Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-08
THE COST Of KEEPING
A COACHMAh IN CUBA.
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES ON
DIRECTOR GENERAL RATH-
BONES EXPENDITURES.
HARNESS. HATS AND ROsETTES.
RUBBER TIRES, CLOTHING, UNI
FORMS, STABLE RENTS, ALL
CHARGED TO THE PUBLIC.


tor Platt, of Connecticut, chairman of
the Senate committee on relations with
Cuba, to-day made public the state
ment prepared by the auditing divis-
ion of the War Department, showing
the expenditures made by E. G. Rath-
bone, late director of the department
of posts for Cuba. The statement is
included in volume of POI pages, and
covers the period from January l, 1899,
to April 80, 1900. There are no re-
marks, and the book is a solid mass
of figures, showing not only the dis
bursements made by Rathbone, but Civ
ing the items disallowed upon re-exam-
ination, as we'll as those allowed. The
total disallowances for the sixteen
months were $72,631.
The first disallowance was on ac-
count of an expenditure of $3.50 for
duchess carriage made on the 18th of
February, 1899. After that time there
were frequent disbursements for the
director generals carriage service.
March 20 he paid s2O2 for set of har-
ness and carriage "auxiliaries. April
Z, S12 for a hat and for another hat
for his coachman with rosette, and on
the same date 1906 for harness, etc.
Rent for the coachman, stable, etc,
seems to have been regularly paid out
of the public funds at the rate Of $110
per month, and in one or two instances
the hostler's salary was thus supplied.
All the coach furnishings were pro-
vided in this way. In May, 1899, a uni
form costing $40, pair of boots cost
ing Is and another hat costing 50, were
bought for the coachman. June 8,
rain coat costing s26 was supplied to
that individual The coach later was
supplied with rubber tires at an ex-
pense to the public of $40. In addi-
ton there were many miscellaneous
charges for stable rent and for carriage
and car hire.
All of the payments made to C. W.
F. Neeley. chief of the financial bu-
reau of the department, seem to have
been carefully scrutinized and many
OF them were disallowed. Most of the
payments made to him apparently were
made on account of Office furnishings,
freight, drayage, moving, advance IN
salaries, etc. There are two or three
items in his accounts of from $40 to
$40 for the payment OF laundry bills
for the director generals coachman.
On October IA. 1899 $5123 was paid to
Neeley on account of loss on Spanish
gold taken to the United States and
this was disallowed, as were several
other minor charges in connection with
the transaction. Neeley made a trip
to the United States, going as far west
as his old home in Indiana, under the
direction, it is stated in the report,
OF the director general, and many Of
his charges in that connection We're
disallowed upon denomination, but
not, of course, until they had been
paid. He also made advances to Rath-
bone and to W. E. Wilmot on account
Of trips to the United States which
were not sanctioned by the auditor.
Some of the items in this connec-
ton amount TO as much as $500.
In April, 1899, Mr.. Rathbone made
visit to this country under the claim
that it was made in obedience to the
orders of the postmaster general, but
the auditors find that the trip was not
authorized and refuses to sanction the
entire expenditure. which was an even
$500. Similar action is taken with
reference to the purchase Of an enam-
eled bath tub for the department OF
posts, secured at a cost of S42. Attor-
neys and notaries were paid $40 for
services in connection with the leas-
ing of Mr.. Rathbone's residence. There
were also charges Tor plumbing and
paper hanging at the residence and for
a chandelier in the billiard room OF
that establishment. In one case the
rent OF the house was paid from the
public funds The house also appears
to have been furnished at the cost Of
the public.
In December of 1899 and January
Of 1900, several bills were paid to New
York and Washington firms by Rath-
bone, one aggregating 1925, another
1855. one of s133, one Of 1921. and an
other 81, $50. The last bill includes 240
entries and covers many articles Of do
nestle use, such as clothes, gloves,
!. scarfs. toilet articles. cuspidors, cham
payne and other wine glasses, table
ware. kitchen utensils, bedsteads, bed
room sets, bed clothing, etc. There
were also many disalIowances on &C
count Of Office furniture purchases, and
in some cases portions OF the pay
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