The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-17

y
high office who, if a scan
Il. dal had arisen in their de-
partment like that recently
disclosed in the postal service in Cuba,
would have squirmed and twisted in
a desperate attempt to unload the re-
sponsibilty on some other officials
shoulders. Charles Emory Smith is
not that kind of a man.
The New York World yesterday pub
lishod an interview with Mr.. Smith
on the subject of the Cuban postal
frauds which throws incidental light
upon his character. He was willing,
he said. to assume his full share of re-
sponsbilty for the unfortunate devel-
opments in Cuba but was not appre-
hensive that the higher officials in the
pOstoftiCe department in this country
would be incrimnated AS for the
system organized in Cuba, it was the
same as in the United States with the
exception that it had an additional
check by reason of its accounts pass
ing under the inspection of the mill
tary authorities. In Porto Rico and
in the Philippines the same system is
producing excellent results, due to the
fact that in both the administrative
ana the auditing branches in those
other del endencies officials are en-
ployed who are honest The fact
that among the Americans sent to ad-
minister and audit the Cuban service
were some who have evidently not
been honest was as great a surprise
to him as to anybody. In the appoint
ment of these men the utmost possi-
Bile care had been taken.
Mr.. Smith went on to say that moth
ing had thus far been developed to
implicate Major Rathbone in the Gu
ban frauds. Major Rathbone had been
special pension examiner, special
treasury department agent, chief of
postohice inspectors and fourth assist
ant postmaster general. In all of
these positions he had exhibited EN-
ergy, executive ability and honesty.
Mr.. Smith had at the time considered
that he was the best possible selec-
ton for director of the Cuban posts.
He still believes that Major Rathbone
is an honest man, but that there has
been laXity is apparent and in the ef-
fort to discover where it has been and
who is directly responsible for it no
man, high or low, will be shielded If
the facts point to his guilt.
"There is no disposition the World
article says, "On the part of the post
-, inlu 70 S,bi ip1 n
of completely in the Cuban postal
frauds. 1t is the desire of the presi-
dent and all his subOrdinates that the
fullest and most thorough investiga-
| ton he made and all the facts deYe!-
oped. 1t is further desired that all
the facts be laid before the public at
the earliest moment the interests Of
| justice and the service permit. There
is no disposition in any quarter to
suppress or minimize the truth. AS
an earnest of this disposition to in
| vestigatc and punish, the four most
| efficient inspectors in the service are
nov cnrOute to Havana. Their in
structions are to exercise all their skill
| and ingenuity in the development OF
| facts. They are clothed with the ut
most authority. At the same time a
! force of expert accountants have been
sent to Cuba, who will examine all
! the books and ascertain the precise
! status of affairs at present. In ad-
! dition, the military authorities are
| conducting their own Independent in
Vestigation, All are working in per-
feet harmony, but on their own lines"
one OF the first papers in the United
| States to grow pessimistic over the
! Cuban postal frauds and to hail in
| them a sign that our system of gov
ernment is not fit to WELD colonial
responsibilities was the Philadelphia
Ledger; yet its Washington correspon-
dent says: 1.-THE promptness and
earnestness with which the president
| and his subordinates in the postoffice
and war departments have gone about
| the task of cleaning up the postal SER
vice in Cuba has caused change In
public opinion in Washington during
the last few days. There can be no
doubt that the president intends to
| have the extent of the malfeasance
| at Havana determined and the Offend
ers in custody before the summer is
far gone. Those senators and MEM
bers who have talked with him say
that there can be no mistaking his
purpose in the matter. With this turn
in the case there has been a change
in the views Of many senators on the
matter of an investigation, and the
Bacon resolution calling for an in
vestigation during the summer by the
Cuban committee will not be pressed
to vote. Senator Platt, of Connecti-
cut, who is chairman of the commit
tee, declares that he cannot spend the
heat OF the summer in Cuba at work
taking testimony, and his feeling in
this respect is shared by Senators Tel
Ter and Davis, who are also members
of the committee. The vigorous pros
| ecution of the investigation by Secre-