The Van Buren press., 1900-05-26
CUBAN POSTAL SCANDAL.
The Letter Of instruction Given to
Mr.. Bristow When He De-
parted for Cuba.
THE FRAUDS MUST ALL Be UNEARTREn.
Sole Rule of Action to be Complete
Investigations, Rigorous and Tn
spuriuG Prosecution OF All Guilty
Persons and Their Swift and Con-
diSn Punishment.

Washington, May 24,-In his speech,
III the senate, upon the Bacon resou-
ton for an inquiry into the postal ir'
Irregularities in Cuba, Senator Platt, OF
Connecticut, made public letter Of
| instruction given to Mr.. Bristow upon
his departure for Cuba. The letter Is
as follows:
| The letter of Instruction.
| May lG l900.-Hon. Joseph L. Bristow,
| Fourth Assistant Postmaster General,
| Sir: Supplementing my letter OF May u
directing you to proceed at once to Cuba,
| the following further instructions are
given for your guidance,
You will Immediately on your arrival
at Havana confer freely and fully with
| Gen. Wood, military governor, and VIII
! keep In constant communication with MN
| in the work on which you enter. You will
| cooperate with the military governor
| both in the investigation of all irregulari-
ties in the postal service of Cuba and III
any measures for the reorganization OF
! the system that may be undertaken.
| The examination by the inspectors, al
ready provided for, will have begun be-
fore youI arrival You will assume gen.
eral supervision of this examination, and
will enforce the instructions heretofore
given that It shall be Of the most search.
ing and thorough character. IL you ma
| that you need "A still larger force for the
prompt and complete performance or TINS
duty, you will call for It. The investiga-
tion must be comprehensive and minute.
covering every branch of the service and
all classes of officials. Its prosecution
must be governed solely by the purpose or
| ascertaining the truth and the whole
truth and 1t must be uncompromising ana
unsparing.
Besides supervising the investigation In
cooperation with the military governor,
| 4. H.. lttt ta nv N ~ n ~.
ganization OF the postal service. with its
system of checks and balances, and re-
port what greater or addltional sate-
guards can be provided. Under the sys~
| tenn established at the beginning of ths
| American occupation of Cuba, the ad-
| minlstratiye side Of the service was
placed under the control of this depart
ment and the auditing or checking side
system OF the United States government.
The irregularities and populations
which have been brought to light were
apparently accomplished because officers
appointed by and responsible to different
departments and who should have been =
check upon each other, entered into col
fusion and conspiracy to perpetrate these
wrongs, on the one side, and to pass and
carefully Investigate by what defects Of
supervision or defense they were con-
summaie ed and what further measures or
| protection In the passing and auditing OF
accounts ana III tne nunullng OI puDnc
| funds and property may be needed. 1t IL
| desired also that the central organiza-
| tion of the postal service In Cuba shall
| receive your special attention. You will
examine as to whether It IL framed In the
best manner for efficient administration
You will see whether, compatibly with A
good mali service for the people, and re-
trenchnents car be made, and whether
economies can be effected by consolida-
ton and reduction OF bureaus. II Is de-
sired TO bring the postal expenditures
within the postal revenues, so far as may
be consistent with the obligation of Pro-
vidng Il satisfactory mall service.
Your presence IN Cuba, as the repre-
instructions, makes you the ranking Of
ficer oi the postal administration. You
will consider and advise what removals
or other action may be required In the
cause OF justice, for the interest Of tho
government and the people OF Cuba, and
for the welfare Of the service.
You are chosen for this duty with the
approval of the president, who IL deeply
shocked at the shameful betrayal of trust
on the part Of officials In whom confidence
had been reposed, and who directs that In
dealing with all irregularities which have
been of may be disclosed, the sole rule
investigation, the rigorous and unspar-
Ing prosecution of all guilty persons, ana
their swift and condign punishment.
You Will communicate these instruc-
tions to Gen. Wood, keeping him fully In
formed az you proceed, and reporting reg
ularly to the department
Respectfully Yours,
tSigncd,l CHARLES EMORY SMITH.
Postmaster General