Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-29
He Has a Long Conference With the
Postmaster General.
WILL MAKE REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
Declines to Answer Questions Until
After Such Action.
INQUIRY VERY THOROUGH

For two hours this morning Fourth As
sstant Postmaster General Bristow, who
has just returned from his investigation of
the Cuban postal scandal. was closeted with
Postmaster General Smith. 1t is under
stood that Gen. Bristow, armed with his
note book containing the summary Of his
Investigations. went over the situation quite
thoroughly with the head of the Post Office
Department and fully informed him as to
the exact condition of affairs in Cuba the
amount Of the pecu.ations ard the extent
of the robbery. AT the conclusion Of the
interview the Postmaster General told a
Star reporter that there was nothing az TINS
time to give out for publication: that he
had directed Gen. Eris1ow to make full
report of the investigation. and that as
soon as that had been received and read 1t
would be given to the press.
Talk with Gen. nristow.
Later in the day a Star reporter had an
interview with Gen. Bristow. The latter
spoke pleasantly of his trip, but carefully
refrained from discussing any features OF
his investigation which will form part of
his report to the Postmaster General. He
said very frankly. in explanation of this
silence, that he did not regard it as proper
for a subordinate to discuss in the press
matters which will be embodied in an Off
cial report. He said, however, after some
questioning, that the salaries of a great
many of the clerks on the Island of Cuba
had been reduced in accordance with a
plan of reorganization decided upon be-
fore he left the United States.
He had been gone very nearly six weeks
and during that time his invest;gation of
the affairs of the island had been most
thorough. Ten United States postal in
spectors had been on duty in Cuba during
his presence there. and each and every
post office was carefully and thoroughly in
spected and a report made of its condi-
ton.
Sny;nl, by REORGANIZATION.
In commenting upon the reduction of
salaries. he said that the government had
saved by the reorganization plan some
thing like sltn.co a year This had been
due to the cutting down of expenses that
were not necessary and reduction in the
salaries of clerks, which, in some cases,
mad been exorbitant.
He said the idea upon which he worked
was that the clerks in Cuba should be paid
salaries similar to work performed in the
United States. When the reporter suggest
ed that many of the large salaries had been
based upon the increased cost of living
there. Gen. Bristow said ne had never
stated that the cost of living was greater
in Cuba than it was in Paris or in England.
and that if any clerks down there were not
satisfied with their positions they could re-
sign ana OtnerS would be Immediately ap-
pointed to fill their places.
Some Direct Questions Asked.
Gen. Bristow was asked some direct ques-
ticns, such as: Can you state the exact
amount of the loss by reason of the frauds
of Nicely and his confederates?"
do you believe General Rathbone is in
volved? Will General Rathbone be arrest
ed? D. YOU believe the government Will
recover from Neely's bondsmen and the
securities which they now hold any large
proportion of the alleged defalcat!on?''
To all of these he answered: II cannot
answer those questions because of the re-
port which | am going to make to the
Postmaster General, and which will contain
all of these matters
Asked if he believed the culprits there
would be punished. he said he had great
confidence in the present administration
Concerning the feeling of the Cuban peo-
pie upon the scandal, he said that they
would be thoroughly satisfied he felt, if
the men who had been arrested could be
brought to Justice and convicted He
thought that after the reorganization
which was still going on. was in full opera
ton the post office system down there
would be largely improved.