New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-16
RA THBONE NOT SUSPENDED.
NO ACTION AGAINST HIM PENDING MIR.
BRISTOW'S REPORT ON CUBAN
POSTAL FRAUDS.
[BY TEL EGRaPH TO THE TRIBUNE

by TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON May 1J-No order has been
issued for the suspension from office or MI
Rathbone the Director-General of Posts in
Cuba and no such order will be made pending
the Investigation about to be opened by officials
of the PostofTice Department
There were no sensational developments here
to-day in regard TO the Cuban postal frauds, and
the story published in some Of the newspapers
yesterday and to-day to the effect that an order
had been issued suspending Mr.. Rathbone from
his official functions was declared incorrect by
Postmaster-Ge General Smith this afternoon
Whether Mr.. Rathbone will be suspended at all,
he said, would depend on the nature or the re-
port and recommendations to be made by the
Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General,M Mr. Bris-
tow. who is going to Cuba to direct and aid in
a thorough investigation of the alleged postal
frauds. He will cooperate with the other off,
cials and agents of the Postofflce Department
and the War Department. and the length of his
absence from Washington will depend on the
amount of time required to perform that Work.
which he hopes will not exceed three or four
weeks While he remains IN Cuba Mr.. Bristow
WILL of course have general control and direc-
ton Of the administration of postal affairs and
of the reorga nizaton of that branch Of the SER
vice in the island. for which he is TO start to-
morrow
valuable aid of Deputy Auditor Lawshe. of the
Treasury Department, who IS considered one OF
the most capable and efficient, we'll as one or
the strictest officials in the auditing service or
the Government. He is said TO be no respecter
of official persons in the performance OF ms
duties and he would disallow an item in the
Postmaster Generals account, If he considered
1t irregular or improper. as quickly as he would
in account rendered by fourth-ciaSS poS'-
master in Alaska or Oklahoma.
All the officials here who are cognizant or tne
facts in the possession of the secretary OF var
and the Postmaster General candid!y say that
the situation is a grave one and that the postai
affairs and accounts of the island are In state
of almost inextricable confusion, which IL VIII
require time and skill and much work to cor
rect. For this condition of things the lneSpeIl-
ence and lack of technical knowieose Oh lIe
military accounting officers and their Subordl-
mates in the island no doubt responsible IN
part. but there is grave reason 20 Deneve anu
fear that extravaganza improv1dence anu r rlIo
lessness of expenditure, If nothing worse nave
marked the management of those affalrs
GENERAL WOODS HOPEFUL VIEW.
Havana. May Northumberland Wood. re-
ferring to-day to the postal service of Cuba.
said:
Speaking generally, the postal service of the
island of Cuba is in, high state OF eheieneS'
The money order branch is especially use1ul,
but all the branches have made good records;
The service as a whole. should not be piafneo
for the faults of handful of raScalS-
STATEMENT FROM NEELY'S COUNSEL.
John D. Lindsay. counsel for c. F. w. Nicely
yesterday said:
"All the comment have make on the case Is
that my client is charged with violation OF the
laws of Cuba The argument the application OF
the United States Government for the extradition
to Cuba of Mr.. Nicely Is set for Thursday IN Albany.
rs your client in this city,?
Mr. Nicely is-well. won't talk about that
further than to say that he is within easy reaen
when we want 10 communicate with him., said
Mr. Lindsay. .
United States District Attorney Burnett said:
We are busy with the extradition papers in the
case. There will be DEVELOPMENTS in the mat
ter at this office to-day.
ArGER DENIES ALL RESPONSIBILITY.
Detroit, May 15.-Ex-secretary Alger said tonight
in the course OF an interview the alleged Cuban