The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1900-05-25
The letter Of Instruction.

May &c 1eOo-Hon. Joseph l.. Bristow,
Eourth Assistant Postmaster General,
SIR: experimenting my letter of May y.
directing you TO proceed at once to Cuba,
the following further instructions are
given for your guidance.
You will Immediately on your arrival
az Havana confer freely and fully with
zen. Wood, military governor and will
keep in constant communication with him
Ia me 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 in
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 your arrival. You will assume gen.
erai supervision of this examination and
will enforce the instructions heretofore
given that IL shall be of the most search
ing and thorough character II you find
that you need still larger force for the
prompt and complete performance of this
duty, you will call for it, The inyestiga-
ton 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 of
ascertaining the truth and the whole
truth, and II must be uncompromising and
unsparing-
Besides supervising the investigation in
cooperation with the military governor
1t Will be your. duty to examine the or
ganlzation OF the postal service, with it's
system of checks and balances, and re-
port what greater or additional safe
guards can be provided. Under the sys-
tenn established at the beginning of the
American occupation of Cuba. the ad-
ministrative side of the service was
placed under the control of this depart
ment. and the auditing or checking side
under the control of another. This is the
system OF the United States government
Inc irregularities and peculations
which have been brought to light were
apparently accomplished because officers
appointed by and responsible to different
departments and who should have been a
sk upon each other. entered into coll
fusion and conspiracy to perpetrate these
wrongs, on the one side, and to pass and
cover them up on the other. You will
carefully investigate by what defects of
supervision or defense they were con-
suinmated, and what further measures of
protection in the passing and auditing of
accounts and in the handling of public
FUNDS and property may be needed. Ii IS
desired also that the central organize
ton OF the postal service in Cuba shall
receive your special attention. You will
examine as to whether IL is framed in the
best manner for efficient administration
You VIII see whether, compatibly with a
good mali service for the people, and re-
trenchments can be made, and whether
economies can be effected by a consolida-
ton anG reduction of bureaus. 1t is de-
sired TO bring the postal expenditures
within the postal revenues, so far as NAV
be consistent with the obligation of 30
viding satisfactory mail service
our presence in Cuba, as the repre-
sentative of the department with these
instructions, makes you the ranking Of
ncer o. the postal administration. You
Will consider an2 ADVISE what removals
or other action may be required in the
cause of justice, for the interest of the
government and the people of Cuba and
Tor the welfare Of the service.
You are chosen for this duty with the
approval OF the president, who is deeply
shocked al the shameful betrayal of trust
on the part of officials in whom confidence
mad been reposed, and who directs that in
dealing with all Irregularities which have
been or may be disclosed, the sole rule
OF action snail be thorough and complete
investigation. the rigorous and unspar-
ing prosecution of all guilty persons and
their swift and condign punishment
You Will communicate these instrt17-
mons - Gen. Wood. keeping him fully in
formed as you proceed, and reporting reg
ularly TO the department
Respectfully Yours
lSigned.] CHARLES EMORY SMITH
Postmaster General