The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-14
ROOT IS RESPONSIBLE
For the Frauds In the Cuban Postal Service,
Il Is Now Said.
He PERMITS NO INSPECTION OF ACCOUNTS
tbority TO Look over the Books,
Hut This Was Not Permitted.

Herald from Washington says. Prominent
officers Of the army declare that the Ha-
vana postal frauds are directly due to the
refusal of Secretary Root to permit the
inspector generals of the department TO
make inspections OF civil accounts in Curn,
as repeatedly urged by Brigadier General
J. G. Breckenridge. inspector general. An
officer familiar with the facts asserted
that the scandal would probably never
have come to light had It not been for the
investigation made by Colonel G. H. Bur
ton. but might have been nipped in the
bud.
General Breckenridge formally called
the attention OF the war department on
March H. 1899 to the adyisability of hav-
ing all Cuban accounts inspected by an
officer of his department. lie again
brought the matter TO the attention of the
department several months later. HIS
ftrst suggestion was unnOticed, his second
was vetoed.
information which has reached the war
department indicates that Lieutenant Col
onel e. A. Darlington, Inspector general
at Manila, upon his arrival found abuses
existing which have been corrected
Just the extent of these abuses existing
and their character, the officials assert
that they do not know, and they profess
the greatest ignorance of any scandals
having been found in the Philippines.
Nevertheless, 1t is authortatively stated
that Lieutenant Colonel Darlington did
md conditions which. when called 10 the
attention of General Otis were immediate
ly improved.
New York, May ia special TO the
Tribune from Washington says The later
developments in the Cuban postal scandals
have produced a feeling among a number
of senator's and representatives thar con
gress has not been treated in all respects
with entire frankness by some Of the Of
ticials of the war department, which is
especially charged with the administration
OF civil affairs in Cuba as well as in the
| Philippines archipelago and, until recent
ly in Puerto Rico. So long ago as jan
nary 1, the senate adopted The following
| resolutions THAT the secretary of war be
and Is hereby directed 10 send to the sem
ate an itemlzed Statement OF public re-
eeipts from taxation, customs ana other
sources. collected in Cuba and also OF
public expenditures, including salaries
paid to all officers ald incidental expenses
i
the United States government assumed
control of that island. 81"
The reply of the secretary was dated
February l5; 1t was prepared under the
supervision OF Assistant Secretary MeikIe-
john. who has had entire charge Of in
sular affairs in the war department eyr
since that duty was first assigned to him
by Secretary Alger, nearly eightesn
months ago. In the letter transmitting
the report Secretary Root explained that
III an itemized statement in greater de-
tail than III shown in the inclosed copies
OF reports and certificates is desired. re-
course must be had to the accounts kept
in Cuba" and headed; "a copy Of the
resolution OF the senate of January n,
has been forwarded to the military gov
ernor OF Cuba with a direction that such
de, allied statement be prepared and that
without awaiting the completion of such
FUN detailed statement statemtnt show
ing he salaries as paid to ali officers and
incidental expenditures be prepared and
transmitted 10 this department when IL
will be forwarded to the senate"
That was three months ago and, so far
as ascertained, the detailed statement
of salaries etc has not yet been received
and sent TO the senate.
on January -, the senate passed
resolution directing the secretary OF war
10 send 10 the senate FUN and exact
copies of all proclamations and orders that
have been issued or made respecting the
collection OF customs internal and other
revenues in the Islands OF Cuba. Puerto
Rico and the Philippines since the seizure
| thereof by the government of the United
States. the rate OF such customs, internal
and other revenues, the total amount
thereof. list or the persons or person
engaged In such service aud how such
customs internal and other revenue have
! been and are being disbursed and whether
the same or any part thereof, have been
converted into the treasury Of the United
| States"
! The senate has not received any response
10 this resolution which It adopted nearly
| four months ago,
The monthly 'itemized statement of re-
ceipts and disbursements sent by the au-
ditor and the treasurer of the respective
| islands to the secretary OF war, a copy Of
which was also sent TO the military gov
ernor, was OF no value whatever for any
other purpose than to show how much
money had ben received by each collector
OF revenue, including the collector of
/ postal revenue, and how much had been
! expended by each dishursng officer under
/ the general heads a. account, There is
nothing TO show, for example how many
/ persons are required 90 compose the Of
hcerS and stan of the director general o.,
posts or the amount Of compensation paid
to each-only the lump sum OF $96SS4
paid on that account for the six months
ending June so, 1899
| The department. IS organized and officer
ed ON generous scale, II one may fairly
judge by the total disbursement for sala-
rtes aud the number Of separate bureaus.
There is bureau OF finance, bureau OF
postal accounts. a bureau OF translation.
a bureau OF appointments. a bureau OF
transportation, a bureau OF poostal money
orders, bureau OF special agents. a
/ bureau OF registration and a bureau OF
dead letters, besides a chief clerk and a
/ superintendent and disbursing officers .
both evidently necessary and useful adj
juncts OF such an official establishment
/ According to the official report from
which this inform alton was cleaned.
/ there was employed on December 1. iSaa.
an acting advisory council" but the
regal branch OF the department had not
yet been permanently organized There
were In the ueighborhood of so p0stofAces
/ In operation at that time and the total
4 population. including United states
troops. was estimated at ESQ. 600 Accord
ing to unofficial Information the salary
OF the director general. who presides over
this dea-ftmeut. amounts to $500 year
and perquisites.
GOLFERS ANTITRUST FLANK.
4 Publicity IL the Means He R.ts.