Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-08
JAI ALAI CONCESSION
MAJOR DUDLEY TELLS SENATE
COMMITTEE ABOUT IT'S GRANT.
Original Application Was Denied and
Was Subsequently Modifed-The
Wood Investigation.

When the Senate committee on military
affairs convened today to continue its in
vestigation of charges against Gen. Wood.
NJ c. Fosnes. post office inspector, was
called to the stand.
He Identified a copy OF letter which he
had written to Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow. under date of October
s, 1901. recounting the incidents connected
with visit he had received from Judge
Ortiz. president Of the Audencia, which
court tried the Cuban postal cases.
The visit was for the purpose OF obtain
ing TRANSACTIONS Of the Bristow report on
the Cuban postal frauds for use in the
trials. In this letter Mr.. Fosnes said 1t
was the opinion of Judge Ortiz that the
translations should be made in the United
States.
Mr.. Fosues was asked whether he had
learned that the request made by Judge
Ortiz was at the suggestion Of Gen. Wood,
and answered that such was his under
standing.
1t was shown that the TRANSACTIONS were
made at cost Of $3.50, and that the cost
was paid out of the Cuban insular funds.
The Spanish version of the report was
filed as documentary evidence and used by
the Cuban judges in the trials.
The witness was asked IL he considered
the the report ex-parte evidence and nom
partisan. He replied that it was the official
report He was asked to state his office IN
Cuba, and replied that he succeeded Mr..
Rathbone as director general of posts.
The Jai Alai Concession.
Maj Edgar 9. Dudley U. s. A, was the
second witness. He said that he had serv-
ed in Cuba as judge advocate under the
administration of Gen. Wood as governor
general He testified that when Gen. Wood
received the application Of the Jai Alai Com.
rany for a concession to erect a "fronton'
or amphitheater for the playing Of the Cuban
game of pelota, the application had been
referred to him for investigation. After
making thorough Inquiry into the charac-
ter Of the game the witness said he had
informed Gen. Wood that he should refuse
to indorse the application on the grounds
that the game was gambling institution
and therefore should not be permitted dur.
ing American occupation.
He said that the application had been
changed to represent the mere building OF
an amusement amphitheater and that in
that form 1t had received the approval OF
the War Department. The ten-year con-
cessiOn to the Jai Alai Company was SUBJ
seQuently granted by Gen. Wood.
Gen. Wilson Shows Bitterness.
Gen. James H. Wilson. U. 8. A.. retired,
followed Maj. Dudley and was on tho
stand for more than an hour. He told the
committee OF his meeting with Capt. e.
G. Bellairs at Havana. saying that he be-
came convinced that Bellairs came to
Havana with the purpose of willfully
classifying conditions in the island: that
Bellairs called on him at his headQuar
tiers in the province of Matanzas and that
he (Gen. Wilson) then accused Bellairs
,,,Ik; k.I, ,toN~~
color to affairs In the island and injured
the work of Gen. Brooke and others. The
witness testified that Bellairs sighed and
that he was standing by his
friends. maintaining that his position
was necessary one. Gen. Wilson said
the remark could have but one meaning,
and that was that he was backing Gen.
Wood; that this was evident from the
nature Of Bellairs' dispatches. The wit
ness asserted 1t to be his belief that Bell
promoting the advancement of Gen.
Wood.
When asked concerning the rapid
strides made by Gen. Wood in jumping
low and Lee the witness showed a feeling
Of bitterness against Gen. Wood. The
erect or the response was that he con-
sidered the promotion was one brought
about by preferment rather than war
ranted by merit.
Witness to Be Recalled.
Notice has been given by the committee
to Senators Hanna and Teller, who made
the protests against the confirmation Of
Gen. Leonard Wood to be major general,
that they must have all Of their witnesses
here before December 16. when 1t 10 ex-
pected the investigation will be closed
1t is believed by opponents of Gen. Wood
that this order will have the effect of cur
failing the extent Of the inquiry 1t has
not yet been decided whether 1t will be
necessary to summon any more witnesses
from Cuba. though 1t is known that sew
eral persons who have been before the
committee will be recalled. Among the
latter are Gen. Tasker H. Bliss OF the
general STAFF and Lieut. huncie author Of
the maya zine article attacking the ad-
of Gen. Brooke