The Washington weekly post., 1900-05-29
Wednesdays Proceedings.

Inc hepuDnCdnS IN the Senate do not
attempt 10 condone the unparalleled scan
dals in Cuba. At best they only strive,
as Senator Platt, of Connecticut, did We'd
nesday to minimize them and to assert
that were il not for the approach Of a
Presidential campaign, they would not be
emphasized in the public mind. He char
acteriZed the publication of the details Of
the theftS as the mud artillery of the
partisan press
Senator PlaJt's speech had for its text
the resolution presented by Senator Ba-
con, directing the Committee on Relations
with Cuba, of which Senator Platt is
chairman, 10 investigate the condition Of
affairs in Cuba. Mr.. Platt gave the ad-
ministration credit for having unearthed
the frauds. He did not, however, disguise
the shame and humiliation with which
every patriotic man is affected by these
disclosures. They are shOCkingt he add
ed. They are a blow and a direct blow
10 every true citizen of the United
States" The entertainments, Mr. Platt
also asserted, We're especially sad and
shameful because they had occurred in
Cuba, where the administration is engag-
ed in a great work of freedom and philan-
thropy." And then Mr.. Platt assured the
country that the administration would
do everything In its power 10 bring the
rascals 10 justice.
Mr.. Platt referred sarcasticaIly to
those patriots who, in the Presidentia
campaign year. hold up their hands in
holy horror and seize upon what has
been disclosed in an endeavor to cast dis
credit not only upon the administration,
but upon their country" These patriots
should remember, Mr. Platt argued. that
hitherto the administration had escd ped
scandal.
Calls Them "IrreguIarIiie-.r
Mr.. Platt's address was remarkable for
other things than its tone He stated
that the amount of Irregularities. the soft
and kindly term by which he referred 10
the embeZZlements, appear to have been
about $4,000 during the last year" The
fact is. as disclosed by Inspector Burton 5
aftidaVitS, that Nicely embeZzled $3.50 I'm
the first four months of the present year.
/ and that the amount stolen by him last
! year is not known, owing to the absolute
! lack OF any data 10 show the amounts
! handled by him. According 10 Senator
Platt, the assertion that the frauds have
been wholesale in character is merely an
innuendo, and not a direct charge. Mr.
{ Platt also took the position that il was
/ not wise 10 interfere with the investiga-
| ton already begun by the Postmaster
/ General, on the ground that additional in
/ quiry by the Senate might prevent The
/ bringing of the guilty persons to Justice
| But while he believed no Congressional
/ investigation was necessary TO probe far
/ ther into the sad, shameful humiliatinc.
and disgraceful situation" he admitted
/ that II might be well 10 undertake this
/ inquiry because. 10 use his own remark
I able language, the charges had been made
/ simply for campaign purposes.
After denOuncing what ne called "the
mud artillery Of the partisan press" Mr.
/ Plat entered upon an elaborate defense
| of the officials IN Cuba. He began with
/ Admiral Sampson, Gen. Wade. and Gen
/ Butler, who had charge Of the Spanish
t evacuation and eElOEiZed every bOdy-Mai
/ Gen. Brooke, Mai Gen Wood. and all
/ the other army Ofiicers-and concluded his
paean Of praise with 4 tribute 10 Ratn-
! bone, Reeves. and Nicely Before he reach
| ed the latter trio, however. he answered
a question of Senator Chandler By say
ing that nothing had been disclosed whicn
/ reflected upon army officers.
Has the attention OF the Senator beer
I called 10 the railroad that was built in
! Havana inquired Senator TilIman.
What OF it, brusquely asked Mr.
/ Pla;t
oh" rer' "A Senator TiIlman, rathel
/ taken aiack by Mr.. Platts scornful in,
/ difference. Il simply supposed the Senator
/ would give that matter his attention.
/ II You have any charges l wish yoI
. would make them snapped Mr.. Plat.
Ii the investigation is ordered. I vii
| furnish the Witnesses" responded Mr
Tillman.
Il am not going TO stop and go into the
/ question OF railroads al the present time
/ remarked Mr. Platt but several Othel
questions being asked him, ne asserte,
| that the cost OF the road was only S21I 600
As q matter OF fact, Senator PlHtt CAV
the amount OF the original estimates, and
not the cost Of the road which, accord
| ing TO the statement 0f Secre t4ry Root
Was $3.50. Mr. Platt, in answer 20 Sen
ator Culbers0n. said that the figures 81,
| not include right % way.
! Il should like 20 have the Senator pU
In his speech" commented Mr. Tillman
| by whose order and upon whose recon
| nendHtiCn this railroad and pier Wer
built"
/ After an earnest eulogy OF President Nc
Kinley and an expression Of sympathy 70
the President. because he mad Iot escap