The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-16
Carpet Bag Thievery.
Carnival of Corruption IN
Cuban Post Officers.

Washington, May 1.-THE ad-
ministration programme of bushlng
up the scandal connected with the
embezzlement of a large sum of
money from the Cuban postal receipts
by c. F. W. Neeley, who has been
chief financial agent of the Cuban
postal system, and others, will be
conbate by the democrats in con-
gress, who regard the present as an
excellent time for thorough investj
cation of all Cuban receipts and ex-
peuditures Senator Bacon ssys he
waited nearly week to give the
republicans an opportunity to pro.
pose an investigation before Offering
mis- resolution instructing the senate
committee on relations with CUBA to
investigate receipts from all sources
sioce the occupation of Cuba by our
troops, aud expenditures for al! pur
poses during that period, and report
to the senate at the earliest possible
date. Of his resolution, Senator
Bacon said /: "My purpose is to have
thorough investigation of the mon
eys which have been received and
disbursed in Cuba. We know that
there has been some improper dis
bureements In view of that fact, it
is our duty to thoroughly sift the
whole matter Our only excuse for
being ip in Cuba is our desire to
govern the island for the benefit of
the Cubans, and we ought to see
whether we are doing our duty to.
ward those people," That number
of Cuban officials, including the d.
rector of posts and the auditor of
postal accounts have been suspended,
is proof that the public is being de-
ceived by official statements saying
that Neeley is the only Cuban official
who has been implicated in the
stealing If proper investigation
is made, it will probably be ascer
tained that there has been ring of
thieves working on the Cuban revc
nuee, but that is just what the ed
ministration doeen'. wish to be ascer
tained
seuator Teller arraigned the Off
GERS of the ordnance bureau of the
navy department for incompetency
and ignorance, during the discussion
of the armor clause of the naval ap
preparation bill, and the arraigument
was indoreed by Senator Allison
Mr. Teller said the ignorance display
ed by oficers of that board, when
they appeared before congressional
committees for the purpose of giving
information, had been sometimes
absolutely pitiful, and that be could
get more information out of private
citizen in ten minutes than he had
ever been able 70 get out of one OF
these officers in an hour also that
there were engineers in civi! life who
could make infinitely better guns
than any officer on the ordnance
board, but that the board would not
listen 10 them
Adiutant General Hart, of Della
ware, who is in Washington on busi
nass said of the political outlook il,
his state: 1--WE will elect every state
officer from governor down, and
Legislature that will choose two dem
ocratic Z. S Senators The repub-
licaHs are in a hopeless state of dis
organization, and are beaten from the
start If the rest of the country will
do az we'll as Delaware IN November,
there won't be much left of the e.
o p."
Although the administration sue.
ceeded in preventing any preliminary
report being made by the lsthmlan
Commission, the members of that
commission have given their person
al opinion of the investigation to the
Senate Interoceanic Cana! Commit
tee, aUu tuOee OUlhlooo oiS "'' Wv
way-in favor of the Nicaragua route.
This makes it evident that the posi-
tion taken by Boss Hanna, that the
Senate should not act upon the Mica
ragua canal bill until the report OF the
Canal Commission is merely for de-
LAP Another proof was given by
Hanna insisting that the committee
should grant hearings to the officers
and directors of the rew Panama
Canal Company. Why. should these
men be beard when this government
has sent, a, great expense an official
commission of expert engineers TO
investigate, and that commission has
given its views to the committee :!
There is political dynamite enough
10 this question to blow the Mch'n
ley administration and the repueh
can majority in the House out OF
Ross lama snc-