New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-07
BLISS DEFENDED WOOD.
admitted Silrer Service Free in
Regular Order of Business.

Washington. Jan. 6-The Associated Press has
secured a copy OF the testimony given by Brigader
General Tasker II. Bliss when he recalled be-
fore the Senate Committee Military Affairs to
give evidence in the Wood investigation concerning
the admission OF tho Jat Alai gift FREQ of duty
about which controversy has arisen. This testi-
mony covers ten pages OF the printed proceedings
before tho committee.
General Bliss recalled at the request Of Sen
ator Hanna. who asked whether the silver service
given 10 General Wood in 1902. at the time OF its
passage through tho custom house. was the prop
erty OF officer OF the United States army. Cen
eral Bliss answered that he understood II; that
he had received information tho second day be
fore leaving Havana that package would arrive
there from New-York tho next day for General
Wood, and that IL would have To be returned on
the steamer on which tbs baggage Of the officers
and men being placed request had been
made that the package should be FASTENED IN its
passage through the custom house.
Senator Hanna inquired from whom the inforrna-
ton came. and was told by General Bliss that II
came by telephone from tho clerks Office at the
palace OF the Governor General General Bliss said
he did know whether the package was ad-
dressed 70 General Wood. but told that It was
for him. that when he learned that . package
would be received FOR the Military Governor he had
given orders to facilitate It's passage through tho
custom house. IIo said all tho orders were given
IN accordance with the laws OF the customs service
Senator Foraker asked II General Wood had any
thing TO do with the order.
The witness replied. Not in the least"
II thought you said that the order came TO you
from the palace remarked Senator Hanna.
General Bliss repeated that he had received the
message from a clerk IN his Office who had re-
ceived IT over the telephone from the palace,
Senator Hanna inquired. And with whom would
that originator
General Bliss resented the term order and said
It was merely message such he received many
times a day from persons desiring to facilitate tho
passage Of articles through the custom house
Senator Hanna inquired II no was TO understand
that a telephone message purporting to como from
the palace would be obeyed. The answer was In
the negative.
The Senator then asked for an explanation. and
General Bliss said: III any sent Il message
that a package would DO received there for the
Military Governor. 1 had number Of trusted en-
pIoyes and I would say, IF a package arrives do
not delay, but dispatch that That is what did
and what you would have done. and what any one
would have 10 do unless had stopped the entire
business OF the custom house"
or not. DO not think that you, have any Justhca-
9a for ftss s on tha Woa PSds bays to Ar
ness man would have had to do that way
business. and do not think would do il on the he
sayso OF RAJ eS 1 n1 Gn inc orders Td or clerk as
RECEIVED NO ORDER FROM WOOD
General Bliss again insisted that he had not "a
ceived order. and after some further colloquy
Senator Proctor remarked. HE says that It was
not order"
Questions asked by Senator Proctor brought ont
several answers to show that General Bliss would
have acted IN the manner had similar notices
been received from General Humphrey or any other
officer duty in Havana.
Senator Scott asked what course General Bliss
would have taken II he had learned that the silver
service was not the property OF General Wood but
was the property of a arm in the United States.
which sending II down there TO be submittad
as to whether 1t was to be accepted and bought
General Bliss answered that It would not baya
been admitted free Of duty
Attention called by Senator Scott to the tas-
timony OF Walliss Chairman, in which he said tho
present was sent down there by New-York Jew
elry firm on condition that II approved IL would
be bought, and that after II was admitted Il was
sold the sale being made IN Cuba General bliss
replied that he had knowledge OF that trans
action.
In explanation OF his act in admitting the silver
service free Of duty, General Bliss said;
II have no hesitation in saying that II had been
Informed that there was a present corni,g -,
the Military Governor under the circumstances I
would not for moment have made myself oh
noxious to the Cuban people, by raising anv uttI.
points about the handling OF that package IN tina
custom house"
Senator Hanna asked the witness whether :,
he had known that the package was coming IN
the custody OF an agent of a New-York iewelrv
firm to be delivered to citizens of Cuba who baa
made contract FOR It, he would have passed it
i cannot say answered General Bliss
After other questions General Bliss con+,r,,s
i. II had done IT. II undoubtedly would have bee,
irregular. Whether under the oircumstaness n3
our departure at that would have so6 OK
Thai wg SaS. h8 1.sv dcns s,,v am Inclined think
created scandal In the City Of Havana v Wst have
not realize. ' you 90
Further testimony brought ont tbs fact ,,..