Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
GEN. WOODS REPLY
RESPONSE TO THE CHARGES OF E.
G.. RATHBoNE.
Explains Regarding Receipt Of Silver
Service and Its Exemption
From Duty,


Brig. Gen. Leonard A. Wood has placed
IN the hands of the Secretary of War a
voluntary statement regarding the charges
filed against him by Major e. c. Rath-
bone, ex-director general of Cuban posts.
No official notice of Major Rathbone' s
charges has been taken by the Secretary,
but Gen. Wood, on reading them, asked
and received permission to file at the de-
partment statement setting forth his side
Of the case before his departure for service
in the Philippines. Gen. Wood leaves Wash
ington Wednesday afternoon for Boston,
whence he sails Saturday for Manila
In brief, Major Rathbone charged that
Gen. Wood had manipulated the Cuban
courts; that he received gifts from a gam
bling concern amounting to 5000, and that
the gifts were admitted into Cuba free Of
duty contrary to law.
Received Only Personal Gifts.
In his statement to the Secretary, Gen.
Wood denies that he received any but
purely PERSONAL gifts while in Cuba. AS
to his attendance on the "Jai Allai," a
public institution at Havana, at which the
Spanish national game was played, Gen
Wood calls attention to the, fact that the
bishop Of Havana was present at the dedi-
cation Of the institution and conducted the
services on that occasion AS governor
general of Cuba 1t was his policy, he says
to establish and maintain cordial relations
with the people Of the island, including the
Spaniards, who were the influential ele-
ment. He felt. he says, that 1t was but an
appreciation Of Spanish institutions for him
to recognize and patronize the Spanish ma
tional game, which corresponds closely to
the American game of racquets. and he
made it point to attend the "Jai Allah"
quite often In the evenings. being accom-
panied by several of his aids. The latter,
he says received professional instruction in
the game. The institution, Gen. Wood
states, had a drinking and betting privilege
legally granted by the authorities, and was
attended in the evenings by from two to
three thousand persons. Last May, on the
Sunday before his departure, Gen. Wood
says he was asked to receive a delegation
of Spanish merchants who desired to pre-
sent 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, Gen. Wood says, ad-
mitted the gift free of duty, first because
under the law no duty was collected on i'm
portations for officials and soldiers Of the
United States, and secondly, because the
law provided also for the free importation
of household goods and personal effects
which were not to remain permanently in
the island. AS the customs houses already
had been closed in order that the governor
general might make a compfete return of
the funds in the treasury at the hour of the
American evacuation, Gen., Bliss could issue
o bond for the admission of the gift but
he personally examined it and authorized
its free entry.
Ready, for Any Inquiry.
Gen. Wood said that he would leave with
each member of the senate Cuban commit
tee a copy of his. statement to Secretary
Root, and that he was ready at any time to
appear before that committee to reply to
any charges which might be brought
against him.
- Gen. Wood says he is at any time ready
and glad to appear before any congress
sional committee regarding any charges
which may be brought against his record
as governor general of Cuba. He refuses,
however, to indulge in newspaper con-
troversy under any circumstances.