The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-02
PUBLIC SERVICE in CUBA.
Gen. Wood Defends II, Aside From
Postal Frauds. Against Charges
of Maiversatfon.


NEW YORK, June IA dispatch 10
the World from Havana says:
Gen. Leonard Wood, military governor
Of Cuba. authorizes the World CORE
lowing statement from him relative to
the frauds In the Cuban postal service
and the general condition Of the Island;
firmly believe that the nre ,s ,,,a,,,,,
to plain theft, are all that will be discoV-
cred.
''The postal service has not been under
my Jurisdiction. I learned of the frauds,
instituted an inquiry and TOOK steps 70
secure the punishment of the men imph-
Gated.
investigation into all the departments.
and am confident that the condition OF
the affairs of the postal service does not
exist in any other branches. or course
there have been many rumors, inspired
by the postal scandal. Of fraudulent trans
actions in the other departments-the
and the department Of parks. | nave
every reason to believe that these de-
partments have been conducted in a most
businesslike and honest manner X there
is one department ] am sure OF. IL Is the
customs bureau. You can readily I'M
derstand that men who have been in the
habit OF swindlng the government under
the Spanish regime do not take kindly
TO the Introduction Of the methods inau-
gurated by the United States. / think
that on the whole the entire public service
Should you discover the existence OF
Irregularities in any other department,
general. what would be year action?
II would institute a thorough invest-
CATION, and punish the Offenders replied
the general firmly.
Has an intimation been conveyed that
the administration at Washington would
ask. for political reasons. that no other
scandals be disclosed. and that the full
extent of the Irregularities in the postal
service be kept as secret as possieieY
hn ton
II have not received such an intima-
ton" was the answer ut is my place TO
find out whether the government service
is properly administered. II | ind II is
not, shall insist upon the Immediate pun
ishment OF any offender. no matter who
he may ne or what influence, political
or otherwise, may be exercised to pro-
tect him. I am responsible for the hon
est conduct of the government, and any
person found guilty would be punished. ="
What have you to say resarding me
the part of officials sent by the United
states government
There IL nothing IN the condition Of
AFFAIRS TO justify such a statement l know
n number of officials who have been com
PEELED TO spend more money to maintain
the dignity of their rank and country
than the United States has allowed them
They have drawn upon their private in
comes to do so, and the government has
not been called upon to foot their bills, -
How many have been found guilty of
fraud and either been quietly dropped
from the service or placed under ar
rest?'
Very few and with one exception all
were in civil branches OF the service
out of 6ocoa soldiers sent to the ISL
and, but one man has been directly
charged with enibezzlement. lie was a
volunteer officer. and the amount of his
stealings was $50. He was tried. found
guilty and sentenced 10 three years. Aside
from Medley, Reeves, Rich and other men
implicated In the postal scandal, there
are number OF men awaiting trial for
perpetrating frauds I'm the customs serv-
Ice, II guilty they will surely be pun
ished"
How about the general condition OF
the islandY'
1T Is most satisfactory. The revenues
are in excess of the expenditures. There
Is less discomfort than you imagine. and
while the advancement OF the people is
slow II il undoubtedly more satisfactory
than the old condition A most significant
indication Ia furnished by the fact that
the preparations for the election OF mu-
nicipai officials. on June 49, have been
conducted in most orderly manner |
have not received "a single request for
troops
The registration of voters foots up
l50O0, one-half Of the voting strength In
order TO preserve the best feeling I have
decided to give the minority party repre-
sentation on every board of aldermen and
other elective bodies. | do not anticipate
trouble of any character as a result OF
the elections"