The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-15
hand in the administration not only of
Cuban affairs generally but of postal af-
fairs.
TO RELIEVE RATHBoNE.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow Going to Cuba.

Bristow Going to Cuba.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE latest de-
velopment in Cuban postal affairs is the
determination of the administration to send
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Joseph L. Bristow to Havana to
relieve Director of Posts Rathbone
and exercise supreme control of post
office matters throughout the island
Mr.. Rathbone is not removed, but
relieved from the control of postal al
fairs. 1t is supposed that he will return
to the United States after Mr.. Bristow
assumes charge though he may remain In
Havana for a time until Bristow has had
time to get the hang Of things. Bristcw
will still be fourth assistant postmaster gen.
eral of the United States. but he will be
granted leave of absence as such and be
assigned TO his new duties during the time
he is away from this country. What his
official title in Cuba will be is not quite
clear, but the supposition is that he will
be designated while acting as the head of
the postal service of the island as acting
director of posts.
The decision to send Bristow to Havana
to relieve Rathbone was arrived at late
this afternoon after a conference between
the President, the secretary of war and the
postmaster general 1t Is not understood
that this action is to be taken as indicat-
ing in any way that Rathbone is implicated
in any wrongdoing his subordinates may
have been guilty of, but simply as indica-
tive of the infexible purpose Of the ad-
ministration that the situation in Cuba
shall be probed to the bottom, wrongs
rishted and any guilty persons brought to
Justice, provided 1t finally turns out that
anybody has been guilty of criminal acts.
The requisition papers forwarded by Gen.
eral Wood for Neely have been received
here, found to be In correct form by the
law officers of the government and sent
on to Governor Roosevelt. 1t is understood
here that Nicely will have hearing before
Commissioner Shields, in New York, on
Wednesday. If case is made out against
him he will probably be sent to Cuba for
trial. though the law officers of the gov
ernment say he could be tried in the
United States courts of New York If the
government should so elect. The feeling in
official circles Is that 1t will be better to re-
turn him to Cuba for trial. If a case is
made against him at his preliminary hear
ing, because of the good effect such a
course would have upon the Cubans, who
would hardly believe he had ever been pun
ished unless he were tried in Cuban courts.
An Associated Press dispatch says: 1.-THE
postmaster general to-day declined to say
whether or not Director General of Posts
Rathbone would be suspended. Mr.. Bris-
lie tIaa Of md 4
latter might operate as a subordinate,
though on this point no statement is vouch-
safed. Further than the announcement
| that Mr.. Bristow would go to Havana. the
postmaster general said that there was no
new development In the situation. He
said there had not been an intimation that
there had been any wrong doing in the
postal affairs Of either the Philippine IS
lands or Porto Rico. In Porto Rico the
director of posts, Captain Elliott, was a
retired naval officer. He had had no ex-
perience in postal affairs and 1t was feared
| that he might make some mistakes. but
the entire system was conducted IN an
exemplary manner. In Cuba the manage
ment has been in the hands of an expert
postoffice employe and 1t was supposed
| there could be nothing wrong there. The
situation In Porto Rico and Cuba, up to
| the beginning of this month was practically
the same, but I'm the case of the former
both the military and the postal authori-
| ties had been honest.
Mr.. Bristow was appointed fourth assist
| ant at the beginning of the present admin
istration. He is native of Kentucky, but
| for many years resided in Kansas. from
which State he was appointed He has
been engaged in newspaper work and for
| a time was private secretary to Governor
Morrill,. of Kansas. Chief Clerk Merritt o.
Chance will be acting fourth assistant post
| master. during the absence of General
Bristow.
Respecting rumors that similar irregu-
larities to those developed in Cuba have
occurred in the other insuar possessions
over which military Jurisdiction has been
extended, 1t is declared positively at the
War Department. while the inspectors have
been working constantly to improve the
administrative service. they have not found
a single case involving moral turpitude.
Mr.. Bristow said to-day that Auditor
Reeves. who has been suspended at Havana
| was selected by the assistant auditor of the
| treasury for the Postofice Department for
deputy auditor. although the appointment
was made by the War Department, Assist
ant Auditor Lawshe, who has been sent to
Cuba to investigate. will fill the position
| formerly held by Mr.. Reeves. Mr.. Lawshe
who installed the auditors office in CUBA
is of the belief that If there has been
defalcation. the lines he laid down for the
management of the office were not fol-
lowed. for II would not be possible he
thinks. for such a thing to occur. II the
rules had been observed.
WILL RESIST ExTRADITION.