The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-20
Cut the Plate Numbers OF Sheets and
Disposed of Them to Philatel-
lists at a High Price.
SENT MONEY TO VENEZUELA
WHERE HE PURCHASED CONCESSION
TO WORK RIVER BED FOR GOLD.
Government Anxious to Attach the
Property Arrival at Havana
of Bristow and Inspectors.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON, May &c. +. w. Neely
appears to have left no opportunity for
personal gain unimproved. All the details
of his methods of plundering the Cuban
postal revenues are not yet known, but
that they include a failure TO destroy the
four hundred thousands dollars worth of
surcharged stamps and the sale of large
quantities of them for the benefit of the
conspirators seems to be assured. 1t ap-
pears that In addition to this method Of
unlawful gain he had another scheme.
Stamp collectors place high value on
these stamps, to which are attached the
plate number of the sheets to which they
belong. Postage stamps are printed in
sheets of one hundred. In one corner Of
each sheet is this plate number. Sometimes
it is next one stamp, sometimes 1t extends
along two and occasionally as many as
three. The stamps TO which the plate
number is attached are held in higher es-
TEEN by philatelists than the others in the
sheet. The great public that does not col
lect stamps tears off the perforated slip
containing this plate number and heed
lessly throws ii away. So stamps with
plate numbers attached are rare and cor
respondingly valuable. No collection. of
course, is complete without stamps with
plate numbers. Now it is claimed that
Neely had an arrangement with a philatel-
list firm in New York by which this firm
was to have monopoly of Cuban stamps,
surcharged and plain. to which plate num-
bers were attached, and that for the
stamps of this character which he fur
nished this firm he was paid large sums.
He is said to have furnished this firm with
a large supply of these stamps so esteemed
by collectors. 1t is known that collectors
who have applied to the Havana postof-
fee to purchase stamps with plate numbers
attached have not been able to secure
them. Even when they ordered them in
sheets of hundred they could not get what
they wanted, for when the order would be
filled it would be found that the stamps
to which the plate numbers had been at
tached had been carefully removed. AS
the money for the stamps had to accom-
pany the order the baffied and disappointed
collectors had no recourse and were COM
PEELED to submit to the outrage.
The postmaster general had no informa-
ton to-day in regard to the report that
paper had been smuggled into Cuba and
sold by postal officials. He did not care to
express an opinion on the subject, saying
that at present his surmise would be no
better than that of any person. AS this
government will on June IA next take
charge of the postal affairs of Hawaii, two
inspectors have been sent there to instruct
postmasters as TO the methods to be used,
which will be similar to those in this coun-
try. The policy of home rule will be fol-
lowed in Hawaii as it was in Porto Rico In
regard to appointment of postmasters. This
rule will be followed in all cases, including
presidential appointments