The St. Louis Republic., 1900-07-16

Fourth Assistant Postmaster tc!ier.h DTS
tow. who recently investigated the conduct
of the Cuban postal system under T. u
Rathbone, will expose most remarkable az
renditures made by Rathbone for "offciaf
nurposes of the Director General of Cuban
Posts. This report has been delayed for
the purpose. It Is said. of letting popular
condemnation Of the administration
agents in Cuba die out as far as possible
From official records In Cuba an abstract
of General Bristow's findings is gathered.
and IT will be incorporated in hi report
whenever made public. This may not be
done. however. until after the elections.
On Investigation It was found necessary
TO disal!ow or suspend for explanation more
than 100000 Of Rathbones accounts. for
want of proper vouchers and because Of the
extravagant expenditures for personal arti-
cles for his household, charged 10 the reve-
nues of the island. Oriental rugs, costing
hundreds of dollars, carriage and trap
pings running into thousands: boots for
coachmen. s31; a hat at sls. and an endless
assortment Of similar purchases, 90 to swell
this grand total.
Rathbone is an Ohio Republican, a Nc
Kinley partisan. and was one OF The
Hanna TO the Senate. The imperialists are
distressed at the disclosures Of Cuban mall
administration. They appreciate that Rath-
bones exposure fs a timely reminder of the
dangers of colonial military government
and the manner in which official trust is
betrayed by agents sent out TO manage af-
fairs for distant peoples.
The exposure of Cuban postal scandals
has caused general inquiry as to what is
going on in the Philippines 1t is argued
that if such corruption can exist in the
administration agencies within easy reach
Of Washington. there Is no limit 10 the
looseness OF expenditures made possible in
islands 1000 miles distant, where the single
cable connecting them with this country is
controlled by the men who would be In
terested in concealing Irregularities. II they
exist
When Secretary Root returned from his
visit to Cuba he stated that. in his judg
ment. the people of the islands are over
whelmingly opposed to annexation. They
want independence. 1t is not surprising. in
view OF the experience they have had with
Republican officials during the past year.
or the $4,000 and more suspended in Rath-
bones accounts. large part has been dis
allowed finally. The hope Is held out by
Bristow that vouchers for portions Of the
balance may be furnished" The investI-
CATION however, apparently has not brought
them to light.
General Bristow's report, when made
public, will embrace the following state
ments:
The disallowances thus far made In the
accounts of E. G. Rathbone, late Director
General of Posts. aggregate sll.5s2.S7. OF
this amount about 5000 consists Of double
payments OF salaries. etc.
The amount suspended IN his account sg-
gregates SIS. .sS7 .is. OF this amount one item
OF $1,000 d!sbursed by warrant to c. F. W.
Nicely to correct error in deposit will
necessarily be disallowed. as it is not shown
that there was any error in deposit, and It
would not have been a proper way OF cor
recting such an error IL one had existed.
Many other disallowances. agsreyatius sev-
eral thousand dollars in amount. will ensue,
but It is hoped that much OF the suspended
amount may be properly vouchered
The articles purchased by E. G. Ra;h-
bone. late Director General of Posts. for
use In the official residence at Cerro as
far as ascertained. are as follows:
Bill of Lord & Taylor. for miscellaneous
supplies. which on investigation proved to
have been bagdads, cretonnes. tablecloths.
napkins, rugs. etc. sl2l SO.
Bill of Woodward & LCthrop, Washington,
d. c., miscellaneous supplies" which. on
Investigation, prove to have been glass and
chinaware, si33.33.
Bill Of John Wanamaker, New York
household goods of various kinds (the first
item is trunk and the last is an overcoao,
e1.ass.6s.
Bill Of J. w. Mason & Co., New York,
furniture for official residence, including
freight and insurance. s3i7.as.
Bill OF ]. ". Mason & Co.. New York. fur
niture for official residence, including freight
and insurance. s58o2.
Bill of J. w. Mason & Co.. New York. fur
.niture for official residence, including freight
and insurance. s35.25.
Bill Of ]. w. Mason & Co.. New York. fur
nitrre for official residence. including freight
and insurance. s2Al9.
BIZ of J. W. Mason & Co., New York, fur
niture for official residence. including freight
and insurance, ssss.sI
Bill Of New York Furniture Exchange
Surr iture s237.73
Bill of ]. Borboua. chandeliers for official
residence. s113.
Bill of Gomez, O'Brien & Co.. glass plates
for chandeliers, 81; placing same, s..
Bill for repairing furniture belonging to
the Marquise de la Gratitude and rented to
Director General of Posts. s17S7o
Total. s., ,5s2H.
The cost OF repairs to the residence of the
Director General OF Posts. as far as can be
ascerteined. was as follows:
For placing gas fixtures over the billiard
table, ei5
Bill for plumbing. material, labor, ETC.,
$131n
For gas fixtures, $50
For instantaneous heater placed in bath
tub at official residence, $s135.
For bathtubs at official residence, $l13.5o
For paper hanging, official residence. so.
Bill Of labor, paint material, etc. sl22.ss.
For gas lamp for bathroom at official res
idence, $3.50.
Gas bill. official residence. for which C.
F. W. Neeley was reimbursed, s73.22.
Repairs at official residence. for which c.
3. W. Neeley was reimbursed, $500
Total. sSSST.
In addition to the above there are unpaid
bills for labor. plumbing and improvements
at the official residence to the amount of
H.76030. OF which amount $l.6S0 is due to
Messrs. Purdy & Henderson Of Havana. as
per statement made by Mr.. Buchanan.
The expenditures of f g. Rathbone, late
Director General of Posts. in connection
with his official carriage" as far as ascer-
trained, are as follows: