Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-07-26
FRAUDS ~ CUBA.
Nicely Being Outdone by Oficials
of Higher Rank.

Ieffeteu out ana are being prosecuted
as vigorously as possible by the adj
AS u matter of fact the
Cuban frauds We're brought to light
by the efforts of newspaper CORE
spondents. and Il recent report ON
them lists the various scandals de-
tected as follows:
/. The theft of 100000 from the
postal service by Defaulter Nicely and
his accomplices.
g The expenditure of $242, 900, with
the prospect of an additional eNpendi-
ture of 100000, to construct and
equip the Triscornia railway, ostensi-
bly, as a military eNpedient, but dem
onstrated to be absolutely worthless
for any purpose.
3. The system of allowances"
amounting to Sl50,000, granted by
Secretary of War Root for the per-
sonal expenses of officials sent here
by the war department.
A. The reconstruction of Colnpos-
tela barracks at a cost of $4,000, os-
tensibly for school purposes, but real
ly without benefit to anybody except
the contractors.
5. The payment of excessive rates
of exchange, aggregating S250,O0o, to
the North American Trust company
Giscal agent OF the United States) for
handling government money.
6. The retention of Ernest Lee CO.
nant as legal adviser to Governor Cen
eral Mood and the city government
of Havana, while acting as agent and
legal representative of corporation
dealing with both branches of the
public service.
&. The use of United States naval
transports as passenger boats by OIL
Gals travelling between the United
Ctates and Cuba.
The first specification is pretty we'll
understood throughout tine country,
but the alleged efforts of the admins
tration arc not so clear as the known
sconndrelism. Rathbone ;vows OPEN
ly that he did nothing while in charge
of the postal service except under di-
rect orders from Washington. He oc-
cupies u distinctly defiant attitude to-
ward the authorities, and this is not
surprising when his past political
work is considered. When the invcs-
LEGATION of the charges of bribery in
the election of Mark Hanna as SEN
;tor was raade the committee report
ed conclusive proof of the effort to
buy the vote of Representative Otis,
that Henry III. Boyce was the princi-
pal agent in the attempted bribery.
and that Major +. G. Rathbone and
Major Charles r. Dick were agents of
Marcus A. Hanna, and procured. aid
ed and abetted Henry III. Royce to
commit that crime" Rathbone
knows too much to be greatly alarm
ed. The cases will probably be
dragged along until after the cleo
ton and then dropped.
The second scandal is that of the
Triscornia railroad, which is six miles
in length and connects Havana har-
Dor with junction of the United rail
ways of Havana. 1t was designed to
expedite the transfer of troops and
supplies from Havana to the base of
military operations through the ISL
and. The road was the inspiration of
Colonel Frank ]. Hecker. The orig
inal plans called for about 100000.
The cost to date has been S242.0oO.
About 100000 more will be required
to pay for the rights of way. The
contract for building was awarded to
the American Indies company. the
creation of r.. A. c. Smith, the init
mate friend of General Alger. Senator
Hanna and Secretary of War Root.
The railway was only one of the con-
tracts that Smith got in on. The
road has not earned dollar since it
was constructed If sold tomorrow il
would fetch about 100000. The cal
lownnces" to officials cover all sorts
of CRAFTS. Governor General Wood
draws $4,000 to pay personal servants.
Rathhone drew $1.s25 for the same.
Most of the officials in charge of bu-
reaus maintain carriages at public ex-
pcnse and charge all sorts of house
hold expense to the government. The
Compostela barracks We're rebuilt by
General Ludlow as school in which
Cuban girls were to be taught cook
ing and sewing. There is Il large
force of teachers and very few pupils.
One of the worst scandals is the
payment of eNorbitant exchange to
the North American Trust company.
which is understood to be connected
with the governments pet bank i'll
New York, and which has a monopoly
of government business in Havana.
Up to a few weeks ago American
transports We're used to carry money
TO and from the subtreasury at New
York for the trust company. For
handling these funds the trust COM
pany charged the government just
double the rates of other banking i'm
stitutions doing business in Havana.
These transports We're also used for
carrying favored official passengers.
The Ingalls,, which cost the govern
ment 100000. recently made trip to
the United States solely for this pur-
pose. Ernest Lee Conant who ap-
pears to be the whole thing in the le-
gal business of the American admin
istration in Cuba, is n New York law
Yer who came to Havana at the time
of it's Investment by the United States.
Conant soon became the legal adviser
of Governor General Brooke and has
continued i'm that capacity under Gov
ernor General Wood. He subsequently
became the legal adviser of the city
government of Havana. lie also rep
rescnts fire-alarm company of New
York which has introduced its system
in Havana. He is also the legal repre-
sentative of the Havana Electric Light
company. which has a contract with
the government. His services are in
great demand by corporations which
desire to do business with American
officials. 1t is safe to say that thus
far the government has only played
around the outer edges of the corrup-
ton in Cuba, and will never go very
deep into it.-Indianapolis Sentinel.
She Shocked Papa.
Washington Post: She was a dream
of dainty girlhood, all in softest