New-York tribune., 1900-07-27
THE CUBAN INVESTIGATION
RATHBONE'S CASE UNDER CONSIDERA-
TIoN AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
HE MAY NOT BE ARRESTED AT PREsEN--
DAMAGING DISCLOSURES IN MR.
BRISTOW's REPORT.
IsT TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrnUSE.I

Washington, July Ex-senator Platt OF Cons
necticut chairman of the Committee on Rela-
tons with Cuba, has been a busy man since
Tuesday. Among other things. he has carefully
read a considerable portion Of Assistant Post
master-GeneraI Bristows exhaustive report on
the Cuban postal frauds which consists OF sew
enty-two typewriter pages and is fortified by
forty-eight exhibits Mr. Bristow's report on
the reorganization OF the Cuban postal service
Is not yet completed. but il will show that the
economies effected by him will result in a re-
duction of 3S per cent in the total cost OF that
service as compared with Mr.. Rathbone's ad-
ministration. Some persons in Cuba contend
that the reductions have been too great and at
the expense of the efficiency CT the service but
Mr.. Bristow says they are mistaken. It is
understood that the report already submitted
does not cover the total receipts and expenditures
of the postal service under the Rathbone- -NeeIy
administration. but only itenized statements in
detail of the receipts and expenditures of funds
which came into and passed out OF NeeIy's pos
session.
TALK OF ARRESTING RATHBONE.
1t was reported to-day that the Secretary OF
War had ordered the arrest Of E. G. Rathbone
on the showing made in the Bristow report, but
this report could not be officially verified and
was doubted by persons who had reason to be-
neve that General Wood. the Military Governor
pressed the opinion that it would be better to
defer the arrest and prosecution Of Rathbons
until after the extradition of Nicely which the
authorities here appear to consider probable in
the near future. Whether Rathbone be irnrne-
diately arrested or not may seem to be a matter
of comparatively little Importance as he will
not be permitted to leave the island pending the
extradition and trial Of Nicely
In transmitting the Bristow report to tbs
laid special stress on two damaging disclosures
against Rathbone He wrote:
It further shows that E. G. Rathbone. late Of.
rector-General of Posts. drew warrants OF $40
and that no account or explanation has been rem.
dered; that he appropriated per diem Of s. for
hbIted by the Postmaster-GeneraI, and that hs
cuI m a ~ eSIraVasant ana unJIstnaoe expenditures
upon the postal revenue
In view Of these disclosures it is rather diff-
cult 20 understand why there should be any de-
lay in instituting proceedings against Rathbone.
Neely or no Neely. The Secretary Of War was
engaged most of the time to-day in consideration
of Rathbone's case. Judge Magoon. the law
officer OF the War Department and Colonel Ed
wards, chief Of the Division Of Customs and IN
sular Affairs, were called into consultation by
Mr.. Root.
1t is not probable that Senator PIatt will call
meeting of the investigating committee until
the official data which the War Department and
the Postoffice Department are engaged In COL
lecting in response to the resolutions Of the
committee are ready 10 be submitted. How soon
that will be in the case Of the former is some
what uncertain, it appears. although much
progress has been made. Colonel Edwards is
capable and energetic officer, and he is giving
the committee valuable and intelligent assist
ance. Some things have come TO light, it is un-
derstood, which indicate lax methods and con-
siderable extravaganza of expenditure in certain
branches OF the military administration OF
Cuba, but it is asserted that no cases OF fraud
or pecUlation have bean discovered outside Of
the postal branch ~r'"' 20
HAVANA HOSPITAL CRITICISED.
Considerable unfavorable criticism has been
expended on the costly hospital built and
equipped by the Government at Havana 1t
arranged to accommodate 300 patients,
and by the time it finished the 10000 United
States troops that were in Cuba when it was be-
gun had dwindIed to one-fourth that number.
The fever epidemic which had been feared did
not appear. and the result was that not more
than hundred three hundred Army pa
tients were ever treated in the big hospital II
has since been turned over 10 the municipality
of Havana. and is used as a municipal hos
pital. in which there are from eight hundred
to nine hundred patients The Army officers de-
tend the expenditure Tor the hospltal by saying
that it was made when there were 10000 in the
island, and if an epidemic of yellow fever. or
even Of typhoid, had appeared they would have
been justly and severely criticised if they had
been found Unprepared for il. They conCede that
bad Judgment may have been shown in the
building of so large and expensive a hospital.
but assert that there was no fraud about it.
Virtually the same defence is made in the case
Of the electrozone plant installed in Havana
SENATOR PLATT TALKS OF HIS WORK.
After referring TO these and several other in
stances. Senator Platt to-day remarked:
1t IS even palmer to me now than il was at first
that in order 10 make intelligent investigation
must first have before us complete statements
in detail of all the receipts and expenditures. show
ing where the money came from. and 10 whom and
for what every dollar expended was paid When
such statements shall have been furnished I will
call the committee together andy viii so anead-
DOES NOT GIVE ORDERS To COURTS.
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