The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-21
The Expanding Cuban scandal.


We have no means of knowing how true
the story may Re, but the scandal situation
I'm Cuba is epitomlzed in a report from Ha-
ysna which represents Hanna's particular
man. Rathbone, as declaring that the Ad-
ministratiOIr does not dare to remove him
from Office, no matter what occasion it
may think there is for such action. Rath-
bone may or may not have said anything
10 the effect alleged, but the fact is rot
doubted. Rathbone received a position
giving him plenary control over the Cuban
postal revenues. for political services.
What those services were are known as
far as they were public; but if the Admin
istration dare not remove him, there must
have been others not so exOteric in char
acter. There are people and newspapers
unkind enough TO say that Rathbone's con-
nection with the election of Marcus A.
Hanna to the United States Senate was Of
q nature to engage the graf
itude and affection of the bene-
ficiary that the former must be pro-
tected and sustained at any hazard wheth-
er political or affecting the Presidential as
pirations of Mr.. Mckinley in the campaign
He is still Director General OF Posts. and
We do not hear that his palace. his salary,
allowances, and perquisites, his horses,
carriages, and liveried servants. or hls fur
niture, clothing, and hosiery bought at pub
lie expense have been inJerfered with. The
chances are that there are grave reascns
or state for avoiding any act that might
offend or even embarrass the able captain
who commanded the Hanna forces at Co.
lumbus
The gradual development Of the great
scandal is marked by such sensational ex-
POsures. and still more startling sugges-
lions. as to obscure the position OF Rath-
bone in relation to it. The sound busi-
ness methods employed in the postal
service are being found to have extended
20 other branches Of the insular govern
ment a fresh item of interest is FUR
nished in the history of the TricoTaia Rail-
way. small link line six miles long. con-
meeting the harbor Of Havana with the
railway of the city. Assistant Secretary
Meiklejohn has assured Congress that it
was built as a military necessity. II ap-
pears to have been built by order of
Ayers nan, Hecker, formerly Of the
friendly combination of Alger HecEer.
Hopkins and Kirby. That il was not a
military necessity is probable, since its
construction was dlsapproved and opposed
by Quartermaster General HumpI reys
Hecker. however, was more influential than
Abe head of the Quartermaster Generals
Department. and the road was built
h.
by the Assistant Secretary OF War. $342.-
elisa. or over $50 600 mile. 1t is stated
that competent engineers consider ten
thousand dollars a mile a liberal estimate
for its construction. Hecker did not ad-
yertise for bids when he started in to
grow the Tricornia plum tree. He applied
TO three contracting concerns, and the low
est bidder naturally The American In
dies Company The job IL was not
porcine about the matter. The two other
bidders were taken into the deal. and
all was agreeable AT a generous es-
innate for stations and such equip
ment as line which is p.acti-
eally nothing but long switch might
need the profit on this minor matter of
Cuban exploitation must have amounted
10 at least $3.50 900 to somebody.
The Tricornia railway is much too insig
niticant an affair to justify extended COM
ment There is more meat for reflection Ia
She gorgecrs insular career of the Hanna
Heath Nor American Trust Company. In
Cuba, Porto Rico. Hawaii and the Philip
pines. II nourishes everywhere except IN
Guam If gold or oil should be struck on
that island, il would be there too. The
North American Trust Company hung out
fits shingle in all the territories named as
soon as the Treaty OF Paris had been rati-
fed. Evidently it had been organized in
advance for the purpose of its noble mis-
sion 1t nionopolizes Government deposits,
disbursements. "a exchange. 1t exaets one
per cent for cashing soldiers pay II
charges the Government a commission for
the transmission Of the public funds. Its
policy has not been ilIiberaI in other re-
spects. for If is alleged that blocks of its
stock have been freely given without any |
money consideration to high csncials in