The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-30

/ Neely branched out i'm Cuba. They In
cluded the West India Trading Conhpa-
ny. i'm which he invested Sl2.5O0; brick
plant at Havana, I'm which he put s2o,ooo
and some mining schemes I'm South
America. The report says that Z. M.
Rich, who was brought to Havana as
Neely's assistant. told Rathbone In April
that Neely was crooked" Rathbone
denied any such conversation with Rich.
The report continuing says:
Rich claims to be innocent but he
at least had knowledge of Neelys
| embezzIements long before he claims
to have told Rathbone. Reeves con
fessed that Neely paid him LOU ior
concealing the fraud In the destruc-
ton of the stamps. Both Rich ana
Reeves protest against any crimin;il
designs How much credit should De
given to their statements III Is uliii-
cult to determine.
December n. 1895. when Rathbone was
appointed director general of posts his
salary was fixed at 81 000 At his request
| the postmaster general allowed MIN
per diem of s. i'm addition. lie claimed
| that this was not sufficient and June
| 18th the postmaster general Increased the
salary to $500. with notification that
with the increase the per diem wouid
cease July 81 Rathbone complained that
the Increase amounted 10 only S6i9 ana
asked Tor an NHAIlda hA@th1hNN- A''A' 49,
also allowed. December 18th the post
master general officially fixed Rath-
bones salary at S6.50e, making 1t eitec-
tIy.. August Ist. But although the Per
diem WAS cut off Rathbone contlnued TO
draw il.
The bills rendered for furniture for the
Official residence. the report says. con- con-
tain many items. such as charges LOT
trunk gloves dog collar, overcoat, hatS
for coachman. boots for tootman, shiFls'
collars, cuffs for coachman, etc.
The report finds that lsathbohe -
pcmditures in the payment oi depts anu
living expenses We're much IN excess ~
his salary: that in September ana ocio-
her ISa within thirty days altef the
destruction Of the surchafsea slalli's' iili's''
Ia discussing this subject the report
Rathbone To Be ousted.
ct is evident that the money with
which this Indebtedness was PAID was
secured from some other source than ms
salary"
The report closes as follows:
director General Rathbone maintains
that lac is innocent oil wFoiSdOl,lsi
Granting that what Director GentIa'
Rathbone states is trUe, he conNlc's h.ih- h
self of the groSsest catSieSShSsS ~ -
administration of the affairs oi HIS ol-
firc or of an utter incapaclty 10 com
prehend its duties and respohSi.'ili'.'t,s.
isur careleSSncSs cannot account iol Aitc
drawing Of fraudulent per diem, nhM1t-
r,9ut,.i personal expenditures from the
nuStal revenues. nor Tor the tstSHihb ~
th.. warrants and "A failure 10 account
Tor the money received thereon. heth-
tr General Rathbonc was Auiity Win
NesIv in the emncZZicmenis rnde 'hNoten
Ia IL covered az by the destruction oi
surchareed stamps Is at TINS tllhe
question more uf opinion IMAM proof but
there can bc no doubt that IN the mater
of the per diem. personal tNpenuAa 81;
ANA th.. warrants which We're cashtd ana anu
th.. money unaccoUnted Tor he unidMin W
N and fraudulentiN appropriated 20 ms
own use money from the 1uhlh p's'@i
reKt nucS. ,s ,,,a
..Nssiy. Reeves. Thompson. Moya anu
Mascara are now under arrest, anu iNiNH
Is held as a government witness.
..E,rn.u the. information ootalhed by
tbis Investigation, which | have endcaN-
ord H. set forth I'm the ioreG 9tsiB pages
!, Is my belief that ] was Jusllltd IN
recommending the removal OF biftc'or
General Rathb0ne from Office. ami
fisrrher believe that ne should be r.
0Iiiraa Ia answer Tor trauaulehtiy anu
Griawfully appropriating 70 MS own uss
moneys from the postal revenues "a
s-sttGaF