Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-15
BRISTOW TO TAKE CHARGE
HE EXPECTS TO LEAVE FOR CUBA
TOMORROW.
Deposition of Director General Rath-
bOne-President Calls n
Conference.

Aside from several confirmatory dis
patches from Cuba announcing the arrest
of Postmaster Thompson and several Of
the clerks under him there We're no new
developments in the Cuban postal scandal
today. Mr. Bristow, who goes to Cuba to-
morrow to take charge of the postal af-
fairs of the island. had long conference
with the Postmaster General today. He
was given instructions concerning the mat
ters which are to come under his super
vision and is ready to sail tomorrow. Gen.
Bristow had nothing to say to a reporter
of The Star when asked by the latter what
he proposed to do in Cuba. He said brief
ly that it was his intention to probe the
alleged frauds to the very bottom and un-
earth all scandals attached to the postal
service there. Gen. Bristow. it will be re-
called, IS the head OF the inspection and
depreciation departments Of the Post Office
Department and has considerable eXper-
fence in ferretng out frauds
From late dispatches it is learned that
Director General Rathbone Is lending all
possible assistance to Governor General
Wood in bringing the frauds to light. In
fact it is said it was he WHO developed
the frauds in the Havana post office.
Rathbone's Suspension.
The exclusive announcement in The Star
Saturday that the director general of the
pests of Cuba would be depcsed was fol-
lowed late yesterday afternoon by an order
OF the President directing the same and
the subsequent order of the Postmaster
General detailing the fourth assistant post
master general, J. L. Bristow, to take
charge of the department of posts in Cuba.
There was a conference at the White
House yesterday afternoon called specially
by the President to discuss the postal
frauds in Cuba. Postmaster General Smith
presented the case, it is understood. and in
sisted upon the suspension of Director Cen
eral Ratfbonc. Mr. Bristow expects to
leave Washington tomorrow for Cuba, and
will begin his Investigations at once.
Havana Postmaster Suspended.
A dispatch from Havana places the
amount of the postal frauds on the island
very much in excess of what has been
heretofore stated. 1t is now said that the
local post office at Havana is involved in
the steal, and matters have assumed such
a serious aspect in the Havana Office that
Postmaster Thompson has been suspended
pending thorough investigat ton. Two
stamp sellers in the main Office named
Moya and Mascara, have been arrested, and
other arrests are expected today. Many Of
fic:als have heen placed under surveillance.
Auditor Reeves and Clerk Reynolds are
still under arrest in their own rooms
in charge Of detectives. but it is ex-
pected that special quarters will be
provided in one of the forts for all pris-
oners connected with the postal frauds
Director General Ra athbone denies that any
friction exists between the postal and mil
ltary authorities. Governor General Wood
is devoting great deal of time to the
frauds, and is in conference with tie postal
officials hourly.
Nee!y's Case.
II is said that a strong fight will be
made by Lawyer Lindsay to save Neely
from eXtradition. He expressed surprise at
the way the charges have been formulated
against his client. He said they were
based on the old Spanish law ana are not
brought under the laws of the United
States. His client wanted to be tried in the
United States courts as a citizen of the
United States.
A dispatch from Muncie, Ind. states that
Mr.. Neely had left his home for New York
Thursday. Before leaving it is said that
Nicely had assured his friends that he would
soon be home again.
Congregational Investigation.
Mr.. J. r. Williams has introduced reso-
luton in the House Oh. r. 26D providing
that the committee insular affairs be au-
thorized and directed to investigate and
report to the House as early as practicable
regarding the moneys received and expend-
ed in the Island of Cuba by the officials
and representatives of the United States
both civil and military, from the date of
the occupation of Cuba by the military
forces of the United States until and includ-
ing the 3Oth day of April, 1900.
The resolution specifies in detail the scope
of the investigation. which is comprehensive
in character.
Attitude of the War Department.
The War Department has not been in
formed directly of the action taken by Gen.
Wood In the case of Postmaster Thompson
at Havana. The news of his suspension
was received by Postmaster General Smith,
and by him reported to the cabinet today.
There was general expression of surprise
at the suspension, and even the Postmaster
General, basing his opinion upon the high
cIared that he did not believe that the
postmaster's personal integrity was affect
ed. It was evident, however. from General
Woods telegram that irregularities, at