The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-09
affairs on the island. A knowledge of these

TIRE lrutnluineSS OF the Charges winch
have been brought against Nicely 1t may
be that he has stolen $4,000 or 100000. but
ii he has the fact must be proved before
his friends will acknowledge him guilty.
The startling revelations that are threat
ened in connection with the alleged Neely
defalcation may be all that is promised,
but IL would not be surprising If he were
entirely cleared and that rotten politics
end intrigue. instead Of rotten financiering,
is at the bottom of the whole business.
This Is case where II will be just as well
to wait for the facts before bringing in a
verdict.
Major Rathbone Is accounted a very
shrewd man and one well qualified to pro-
tect himself and affairs under his jurisdic-
ton against dishonest schemes and schem-
ers. No one questions his personal honor.
and 1t will be surprising IL charges of
crookedness among his subordinates are
verified.
CHARGES TO BE PRoBED.
The administration is very much agitated
over the threatened exposure of corruption
in the Cuban postal service. The Pres
ident has given directions to the secretary
of war and postmaster general to probe the
charges to the bottom and turn on the full
light. If there has been any rottenness in
the administration of the service on the
island those who aye responsible will be
called to account. This position is indi-
Gated by sem-authoritative statements
emanating from the White House. The
President, however, will see that no injus-
tice Is done and will not be used by the Of
ficials Of one department or by selfish In
terests operating through such officials to
besmirch the good names of employees in
another branch OF the service. 1t is the
determination Of the President to see that
exact justice Is done. The honor and the
good intentions of this government in it's
relations to Cuban affairs will be clearly
defined as result of the investigation. 1t
is the purpose of the administration to
make it clear to the world that the people
of the island cannot be wronged by repre-
sentatives of the United States. but first it
must be established that actual wrong has
been done. The clamor just now is against
Major Rathbone, who is accused by War
Department interests Of mismanagement.
Proof in support of the allegations has not
yet been furnished.
MR.. HEATH'S STATEMENT.
First Assistant Postmaster General Heath
comes sharply to the front this afternoon
with the following statement in his own de-
fense against insinuations that he Is in
some way standing in with Neely In fur
nishing supplies to the government. Mr..
Heath says:
about four years ago a stock company
was formed to buy the Muncie News. Of
this my brothers were members, though
"a No int IN mi N
Company Is a separate establishment. and
is situated several blocks away. Neither
myself nor my brothers have any interest
in the concern. The News plant Is simply a
newspaper and has no job office connect
ed with 1t. 1t has never done any work
for the government. What the Neely
Printing Company may have done is a
different matter, but Is one which con-
Germs the War Department alone. Mr..
Nicely was an appointee OF Director of
Posts Rathbone. and Rathbone is an ap-
pointee of the postmaster general and the
President. He comes from Ohio, and, as
am informed, Is a friend of the President.
If Nicely has done work for the govern
ment and has been overpaid for 1t, or If he
10 wrong in his accounts, it Is the concern
of Director Rathbone and the auditors of
the War Department. He might have stolen
the whole island and we know nothing of 1t
here. 1t is true that Mr.. Neely was an old
friend of mine. We came from the same
town, and had known each other for a
long time. but 1t was not my appointment
which put him in the Cuban service. He
was taken down there by Mr.. Rathbone,
along with a number OF clerks from the
department"
dispatch from Washington to the In
dianapolis News says:
Senator Fairbanks said. when the case
was called to his notice.: We must not
fall into the error common to all nations
which have new possessions OF allowing
officials who are dishonest to remain un-
punished. There is great temptation. and
some will be unable to withstand it, We
must see TO 1t that the guilty are quickly
apprehended and are brought to the stake.
as IL were, so that our own people and the
people of other nations can see that we
intend to make an example of dishonesty.
1 do not say that this particular officer is
guilty, for / do not know the facts, but
certainly. in all cases In which guilt is
proved. the punishment should be swift and
ample"
"Adjutant General Corbin says the War
Department has ample evidence to convict
Neely. There is no chance that 1t will turn
out to be a technical offense.' said General
Corbin. He took the money of the gov
ernment, and when arrested he was getting
away with 1t as fast as he could. In his
trunk were found 5000 and lot of bonds
and securities. man on a salary of s., 500
year doesn't accumulate so fast that he
has to carry 1t in his trunk. He had tried
to cover up his tracks behind him. The
department anticipated that he would re-
sist extradition. and that is the reason
for the trip of the inspector general to