Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-08-02
HOW THE cuBANs WE'RE DONE UP.

frauds perpetrated in Cuba by certain
officials of the Postoffice Department
has been made public. 1t reveals a
course Of swindling and stealing that
was probably unknown in Cuba un-
der the palmiest days of Spanish rule,
and the Cubans do not regard the
Americans as very much better than
the Spaniards.
When the United States took charge
of affairs in Cuba the administration
dumped upon the islands large and
very miscellaneous crowd of political
heelers to fill the offices. Most OF
them were in for looting the treasury,
and many of them succeeded fairly
well. The most barefaced rascal IN
the lot was c. w. F. Nicely, of In
diana, who was appointed chief OF the
finance division of the Cuban postal
department. Neely's salary was 81
800 year, and when he was appoint
ed he was in poor circumstances. he
did not remain poor very long, how
ever. He went to Cuba January 7,
1899. On February 6 he deposited
in a bank at Muncie, Indiana, $685.
IS, and in February and March he
deposited $3.50 more. The report
says:
Thus Nicely, with salary of 81 800, or
$3.50 a month, was able within three
months to deposit Sl,S59.75, which is
conclusive proof that his embellishments
began in February, 1899. In May he de-
posted 1887. 20; in June, S775. "a; in July,
1868: on August IA, Sl3, 1860; on Octo-
tober 6, $40, $50, and number of deposits
| of lesser amounts were made afterward
Went to work in January, began to
steal in February
Nicely had conducted printing Of
flee in Indiana, and after he became a
government official he gave his estab-
lishment lots of fat contracts. the ag-
gregate sum paid out amounting to
over $4,000. He also got rake-off
of Sc, 292 from a furniture company
from which he purchased government
supplies. Neely's cash shortage in
his government accounts amounted to
Sll9,279.4S, and further investigation
may run the amount up to $4,000.
Just how much more he received in
commissions and from fraudulent con-
tracts has to be guessed at.
Z. G. Rathbone, director-general of
posts in Cuba, an official high in gov
eminent favor, is another gentleman
who thought he was in Office for the
particular purpose of plundering the
Cubans and robbing the department.
He was appointed in December, 1898,
at salary of $4,000 year. At his
importunate request he was given an
additional allowance of S. day for
expenses. In August following his
salary was increased to $4,000 per
annum, and he was allowed large
additional sum for house rent. He
was told that the S. day was now
to be discontinued, but he kept draw
ing this per diem right along until
April of this year, fraudulently re-
ceiving $1,365 on this account. He
charged up to the government also
money spent for furniture, trunks,
clothing, laundry, etc. Rathbone made
tour of Cuba, and the entire ex-
penses of himself and his family were
paid from the postal revenues. He
also came to this country and went to
Ohio on private business, paying all
expenses from the public funds On
another visit to this country he turned
in bill of $S26.77 as his expense ac-
count, one item being hotel bill Of
1886. Is in New York while waiting
eight days for steamer to take him
to Havana. On couple of occasions
Rathbone drew warrants for $500
Just on general principles and be-
cause he needed the money. He lived
in lavish style, and many of the bills
were boldly paid from the public
funds. Rathbone was arrested last
Saturday and put it jail to await trial
for his frauds.
Rathbone and Nicely are the two
principal criminals in the Cuban
frauds, but there were other lesser
culprits. Their barefaced rascality
has brought disgrace upon the admin
istration that appointed them and
given the United States a bad name
with the people of our new possessions.
A BOMB has been thrown into the