Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-02
GENERAL LEONARD WOOD
Says Things in Cuba Are Not ms Bad
as Reported-Will Seek Out Every
Guilty Man.

says SuOA are MOI rs ba0
as Reported-Wil Seek Out Every
Guilty Man.
NEW YORK, June Ia dispatch to
the World from Havana says: Gen.
Leonard Wood, military governor of
Cuba, authorized the World CORE
spondent to cable the following state
ment from him relative to the frauds
in the Cuban postal service and the
general condition of the island:
Il firmly believe that the irregular
tiles In the Cuban postal service, which
amount to plain theft only, are all
that will be discovered. The postal
service has not been under my jurisdic-
tion. l learned of the frauds, institu-
ted an inquiry and took steps to secure
the punishment of the men implicated.
Il have since inaugurated thorough
investigation into all the departments
and 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 in the other departments
the customs service, the engineers
department and the department of
parks l have every reason to believe
that these departments have been con-
Quoted in a most business-like and
honest manner. If there is one depart
ment l am sure of, it is the customs
bureau. You can readily understand
that men who have been in the habit
of swindling the government under the
Spanish regime do not take kindly to
the introduction of the business meth
DDS inaugurated by the United States.
l think that on the whole the entire
public service of Cuba has been i'm
proved.
Should you discover the existence
of irregularities in any other depart
ment, General, what would be your
action?"
81 would institute thorough inves-
tigation and punish the offenders re-
piled the General firmly.
Has an intimation been conveyed
that the administration at Washington
would, for political reasons, rather
that no other scandals be discovered
and that the full extent of the irregu-
larities in the postal service be kept
as secret as possible?" was the next
question.
Il have not received such an intima-
tion," was the answer. 1T is my place
to find out whether the government
service is properly administered. If
find that it is not, l shall insist on the
immediate punishment of any offender,
no matter who he may be or what in
fluences, political or otherwise may be
exercised to protect him. l am re
sponsible for the honest conduct of the
government and any person found
guilty will be punished"
What have you to say regarding the
I6DOIlS VI uu W oil dAISu SAI1 cS0AhNN
on the part of officials sent by the
United States government?
There is nothing in the condition of
affairs to justify such a statement l
know a number of officials who have
been compelled to spend more money
to maintain the dignity of their rank
nd he hoc
allowed them. They have drawn upon
their private incomes to do so, and the
government has not been called upon
to foot their bills
How many men have been found
guilty of fraud and either been quietly
dropped from the service of placed I'M
der arrest?"
Very few, and with one exception,
all were in civil branches of the SER
vice. Out of $4,000 soldiers sent to the
island, but one man has been directly
charged with embezzlement. He was
a volunteer officer and the amount of
his stealings was $3.50. He was tried,
found guilty and sentenced to three
years Aside from Nicely, Reeves, Rich
and the other men implicated in the
postal scandal. there are a number of
men awaiting trial for perpetrating
frauds in the customs service. If
guilty. they will surely be punished"
How about the general condition Of
the island?"
1T is most satisfactory. The reve-
nues are in excess OF the expenditures.
There is less discomfort than you i'm
agine and while the advancement Of
the people is slow, It is undoubtedly
more satisfactory than the old combi-
nation. 4 most significant indication
is furnished by the fact that the prep
arations for the election of municipal
officials. on June 16 have been conduct
ed in a most orderly manner. have
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