The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-13

Burton was carefully examined. Colonel
Edwards, the army officer in charge of the
division of customs and insular affairs,
also was called into the conference in view
of the fact that he has secured much valu-
able information bearing on the subject
matter of the inquiry through special re-
ports called for by him from the War De-
partments agents in Cuba Indeed, there
is an intimation that IL was due to a
port called for by Colonel Edwards upon
the assumption by him of the direction of
:nsular affairs a short time ago that the
first evidence of the alleged frauds was
unearthed. The officials here who have
been cognizant OF the steps that followed
this first report express surprise that the
whole matter has been so successfully con-
cealed from the public up to this time
They say that while it was the purpose
of the prosecuting officials to avoid pub
licity until they had taken precautions TO.
prevent the escape Of any guilty person it
is surprising that they should succeed in
view of the fact that this whole matter
has been a subject for discussion among
the American colony in Cuba for some
time past.
At the conclusion of the conference this
afternoon ii was announced that Assistant
Secretary Meiklejohn had appointed Abram
NJ. Lawshe, deputy auditor for the Post
Office Department, to be assistant auditor
for auditing the accounts of the depart
ment Of postoffices in Cuba in place of Mr..
w. H. Reeves, who has been suspended
pending the result of the investigation of
the alleged frauds. In connection with the
arrangement made to-day Mr.. Lawshe, &C
companied by Mr.. Nettleton. an expert
accountant, will leave here on Monday for
Havana with instructions to make a
thorough and systematic investigation of
the Cuban postal service with a view to
actual condition of affairs. 1t is declared
to be the purpose of the administration
to leave nothing undone to ascertain the
true situation of affairs in Cuba and to
bring to justice every person who may be
found to have been connected in any man.
ner whatsoever with frauds upon the pos
tai revenues.
To-day's conference also lasted for sew
eral hours, and 1t is believed the officials
concerned have progressed far with the
inquiry at this end as the material In hand
permits. The papers. under the close scru-
tiny of the experts, have sufficed to es-
tablish state of things in the Cuban pos
tai service demanding prompt and strict
investigation into the relations of other
employees than Neely at the earliest mo-
ment. It was rumored that Mr.. Rathbone,
the director of Cuban posts. had been
suspended In order to clear the way for
the inquiry. This rumor. however. ap-
peared to be at least premature; there
were no suspensions ordered in the case be-
yond that of Auditor Reeves. but General
Wood has been cabled full authority to
make suspensions of officials If the inquiry
he is making at his end tends to connect
Mr.. Rathbone or any one else with the
frauds in the slightest degree. In view
of the activity with which General Wood
is proceeding with his investigation i'm
mediate developments may be looked for
in Havana.
The postmaster general, when told to-day
that 1t was rumored that Director Rath-
bone was to be suspended. observed: 81
never said that such was the fact"
He denied that an order or suspension
had been issued. and when asked If such
action was contemplated spoke of matter
foreign to the subject. When pressed for
an explicit reply. he remained silent.
Inquiry was then made as to whether or
not any additional facts had come to light
I'm regard to laxity of administration on
the part of Director Rathbone. The post
master general replied positively: II have
nothing more to say"
Horatio Rubens, one OF the three COM
missioners appointed by the War Depart
ment to make reforms in the Cuban code,
has arrived here on temporary leave Of
absence and reported to Secretary Root.
Mr.. Rubens has been assisting in the in
vestigation Of the alleged postal frauds in
Cuba and has been advised by the War
Department In respect to that matter. He
refrained from any discussion of the de-
tails Of the matter, but says the Cuban
papers have rigidly refrained from utter
ing any criticisms against the Americans,
and even in private conversation the lead
ing Cubans ignore the subject from a de-
sire to avoid rejecting in any manner upon
the intervening power. The elections I'm
Cuba take place June 1s and the registra-
ton is now in progress. 1t is calculated
that there will be between 10000 and 200 900
registered voters.