The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-06-06
AFFAIRS IN CUBA.
Natives Realize that Conditions
Have Improved Under Amer
lean Control.

Havana, June 1.-Gen. Leonard Wood,
military governor Of Cuba, gives out
the following statement relative to
the frauds in the Cuban postal service
and the general condition of the island:
Il firmly believe that the irregularities
in the Cuban postal service, which
amount to plain theft only, are all tina;
will be discovered. The postal service
has not been under my jurisdiction. |
learned of the frauds, instituted an in
curry and took steps to secure the pun
lsnment OF the men Implicated.
L nave since lnaugurated q thorough
investigation into all the departments
ana am confident that the condition OF
AFFAIRS of the postal service does not exist
IN any other branches. OF course there
have been many rumors inspired by the
postal scandal of fraudulent transactions
III the other departments-the customs
service, the engineers department and
the department. Of parks. | have every
reason to believe that these departments
nave been conducted in a most business
like and honest manner. If there is ono
department L am sure Of it is the GUS
toms bureau. You can readily under
stand that men who have been in the
habit of swindling the government under
me Spanish regime do not take kindly to
the introduction of the business methods
lnauSurated by the United States.
think that on the whole the entire public
service of Cuba has been improved.'
Let No Guilty Man Escape.
1T is my place to find out whether the
government service is properly admins
tered. If | find il is not | shall insist
on the immediate punishment of any Of
fender, no matter who he may be or
what influence, political or otherwise.
may be exercised to protect him. / am
n ln hnr oh 2 Al.
government and any person found guilty
will be pushed. There is nothing in the
condition Of affairs TO justify the stories
of extravaganza on the part of officials
sent here from the United States.
know a number Of officials who have been
compelled to send more money to main
tain the dignity of their rank and coun-
try than the United States has allowed
them. They have drawn upon their pri-
yate incomes to dO SO, and the govern
ment has not been called upon to foot
their bills
How many men l:apc been found gull
ty of fraud and either been quietly
dropped from the servlcc - placed under
arraSrv'
Very few and with one exception all
were in civil branches of the service. Out
Of 10000 soldiers sent to the island, but
one man has been directly charged with
embezz!ement. He was a volunteer Off
SCl duu TIC VI HIS SlCtllluSS was
$3.50. lie was tried, found guilty and
sentenced to three years. Aside from
Nicely, Reeves,aRich and the other men
implicated in the postal scandal there
are a number of men awaiting trial for
perpetrating frauds in the customs serv
ice. If guilty they will surely be pun
ished.'
General Conditions Satisfactory.
How about the general condition Of
the island?'
1T is most satisfactory. The revenues
are in excess of the expenditures. There
is less discomfort than you imagine, and
while the advancement of the people is
slow it is undoubtedly more satisfactory
than the old condition A most signif-
cant indication is furnished by the fact
that the preparations for the election of
municipal officials, on June Is. have been
conducted in a most orderly manner. |
have not received a single request for
troops.
THE registration of voters foots mp
100000, one-half of the voting strength.
In order to preserve the best feeling |
decided to give the minority party repre-
sentation on every board of aldermen and
the other elective bodies. | do not antici-
pate trouble of any character as result
of tie elections"