The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-07-26
CHARGES or
CORRUPTION.
Military Government In Havana
Again In Trouble.
ENGINEERS DEPARTMENT NOW.
Governor General Wood In Washing
ton TO Report on the Scandal
BRIG. GEN. BLACK DENIES AND 0EFlES
He Says There Is No Truth In Statement
That Contractors Are Being 0aTpald
for Their Work.
ENGINEERS DEPARTMENT NOW.
BRIG. GEN. BLACK DENIES AND DEFlES

Washington, ID. c., July 26.-The visit of
Governor General Wood OF Cuba TO
Washington had one object which the au-
thorities did not care to disclose. He
came 10 report personally upon another
scandal which is hanging over the milf
tary government in Havana This time
IL is the engineers department which Is
the nest OF fraud and corruption.
The general charge was made I'm Hava-
ma papers several weeks ago that an IN
vestigation OF the engineers department
would lead TO discoveries OF dishonest
practices and fraudulent contracts.
This charge was met by an assertion
from Brigadier General William NJ. Black.
chief OF engineers. that he challenged
any investiga Ion of his department. In
response to his charge and challenge
definite and specific charges OF stealing
In the department were made to General
Wood.
preliminary investigation, IL Is assert
ed showed that .ae charges were true.
This fact was on the point OF becoming
public when II was decided 10 make de-
termined effort 10 hush the scandal up
Two reasons led To this decision. one was
on the elections was greatly feared. The
other reason was the military influence.
When the postal frauds were discov-
ereu the entire body of military officers
united in one virtuous chorus Of con-
demnation and demand for publicity
When frauds were discovered In de-
partment controlled by the army OFF,
GERS IL was different.
IL IL said the Office OF one Havana news
paper was visited and explanations made
which prevented the publication or an
article already written.
SMALL SUMS RESTORED.
One contractor was sent for and
| dered TO make restitution OF the amount
| of one ovcrpayment which was so trans
parent that no trick OF bookkeeping would
| cover IL. This was done the day before
| General Wood left Havana.
| The amount OF this restitution, which
| was made directly to the engineers de-
partment, was not large. amounting 10
| less than $1,000, but the facts connected
with the original over payment are de-
clared to show gross negligence or
worse.
This contractor has been doing busi-
ness with the department for many
months, practically ever since American
! control In Cuba began, and his opportuni-
| ties have been great. His accounts Will
| be subjected To careful inspection.
Accounts OF the entire department are
| now undergoing a secret investigation by
| experts. IL is the intention to secure
| restitution of all fraudulent payments
| that have been made. IL was the desire
| TO accomplish this quietly. and thus
straighten out the whole matter before
| IL became public
Had this been accomplished and the
| frauds become known sfterward the an
swer would have been that they were
| only irregularities, due 10 bad book
keeping and had all been corrected.
TRYING TO EXPLAIN.
An attempt Is being made to give such
| an explanation now, and a. may be that
| the administration officials will be able to
| suppress the facts. IL would seem. how
| ever, that the investigation has gone too
| far. and too many facts are known TO
permit the matter to be wholly sup
pressed.
Brigadier General Black. who is at the
head OF the engineering department, is not
accused OF dishonesty. but IL is alleged
that he has not shown the ability re-
quircd to deal with the great variety Of
duties that he has had 10 perform. and
to cope with men looking for opportuni,
ties IN get more money QUE OF the Cuban
government than is due them.
Some OF the men who have been as
signed to him az assistants have been se-
verely criticised Major Cunningham
who was Gen. Blacks clerk when that
officer was engineer commissioner for
the District OF Columbia. who has much
TO do with contracts for paving, etc. the
selection and purchase OF materials Is
not n graduate of any engineering school
and has been criticized as being incompe-
tent and unsuited for his place.
When the Senate committee 10 invcsti-
gate Cuban affairs was appointed. it Is
charged In Havana that Gen. Black
changed his system of bookkeeping.
PROFIT TAKEN BY OFFICIAL.
tecr service was put In charge OF the
construction OF an electric plant The
plant is alleged 10 have cost a great deal
more money than was necessary. and N
has been openly charged I'm Havana that
the lieutenant was allowed n commission
No action was taken. however. and the
lieutenant was allowed 10 leave the SER
vice without charges being preferred
against him.
Colonel Mackenzie. who II acting chief
of engineers In the absencA of Brigadler
General Wilson. said this afternoon that
nothing was known In his department ~
10 alleged Irregularities I'm Cuba. Tho
Cuban service IL entirely distinct from the
service in the United states and the Of
ncers are not required TO make any re-
ports TO the chief Of engineers.
NO FRAUD, SAYS BLACK.
Havana. Cuba. wednesday After Brig.
adler General Black promulgated the
order n month ago That all purchases for
his department should be made through
the purchasing agent two employees OF
the street department found that they
had expended from their own funds $40
for city. supplies. In order 10 get this
back they persuaded contractor on the
cart hire.
The bill was paid out an examination
Of the vouchers disclosed the fraud. The
contractor returned the money.
Brgadier General Black, when inter-
viewed said the men meant NJ dlshon-
erty. They had paid ihe amount out and
thought this the only means 70 rct IA