The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-24
PUBLIC FUNDS IN CUBA
Senator Plat of Connecticut De
fends the Administration.
His Address on the Resolution of
Mr.. bacon Calling for nm Invcsti-
sation Into Receipts and Exrcndi-
turcs in the Island - Reference
Made to the Cnsc of nccIy.


Mr. Platt Of Connecticut yesterday ad-
dressed the Senate On the resolution in
| troduced by Mr. Bacon. requiring an in
| vestigation into the receipts and expendi-
lures CT public funds in Cuba by civil and
military authorities, with a vew to prob
ing into the postal frauds. He spoke for
more than three hours, and defended
| every acton of the Administration. extoil-
ing the officials now in Office in Cuba.
| Mr.. Platt stated that to the Adminis.ra-
ton belonged the credit of any investiga-
| ton to be made. and the Senator from
Georgia had no monopoly on the indigna-
ton expressed. He referred to the Neely
case as thing which had shocked the
people ofsshe United States, and sad that
nothing IN the history of defalcation had
madeos such an impression on the public
mnd.ss
1T Is charged that the whole civil gov
ernment OF Cuba is rotten" said Mr.. Piatt,
"and that the people OF the island are be-
! ing robbed Who knows that this is so?
Aside from the partisan newspapers which
are to-day rolling in the dirt of the scan
| dals, who knows? No facts have been
proven. These newspapers which are so
anxious to cast discredit upon the Admin
| istration seem to forget that in doing this
| they are casting discredit upon their coun
| try"
Mr. Plat then read a copy OF the letter
| of instruction from the Postmaster Gen.
| erai to MIR. Bristow upon his departure for
| Cuba. Itfollows:
| May 16 1900.
Hon Joseph L. BTistow, Fourth Assistant Post
| master General:
| Sir-Suppernentng my letter of May Il. di-
recting you to proceed at once TO Cuba, the fol
lowing further Instructions given for your
| guidance:
You will Immediately your arrival at Ha
| vana confer freely and fully with General Wood.
| Military Governor, and will ke,p in constant
communication with him in the york on which
| you enter. You will cooperate with the Mill
tary Governor both in the Investigation of all ir-
| rcguaIties in the postal service of Cuba and in
! any measures for the reorganization OF the sys-
TEN that may be undertaken.
| The examination by the inspeo,o,., already pro-
| yidcd for, will have begun before your arrival.
1 You will general supervision OF this eN-
| animation and will enforce the instruction here
tofore given that it shall be of the most search
ing character. If you find that you need u sill
| larger force fol the prompt and complete per
| iornance of this duty, you will call for IT. The
| investigation must be comprehensive and minute,
| covering ever branch OF the service and all
classes OF officials lis prosecution must be gov
erned solely by the purpose OF ascertaining the
truth and the whole truth, and it must be un-
compromising and unsraring.
Besides supervising the investigation in Co
operation with the Military Governor, 1t will be
your duty TO examine the organization Of the pos
tai service with its system Of checks and bal
ances, and report what greater or additional! safe
tF.u tin .gI.
| lished at the beginning of the American occupa-
ton OF Cuba the administrative side of the serv-
ice was placed under The control OF this Depart
meRt and the auditing or checking side under
| the control OF another. This is the system OF
the United States Government. The irregularities
and peculations which have been brought to light
were apparently accomplished because officers ap
pointed by and responsible to different depart.
Inents and who should have been check upon
each other entered into collusioD and conspiracy
TO perpeirate these wroitss on the one side and
TO pass and cover them up on the other. You
Will carefully investigate by what defects of su.
| T,crvison defence they were ccnsiimmated and
what further measures OF protection in the pass
| ing and auditing of accounts and in the handling
| of public funds and property may be needed.
1t is desired also that the central organization
OF the postal service in Cuba shall receive youI
| special attention You will examine TO wteth
er it is framed in the best manner for efficient
administration You will whether, compat
i, IDLY with good mail service for the people any
| mics can be effected by consolidation and re.
| ductiOn of bureaus.
| 1t is desired 10 bring the postal expenditures
within the postal revenues SO far as may be con
sistent with the obligation Of providing a salts
facAry mail service. Your presence in Cubs as
the representative of the Department. with these
instructions makes you the ranking officer Of the
postal administration. You will consider and ad
, wise what removals or other action may be re-
quirtd in the of justice, for the interest o!
the government and the people of Cuba and foi
| the welfare of the service.
| You chosen for this duty with the approval
| of the President, who is deeply shocked the
shameful BETRAYAL Of trust the part OF officials
in whom confidence had been reposed, and who
directs that in dealing with all Irregularities
| which have been or may be disclosed the sole
rule of action shall be thorough and complete in.
vestigation. the rigorous and unspsring prosecu
tion of all guilty persons, and their swift and
| cundign punishment. You will communicate
these instructions to General Wood. keeping hin
| fully informed you proceed. and reporting
regularly to the Department respectfully yours
CHARLES EMORY SMITH,
| Postmaster General
Continuing his speech, Mr.. Platt said
This will end the careers of these shame
less parties who have done wrong. The
people of the United States will be satis-
fed to leave this investigation In the
hands of President Mckinley who will see
that the sad and shameful matter is looked
into"
But it is charged on the floor Of thi
, Chamber that the Administration wa
shielding the guilty parties. / have ais,
. heard it said that the Administration daret
, not touch Mr. Rathbone as he was to,
, | close to be injured.
, Administration in Cuba has been diff
, cult task. and the United States assume,
, | a grave Responsibility when we took u
the labor of reconstruction in Cuba" H
| spoke of the duties entrusted to Rear Ad
: | miral Sampson and others and lauded then
as capable and honest men. Genera
Brooke, be said, was high in the estimatiCl
of the people. even though the partisan
press sneered at him
Mr. plstt accused Mr.. Bacon Of hayin,
| introduced the resolution and spoken en- i
| for campaign purposes. Mr.. Bacon deniet
. this, and said that before the investigation
had ended he would show that there We!
| more in 1t than mere campaign mateIia'
. | Mr.. Plat stated that Mr.. Bacon had ac
cused Mr.. Aiger. the former Secretary o
War. with having built a railroad line cost
| ing Sl.O1G GOO in Cuba from the spell
, gained on the island.
Speaking of Mr.. Rathbone, Mr.. Plat
| said. 1T is not the first time that goot
man has gone wrong. Sometimes tempta.
} tion is too strong and in this way banks
and funds are the losers. Who is Mr. Rath
| bone? A good man for the office he wal