Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-22
RATHBONE's SUSPENSION.
1t May BE Regarded as Tantamount to
Removal.

The order suSpending Director General
Rathbone from the postal service in Cuba,
as printed exclusively in The Star of yes
terday, bears out the prediction made on
the 10Th instant that such a course had
been decided upon by the Postmaster Cen
eral.
1t may be said the suspension of General
Rathbone Is tantamount to removal. for
without doubt he will never resume his
duties as the official head of the depart
ment of posts of Cuba. This prediction was
also made in The Star. There is no evil
dence that General Rathbone is implicated
MS record thus far, save in the matter of
extraVagances and failure to discover the
frauds. has been found clean.
1T Is understood Postmaster General
Smith urged the immediate suspension of
Rathbone when the frauds We're first dis
covered. and Governor General Wood was
cabled for recommendation along this
line. The governor general it is under
stood realizing the valuable assistance
which General Rathbone could give the
government in unearthing the frauds,
counseled delay And so 1t was that Cen
eral Rathbone was continued in office In
the meantime he did everything in his
power to unearth the full extent Of the
frauds. Promptly upon the arrival of Cen
eral Br1stow he repaired to the office of the
governor general and discussed the situa-
ton. Nothing was done at that conference
1t is understood, and General Bristow called
the post office inspectors before him and
heard their oral reports. 1t is learned that
Auditor Reeves informed one Of the in
spectors that Neely had told him of Cen
eral RathboneS connection with the frauds
But this was too remote to form the basis
OF any charges AZ the next conference be-
tween General Bristow and the governor
general the subject of Rathbone's suspen.
sion was again taken up, and it was agreed
IL IS sald, after a very few minutes con-
versation that it would be better to recon-
mend the suspension. The recommendation
was forthwith cabled in cipher to Postmas-
ter General Smith, who, after comforting
with the President, issued the official or
day.
Reports from post office inspectors are
being promptly cabled Postmaster General
Smith, who is in touch with the entire stu
a.lon and Is directing every move from
Washington. The reports thus far received
show the accounts of Cuba to be In n
chaotic state. A recent report which COW
ers the investigation up to within a day or
so ago, places the loss to the government
by reason of these fraudulent practices be-
tween $4,000 and S9O,OO0 1t is believed
that after all the funds belonging to NeeIy
now in the hands Of the government as
wei as those which the government may
be able to seize. and the bonds of those i'm
piicated are applied to the defalcation the
loss to the government will be small. If 1t
Is not entirely wiped out.
one lhlng IS certain in connection with
the postal service in Cuba 1t will he com
pletely reorganized, and there will be re-
trenchment on every hand. Many of the
offices will be consolidated. and when Cuba
emerges from this nasty tangle of frauds
it will be none the worse for its unplea sant
experiences.
1t IS possible that the investigation will
be concluded in a week or ten days The
post of1ce officials are working day and
night, and the big tangle is being systemat-
1cally unraveled.