Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-28

viii Not Amout to Over 100000.
How Nicely Worked.
HAVANA, May 27.-American Of
ficials here feel that they have been
unjustly treated by certain newspapers
in the United States, which have pub
lished the sweeping statement that
they all live extravagantly. Army Of
ficers point out that if they have TO
live in cities their expenses are much
greater than when at home. Moreover
very few care to risk the health OF
their families by keeping them in Gu
ba during the summer. Thus two es-
adjustments are necessary. AS their
duty compels them to remain in a
tropical climate they feel that the
United States government, like other
governments under similar conditions,
should pay additional stipends.
So far as the officers of high rank are
concerned it should be pointed out
that Gen. Wood occupies only a small
portion of the palace for residential
purposes, the rest of the building being
utilized not only for the divisional Of
fees but also for all the municipal Of
fees. A number of employees have to
be kept at Gen. Woods expense
cleaners and helpers generally-and he
says that if he did not have some pri-
yate resources to exc out his pay and
his allowances it would be next to i'm
possible for him to live in the palace
at all
Collector Bliss lives quietly in a
single room at the Hotel TELEGRAPH.
going to and returning from his office
in hired vehicle of the most ordinary
description. Major Ladd, chief quar-
termaster, lives at Ell Vedado in a
house which he shares with three other
families. Gen. Lee lives at headquar-
tiers at Oeumados, where do all of his
staff officers who are unmarried Gen.
Wilson, governor OF Matanzas-S Santa
Clara, lives in a house for which he
pays a small rental. Col. Whiteside
at Santiago lives in a little wooden
bungalow, formerly occupied by Gen.
Wood and leased from Mrs. Ramsden,
wife of the former British consul Gen.
Humphrey. Col. Black, Major Scott,
Captain Pitcher and many officers live
in buildings used by the government
either as Offices or police barracks.
Gen. Wood when asked to-day what he
thought of such charges, replied that
he considered charges of extravaganza
in departments, except the postal un-
founded, adding that he believed no 9TH
er department had anything to fear
on that score and that all could en-
dure the closest investigation possible.
A postal official who has been in the
island more than year says that
when the Americans first came there
was no records and no furniture even;
that Spanish postmasters, the only
ones who knew anything about the SER
vice, could not be employed because
of the cry Cuba for Cubans" and that
consequently the service had TO be
built upon practically no foundation at
all. He also points out that Cuban
postmasters were found very difficult
to teach. The loose methods of form
er Spanish times have been carried
on, at some points even to the present
day One feature that enabled G. F. w.
Nicely TO divert funds in fashion ex-
ceedingly difficult to detect was the
custom of many pOstmasters TO pay
cash for all stamps taken from the
department while there was no rule
for keeping books of accounts AS a
result the inspector had no way of as
certaining how many stamps had been
sold and the statement Of Nicely. If in
collision with the postmaster, would
tally with the latter's statement.
This official believes that when all
the books and papers have been inves-
tigated the shortage will not amount
to over 100000 II is probable, how
ever. that $4,000 more have been taken
which cannot be traced. His estimate
is consequently mere surmise.