Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-08
CUBAN POSTAL FRAUDS.
STATEMENT OF RATHBoNE's EX-
PI1NSES MADE PUBLIC.

(By Telegraph to yirginian- Pilot.)
Washington, Dec. 7.-Senator Plat.
OF Connecticut, chairman of the Senate
committee on relations with Cuba. to-
day made public the statement pre-
pared by the auditing division of the
War Department showing the expendl-
lures made by T.. G. Rathbone late di-
rector general of the Department of
Posts for Cuba. The statement covers
the period from January 1. 1899. to
April 80, 1900. There are no remarks,
and the book Is solid mass of figures.
The total dlsaliowance for the 16
months were s12,03l.
The first disallowance was on ac-
count OF an expenditure of $3.50 for u
duchess carriage made on the 2Sth of
February, 1899. There were frequent
disbursements for the director generals
carriage service. Rent for the coach
man, stable, etc, seems 10 have been
regularly paid oSt of the public funds
at the rate of $40 per month, and In
one or two instances the hostlers sal
AIRY was thus supplied. All the coach
furnishings were provided in this way.
In May, 1899. a uniform costing $40,
pair of boots, costing $15 and another
hat costing 50 were bought for the
coachman. June 0. a rain coat costing
SIG was supplied to that individual.
The coach later was supplied with rub
i4ti LlIcS dit dIl CNDtllSt " lue poOllC VI
$li0. In addition there were many mis-
cellaneous charges for stable rent and
for carriage and car hire.
All of the payments made to G. w.
Nicely chief of the financial bureau of
the department. appear to have been
carefully scrutinized and many of them
were disallowed. There were two or
three items in his accounts, from $40 to
$50, for the payment of laundry bills
for the director generals coachman.
On October II, 1892 $5,123 was paid to
Nicely on account of loss on Spanish
gold taken to the United States, and
this was disallowed. Nicely made a
trip to the United States, going as far
West as his old home. in Indiana under
the direction, it is stated in the report.
of the director general, and many of his
charges in this connection were dis
allowed. upon re-eXamination, but not,
of course. until they had been paid.
In April 1889. Mr.. Rathbone made n
visit TO this country under the claim
that it was made in obedience to the
orders of the mastcr-general and
the auditor finds that the trip was not
authorized and refuses TO sanction the
entire expenditure, which was an even
$500. Similar action is taken with ref
crence to the purchase of an enameled
bath tub for the department of posts.
secured at a cost or S42. Attorneys and
notaries were paid s11 for services in
connection with the leasing of Mr..
ltathbone's residence. There were also
charges for plumbing and paper hang
ing ut the residence and for chande-
lier in the billiard room of that estnb-
lishmcnt. In one case the rent of the
house was paid from the public funds.
The house also appears to have been
furnished at the cost of the public.
In December. 1899, and January. 1900
several bills were paid to New York
and Washington firms by Rathbone
one aggregating S925, another S36s. ono
sl33. one Sl21 and another s1.356. The
last bill included 240 entries and covers
many articles of domestic use. such
ms clothes, gloves, scarfs, toilet articles.
cuspidors, champagne and other wine
glasses. tableware, kitchen utensils.
bedsteads. bedroom sets. bed clothing.
etc. There were also many disallow-
ances on account of office furniture
and in some cases portions
of the payments are found to have been
legitimate and others not so. In some
cases shirts, collars and cuffs were
to the government
All payments made to Cowan & Com
pany, of MunCie. Ind for nripftnp md