The times., 1901-03-31
THE HAVANA GAS SCANDAL.
Information as 10 the Charges Re-
ceived at the War Department.

Information in regard TO the charges
made to General Wood concerning the
connection Of Horatio Rubens and Con
sslez Quesada with the Havana Gas Com
pany was received at the War Depart
ment yesterday. The details of the case
are that a stockholder in the company
named Johnson. at the last meeting of the
directors. refused to vote in favor of
further payment of money To Mr.. Rubens.
He later addressed letter 10 General
Wood, setting forth his complaint against
Rubens. This letter Was referred by Gen
eral Wood 10 the audencia Of Havana.
with the request that it be given immed-
iate consideration.
The president of the audencia has APP
pointed Judge Monteverde as special
judge to conduct the enquiry Dfr. John
son appeared before Judge Monteverde
several days ago. and submitted afTidavits
to support his charge that Mr. Rubens
had used his connection with the Gov
ernment to secure money from the gas
company.
War Department officials here say Mr.
Rubens is not employed by the United
States or Cuban Governments. He was
retained by General Wood 10 assist in the
prosecution of the postal cases. but on
receiving Mr.. Johnson's charges, General
Wood dispensed with his services.
General Woods advices to the War
Department show that he is taking no
Official action In the case other than re-
ferring it TO the judiciary department.
According to weli-informed persons in
Washington Mr.. RUbens' connection with
the gas company dates back over two
years. The gas company uses crude pc
tTOleum for the manufacture OF gas and
under the first tariff promulgated in Cuba
g ffa.a -t-
er tariff, crude petroleum for the eNclu-
sive use of the gas company. was duti-
able at 20 cents per hundred kilOs. The
records of the War Department show that
in December 1899 a tariff circular was
issued by the War Department placing
crude petroleum on the free list. This
circular was TO become effective January
% 1860
The explanation of the War Department
is that crude petroleum was placed on the
free list because of representations made
to the department that ii would result
in great reduction in the price of gas
These representations are said 70 have
been made by Mr.. RubenS and Mir Que
sada. Within few weeks after placing
it on the free list. the department began
the work Of revising the Cuban tariff.
This revision was completed in March.
1900, and promulgated by the President
March Il.
The revised tariff made crude petroleum
dutiable at lac cents, but failed To make
a special rate Of 80 cents for petroleum
for the use OF the gas company. Nor
was petroleum for such use placed on the
free list The failure To provide the 10
cent duty was a clerical error and upon
the representations of President T. j.
of the company, and Vice Pres
ident Bacardi this duty was restored
thus placing il in the same position it oc-
Cupied before il was placed on the free
list.
In securing this action. President Hay
ward and Vice President Bdcardi were
the only persons appearing before the
War Department. and il is clear that their /
representations alone secured che restor-
alton OF the 50-cent duty. the War Depart
ment refusing to place 1t on the free list.
because the company had not reduced the |
price of gas, as promised