Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-17
PAGES.
SUNDAY. JUNE II, 1900.
The scANDAL-DoDGING POLICY.

ms country had n right TO expect
mat the most thorough and searchinr
examination would be mode into tho
administration of affairs in Cuba rot
alone In the Department. of Posts where
RANK fraud has already been exposed.
out In the other departments as we'll
A9ie revelations as to Rathbone and
Nicely have been of such n nature as
no unseptle the confidence of the people
of Cuba. and of the people of the Uni
ted States. in the whole Cuban admin
istraton. The belief is Widespread, and
is justifable. that the half has not been
told OF the extravaganza and pecula-
ton that have marked the record of the
American regime In the island If the
belief be ill-founded. the fact should be
Drought out. If it be well-founded.
then certainly delay is both DANGEROUS
and criminal.
There is no evidence of either n de-
sire or intention on the part of those
On authority to make any such investi
CATION. The congressional committee
appointed for the purpose-a majority
OF 1t being Republicans-refused 10 sit
this summer. though the Democratic
minority urged that ii take up the work
at once. The administration is 1nves-
tigating only the Department or Posts.
and that far from vigorously. The in
vesugation was not begun until an
army officer exposed the Nicely frauds.
and has proceeded with the utmost lei
sure and an exaggerated solicitude to
avoid offending the sensibilitles Of
those who have profited by wholesale
QSnavery. There was first the attempt
to smother. and then to minimize. the
scandals.
How Americans regard this policy is
not susceptible OF MISUNDERSTANDING.
They VIII tolerate no whitewashing:
they Will be content with nothing short
of a trustworthy assurance that the
representatives of the nation in Cuba
are living up TO the nations pledges in
the premises. The administration OF
Cuban affairs by American officials is
a most anomalous form of government
and 1t is essential that it should be
above suspicion, if 1t is not to bring
shame and confusion to Americans and
to excite discomfort and foment dis
order among Cubans. How do Cubans
regard it? One of the leading newspa-
pers of Havana, La Nacion, which is
both conservative and friendly to
Americans, said I'm a recent issue:
THE post office scandal is not unique.
There would be others if matters were
properly looked into. Money is waste
fully expended in almost every depart
ment of government. And yet there
are other things of a more serious
character. We have in n general way
referred TO them in previous issue OF
our paper. and WE can be more precise
II required. We are not lacking posi-
tive and concrete facts in support of
what we advance
I'VE have said II before, and we re-
peat 1T now. There is neither princi-
PIE, system, nor method in what is
done here. Laws are disregarded re-
formed modified, altered and confused
ad infnitum. In fact, the only law
Is the arbitrary Will Of each chief OF
department. The sic volo. sic jubeo, is
the universal rule"
Senior Nicolas Rlvero. the editor of
Ell Diario de Ia Marina, who is now in
Washington city, expressed a similar
opinion in an interview. declaring that
irregularities exist in departments 9TH
er than that of Posts, referring specin-
caliy to the expenditures for sanitary
ard engineering projects. But it is
useless to multiply instances. Ilqthe1.
TIE Washington authorities will compel
an investigation of all apartments or IL
VIII lay itself open to the fair inference
that II is afraid to make such investi-
cation. and prefe,s TO let possible fraud
continue rather Than take its share of
blame IL fraud should be exposed.