The evening times., 1900-05-28
waiting for Congress to GO.

Notwithstanding all the sound and fury
of the past ten days. We are unable to
see that much ferceness has been shown
by the Administration in getting after
RathbOne, Director General Of Posts in
Cuba, and formerly the Hanna Lord Lieu
tenant in Ohio. The suspicion begins to re-
vive that Rathbone was not far wrong in
declaring. as he is reported TO have de-
clared, that the Administration did not
dare remove him His reasons for holding
such an opinion are more easy to under=
stand than to describe. If future genera
tions of Americans ever want an ideal
monument to represent Hannaism; they
will insist upon having Rathbone in the
group. He is one of its most significant
products. Done in brass, with Dick,
Heath, and their common master, moth
ing in the way Of the unities would be
omitted, as far as the political side of
the concept may be concerned.
Just at present the only discomfort that
threatens Rathbone is public curiosity as
to his expense accounts. He appears to
have been even more generous to himself
in the directions of per diem, sundry, mis-
cellaneous, travelling, transportation, per-
quisites, and similar allowances than to
his large and brilliant staff, of which
the amiable Neely was the able ring
master Not that he was unduly extrav-
agant considering his past achievements
at Columbus and the gratitude to which
they entitled him. His carriage. horses.
and equipment" we're modesty itself, ONLY
costing the revenues three thousand. one
hundr d and Eve dollars While he al
lowed most of his subordinates a per diem
Of three dollars day, in addition TO their
salaries, he only charged five for himself.
A proper regard for disparity in lsgit mate
pay would have made his extra allowance
about twenty-five dollars per diem II he
spent twenty thousand dollars for a steam
launch for yachting purposes, it is un-
derst bod that his colleagues were al
lowed to use it frequently There was moth
ing in the Rathbone administration that
we can see that was penurious or selfish
Everything was open-handed and the
service must have been a happy family.
Altogether. although perhaps a matter OF
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars or
so. included in the annual expense of the
Cuban branch of the Postofiee Depart
ment, may look like a waste of money and
quite irregular from the viewpoint of the
earping critic, it must be remembered that
the decree under which Rathbone acted
gave him plenary power over the island
postal revenues, without responsibility to
anyone for their utilization. Rathbone for
anything we nave been able to discover 70
the contrary, was entirely within his an
thority and instructions in making apy use
he saw fit of the money which came into
his hands. Agreeably to modern political
preeedents, as established since March
1887, he is not to be blamed for making
the most OF his opportunities II he chose
10 consider thirteen hundred dollars wcrth
OF upholseery, rugs, curtains, clothing. un-
derclothing, pyjamas, and hosiery neces-
sary to the proper conduct and comfort of
his offies, the only wonder is that his mod
nration was so great.
Rathbone cannot be touched. His de-
aAnce IS no idle boast. He knew what he