The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-17
CALLED UP BY MR.. BACON
The Cuban Frauds Under Discus
sion in the Senate.
A Strong Plea by the Georgian for
IMMEDIATE Investigation of the
Scandal as Provided for In His
Rcsolution-A Mandatory Duty on
the Government-Thc Porter Tariff.

Mr.. Bacon called up his resolution en-.
! quiring into the receipts and expenditure:
of money in Cuba. in the Senate yesterday
| and delivered an extended address on the
| subject. He related the scandals which
had come to light in regard to the misap-
preparation Of funds in Cuba, and made a
strong plea for an immediate investigation
into the case. The resolution directs the
Committee on Relations with Cuba to in
yestigate and report regarding the moneys
received and expended in the island Of
Cuba, by, through, and under the officials
and representatives of the United States.
both civil and military, from the date of
occupation OF Cuba by the military forces
of the United States until April 80, 1900.
The committee shall Investigate and re-
port as to receipts as follows:
From customs; from postal service:
from internal revenue; from all other
sources. specifying the details as far as
practicable. and particularly the places
where the dates within which said amounts
were collected or received, and the officer
or officers collecting and receiving the
same, as well as the law or authority un-
der which sad amounts were In each in
stance SO collected or received
"The committee shall investigate and re-
port as to the expenditures of the amounts
SO received, the necessity and propriety
thereof. specifying In classes and In de-
TAIL 80 far as practicable, said expendi-
lures. and particularly the work. services.
or property for which the expenditures
were made and the value thereof, also the
law or authority under which each of the
expenditures was made. the officer. civil
or military, by whom the expenditure was
authorized. and the officer. civil or militia
ry. by whom the expenditure was made. and
the particular fund from which the money
was taken for the expenditure.
1.-The committee shall also report state
ment of all public works OF every kind,
including buildings. wharves railroads,
and all ether structures built or construct
ed, improved. repaired. or decorated by or
under the authority of any such officer,
civil or military and in each instance the
cost. value. necessity, and propriety of the
same. and the uses to which they were
put"
The Governments Duty.
There could be no more mandatory duty
III,
the duty resting on the Government of the
United States that every dollar of money
collected by 1t in Cuba should be applied
to the exclusive benefit of the people of
Cuba. II anything were necessary to en-
phasize and accentuate the strength pf that
observation, It was found in the fact that
the United States Government was a self
agent in the collection Of those
moneys.
The Government had made the strongest
pre- .ession of its disinterested purpose in
the matter. No people had ever under
taken any cause with a more high sounding
declaration OF the purity of its motives
and OF its disinterested purpose than the
people OF the United States had done in
the war for the liberation OF
Cuba, and they were therefore bound in,
the court Of honor to show that their acts
were altogether honorable. The ob!iga-
ton was strong upon the Government of
the United States to examine and see
whe ther moneys had been collected prop
erly, correctly, and honestly. and had been
expended prudently and economically. But
recent events had shown that there had
been exorbitant and extravagant expendi-
lures Of money by United States officials
in Cuba.
Mr.. Bacon read from tabular statement
In tie report OF the Secretary Of
War showing that Id the calendar year
1899 there had been collected by the civil
and military officers Of the United States
Government the sum Of $16.346. OILS, and had
been expended 314.0S5, ,S05.
II there had been no rumors as to the
Improper expenditure Of money in Cuba
the fact that over SIG. .000. 900 had been COL
ected and over s14 .O0o. 900 expended would
show tho necessity OF investigation |
whether tho money hfd beeu properly. |
orudentIy, honestly. and economically dts
,ursed. These large expenditures. he said