The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02
CUBAN POSTAL FRAUDS
Special Auditor Lawshe's Report
Regarded as Confidential.
Findings Submitted to the War De-
partment But Withheld From the
Pubiic-IrrcGularitic Thoroughly
Siftcd-The Nicely and Porto Rfcnn
Cases in the Supreme Court.

Special Auditor Lawshe who IL said to
be one OF the most expert accountants in
the employ of the Government, and who
was sent to Cuba to make a final inves-
tigation into the postal frauds has sent
his findings 10 the War Department. The
report was made direct to Secretary Root.
Adjuiant General Corbin does not deny
that the report is now in the War Depart
ment, but he says it will not be given out.
He views 4; as confidential report made
TO the Secretary of War wholly for the in
formation of that official and the Presi-
dent He says that a document of this sort
that is prepared to enable the Secretary
to properly administer affairs in the ISL
and is not a matter for the public. and
that. therefore il will not be given TO the
press.
Il is understood that Lawshe has spared
no one in his report. He goes directly TO
the bottom of the crookedness in the Cuban
postal service and duplicates everybody
who had the least part in 1t. Govern
ment official who saw a part of the report
says 1t is the most straightforward de-
nunciation of a lot of rascals he has ever
seen. Lawshe it is said, makes no recon-
me ada lions. but goes much further into
details than Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow did when he made his re-
port about six months ago. 1t is stated
that Mr.. Mckinley is very much pleased
with the work Lawshe has done, and that
the President is looking for a place of bet
ter grade than Lawshe now occupies in
order to reward him with promotion.
Whether or net Lawshe has produced
any fresh evidence against either Nicely
or Rathbonc is not known. The latter is
still in Cuba under form of restraint
that is new to the Jurisprudence Of this
country. Nicely continues to languish in
Ludlow Street Jail in New York, pending
the final hearing of his extradition case in
the Supreme Court in Washington. The
case is set for hearing on the 10th of this
month. The Department of Justice has
not yet concluded its brief in the case,
and it is thought that Attorney General
Griggs will not be prepared when the
Supreme Court calls the case, and that
therefore it will have to be postponed for
a month or more. The belief ia growing
among lawyers that the court will refuse
to permit Nicely to be carried to Cuba
under the warrant that he is now fight
ing. A decision OF this kind, contrary to
the Administrations contention with re-
gard to the relations of the United States
to Cuba, would better define what those
relations really are than has yet Teen
done, either by Congress or by The rresi-
dent acting through the War Depar: .nent.
The Porto Rico test case is behind tie
Nicely case on the Supreme Court docket.
Briefs are now in the course of prepara-
ton in Attorney General Griggs' office in
this case. 1t is feared that the Attorney
General cannot complete these briefs in
time for the hearing, and that the Porto
Rican case will be postponed along with
the Nicely case. Meantime, the Admin
istration will be exerting all OF Its in
duence to rush through the bill increas-
Ing the Regular Army to loo, 600 men. II |
the Porto Rican case is decided ad, etsely |
to the Administrators colonial policy a |
radical change will have to be made IN |
that policy to meet the Interpretation put |
upon the constitutional phases of the mat
ter by the Supreme Court. But the army
viii have been increased, and that much,
anyhow. will be accomplished.
The principal reason given for the Ad- 1
ministrations desire to enlarge the army |
is the war in the Philippines 1t is not |
denied by some of the stoutest supporters
OF the Administration that unless the Su-
preme Court upholds the doctrine put to
the test in the Porto Rican case that
Congress has power to impose discrim-
mating taxes against parts OF the country.
That serious complications in the Philip |
pine situation may arise which possibly
will make it advisable for Mr.. Mckinley
to adopt the essence OF the Democratic
contention with reference to those ISL
ands.
All of these questions are said to have
been discussed at the White House yester-
day by the President and various support
ers who called during the day Mr.. Han
ma, who arrived in the city yesterday
morning and paid his respects to Mr. Nc
hinley last night, refused to talk about |
any of these matters when urged to do SO !
by numerous newspaper men who found
him at the Arlington Hotel