The St. Louis Republic., 1900-06-26
BY CARL DECKER
SPECIAL. BY CABLE.


reasons for the conditions existing here
| ara so many. so complicated and complex
that it Is almos; impossible to point out
| definite causes for the awful tangie into
which affairs have gotten or to suggest a
| remedy for the evils now existing
There is lavish waste and an extravaganza
that would bankrupt much richer country
The Cuban funds apparently are regarded
as stage money and squandered with an
| absurd reckiessness that can be compared
only to the efforts of n drunken sailor
Where there is so much waste and 50 little
regard for the money handled there is
bound to be fraud and loot. and while Neely
| and his fellows in the post Office are the
only ones who have been so careless as
to have been caught. there are without
doubt many other cases OF theft and ofii-
ciai pillage as yet undiscovered.
The peculiar form of Government existing
here makes II difficult TO &c; at such cases,
however. every attempt would be made
at this time to cover I'D rather than dis
close other cases of embezzement X they
care to TIE attention of the authorities
This statement is Eot made heedlessly nor
without a full knowledge OF the situation
he re. There is not a single American Off
cial in Cuba of any prominence but places
the wishes OF the administration above the
desire for the good of Cuba.
Fraud Cases Concealed.
II there are any other cases of fraud
known to the officials here they are being
concealed, as the Nicely defaication was
kept hidden for months.
American officials here knew last January
that Neely was stealing the postal funds
and a record Of this will be produced when
they attempt to force the surety company
that furnished NeeIy's bond to pay up. 1t
Is not likely that they can every secure
a cent from this bonding company. as 1t
will allege such negligence and conceal
ment on the part Of the Government as
would release the surety for Nicely from
any obligation.
Since my arrival In Havana I have
learned Of two cases, both of which were
known last January. which should have
called for Neely's arrest In one case an
ex-Post Office Inspector, and one fully in
formed as to the methods OF post Office
thieves, and here in the Governments en-
ploy, discovered that while the returns
from the Matanzas Post Office for GER
tain period had been stated by Neely to
be only $1,000. the officials personal in
vestigauon OF the affairs of that Office
showed that the Postmaster had forwarded
during the period over s-O."t,. A little later
he and another official discovered that
Neely had made straight steal OF $1,000
from the post office funds
Nothing Was done in either case. THIS
must not be taken implying that the
official ma'5ing the discovery was a party
to the theft. but II does indicate the hidden
cause Of all the foolish and absurd niisman-
agement OF Cuban affairs that has marked
the past eighteen months of American con-
troll here.
Warming From Washington.
Keep Cuba out OF the campaign has
been the cry from Washington. The effort
to keep Cuba out OF the campaign has led
to the pre/ent result Errors or govern
ment have not be IN remedied. but have been
covered up. Absolutely nothing has beei
done to give the island a smooth, easy-rur-
ming government, but. on the contrary. all
the energy of the officials N control has
been directed to keeping down any outbreak
on the part OF the people OF the island. Not
that any act OF violence was especially
feared, but any united or strong protest
would be certain to attract unpleasant and
undesirable notoriety. As u result the Of
ficials here have been willing to go any
lengths to prevent the administration at
Washington being annoyed.
The millions ot dollars spent in the island
have been absolutely wasted. Not sign
can be seen anywhere Ia Havana indicating
the expenditure OF such vast sums. The
streets are clean. after a fashion. IL Is true.
and the garbage Is collected daily: but l
have looked In vain for any striking change
that might have been produced by the out
4
the streets have been paved. but with the
exception Of a few squares OF experimental
paving which might have been had for
nothing, / have found only few badly cob
bled streets TO show this expenditure.
One striking Instance.
The sum of sls0.0O9 has been spent in
fitting up the palace and a slight knowledge
of the amount Of work that can be bought
for that sum IL sufficient To show me that
of the sum mentioned. at least si6O 90 was
thrown or given away. l knew the palace
In the old days of Weyler and I know that
the superficial wcrk done since that time.
the fitting of partitions and introduction OF
new posts and stair rails will not account
for any part of the sum said to have been
spent.
Ludlow has walled that the work of asni-
tation is well worth the money spent. This
Is the veriest rot. The work. Of which he
Is 81 proud. could have been better done
by a third-rate Street Cleaning Commits
siorer at one-tenth the cost. These are but
details however. of the gross mismlnase-
ment that has existed here. The blUnders
made have been so stupenduous. the waste
and extravaganza of the American Off ciais
as such so out Of all proportion to the re-
suits achieved and the generally involved
and tangled condition Of affairs Is nope
lees that II Is difficult TO select any one
thread to follow. any one point 10 appr zach
IN showing the vastnesS of the failure Of
the administration here.
The criticism that almost makes itself Is
that nothing has been done In the way of
laying a foundation for permanent con-
ditiou here. The millions of Cuban funds
have been wasted In a hand-to-mouth fash
ion that leaves nothing to show for the
months of American administration. The
general condition is far worse than when
the Spanish were in control 1t Is true. the
customs receipts are not stolen from the
Custom-house. hut they are lavisfiy wasted
one step further on.
The Curse Of Bribery.
There Is no law In Havana. no justice that
may not be purchased. These statements
also seem reckless. but they will be fol-
lowed by such demonstrations OF their ac-
curacy as will enforce belief. Bribery OF
Judges and court officials is just COM
mon as In the days when Weyier resigned,
and when l take up this subject in detail
shall give concrete facts In support OF
this allegation. the bribery openly of two
Judges within the past few weeks and the
I've force. Louis Harakadze. for accepting
bribes from the proprietor OF a gambling
den being among the more notorious cases
that have come to my notice.
The officials In charge have refused to
take cosnizance Of these cases for fear the
results in the States might prove disastrous
Cuba cannot be kept out OF the campaign
II 1t becomes known that all our work In
Cuba has served only TO restore the same
condition Of affairs that existed In Cuba
when the Spanish flag flew over Morro
There is bound to be dissatisfaction when 4,
Is known that this Government fosters en-
protects and conceals corruption
In the courts Of people We are attempting