i.J revenues. The SIX
niles of ,,aI We're required to pass the
american trc'- around the city OF
| Havana, then Infected with yellow fe.
! Ter, to the canrs on the uplands, and
| he actual cost was S32 200 per mile.
Tie statement shows that the tota
| receipts from all sources in Cuba fol
The year 1899 were SIG, ,316.590. The ex.
| penditureS are set down as $7.421. 719
| t is explained that this Is q sum tota
| :or Which vouchers had been audited
| by the auditor Of Cuba. His report 4,
Loft fnr he
'!vil departments Of the island. but hi,
report FOR other expenditures covers
ally the six months from July LIST tc
| december 3lst Of that year, and the
| tcniZed statements OF these expendi
-ures axe subnitte. with the state
| rent to-day. The auditor promises e
supply the report for the first half yea
| oc 1899 In tie near future. when 1t viii
! ..e sent to the Senate.
| or the islanL's receipts, SIS, ,012. 100 wa,
= ade up of customs receipts. $3.50, OF
/ ..ostal receipts. $3.50. $50 internal revenu,
Id $2935Si miscellaneous receipts. o
tie expenditures s2!I.292 went to tn
| .eIartn.ent Of Finance. $876. $40 to Jus
| ICE and public instruction, $255. .42l I,
Sricultural and public works $640, 81
| , State and government, $44S.079 L
| extraordinary expenses and $612 .290 Z
ostofflce. The sum OF 81 1884, wa
| pent on sanitation In the half yea
| rom July 1st to December 31st, 1885
| the same time the rural guard cos
500. .152; barraci: and quarters cos
| 1911, ,755. tie customs service cost $343.
o35. and public works absorbed $26s .03t
[ Charities got s2G2, ,0o2. civil government
is set down for sIsi.2sl. and municipal
| ties 1923 113. The census cost $21l, ,l0l.
The allowances to military officer
are shown in detail. and are nearl
all for small amounts. The 5000 whic
was said to have been paid for a hous
for General Chaffee was actually ex
tended by TIE Quartermaster's Depart
! ment for a buildir- for its own us'
General Chaffee occupying a portion c
The building for his military headquar
ters as provided for in the army regu
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