The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-24
GEN. WOOD IS READY
WILL CHEERFULLY GO BEFORE
 A COMMITTEE.
Declares That He Received None, But Purely Personal Gifts When He Was on Duty in
 Cuba.

Washington, March 23.-Brigadier Gen. eral Leonard Wood has placed in the hands of the Secretary of War volun- tary statement regarding the charges filed against him by Major E. J. Rathbone, ex. director general of Cuban posts. No of ficial notice of Major Rathbone's charges has been taken by the Secretary as yet but General Wood on reading them asked and received permission to file at the De- partment a statement setting forth his side of the case before his departure for service in the Philippines.
 General Wood leaves Washington on Wednesday afternoon for San Francisco, whence he sails on Thursday for Manila. Pending the action of the Secretary on his statement. General Wood refuses to comment upon the charges. most of whicf he says have been presented before. In his statement to the Secretary General Wood denies that he received any but purely personal gifts while in Cuba. AS to his attendance on the Jai Allal, a pub lie institution at Havana, at which the Spanish national game was played. Gen 1 eral Wood calls attention to the fact thai l the Bishop of Havana was present at tht dedication of the institution and conduct ed the service on that occasion. As Gov ernor General of Cuba 1t was his policy he said, to establish and maintain cordia relations with the people of the island. in' ciuding the Spaniards. who were the in fiuential element.
 He felt, he says that 1t was but an ap- preciation of Spanish institutions for him to recognize and patronize the Spanish national game, which corresponds closely to the American game of racquets. and he made it a point to attend the Jai Allai 1NSA f.. Nha INntv companied by several aides. The latter he says received professional instruction in the game. The institution. General Wood states had drinking and betting privilege legally granted by the authori- ties and was attended in the evenings by from two to three thousand people. Last May, on Sunday before his depar- ture General Wood said he was asked to receive a delegation of Spanish mer- chants who desired to present him a personal testimonial of their esteem. This proved to be a handsome silver service Gen. Tasker H. Bliss. then in charge of the customs service, General Wood says admitted the gift free of duty, first, be- cause under the law no duty was col lected on importations for officials, and secondly. because the law provided also for free importation of the household goods and personal effects which were not to remain permanently on the island.
 As the custom house had already been closed that the Governor General might make complete returns of the funds in the treasury at the hour of American evacuation. General Bliss could issue nc bond for the admission of the gift, but he personally examined 1t and caused Its free entry
 General Wood said tonight to the Asso- ciated Press representative that he would leave with each member of the Senate Cuban Committe a copy of his statement to Secretary Root. and that he was ready at any time to appear before that com mittee to reply to any charges which might be brought against him. The As sociated Press Is authorized by General Wood to define his position briefly as fol lows:
 General Wood Is at any time ready and glad to appear before Congressional Committee regarding any charges which may be brought against his record as Governor General Of Cuba. He refuses however, to indulge In a newspaper con troversy under any circumstances.