The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-08-09
CUBAN POSTAL FRAUD
FIRST FRUIT OF CARPET-eAG
IMPERIALISM.
Report Shows an Astounding Con-
ditioI of Official .Rottenuess-Reve-
nues OF the Island at the Mercies of
COnscienceless Gang.

Washington correspondence:
The report of Fourth Assistant Post
master General BristOw in relation to
the Cuban postal scandals shows such
Il condition Of rottenneSS that RathbOne
has at last reluctantly been arrested.
The report let the offenders off as light
ly rs possible, but 1t showed plainly
that the postal revenues Of Cuba We're
entirely at the mercy of n gang of con-
scienceless scoundrels, and that there
was no attempt TO keep any check upon
them. Rathbone. Neely and their con-
federates are alleged to have absorbed
about $15O.OOO. The amount Is really
much greater, but Neely is given the
benefit Of the doubt on thousands OF
dollars worth of stamps that disap-
peared.
1t looks as if the administration is
really afraid that RathbOne will pull
down the pillars of the temple. There
is no doubt whatever but he was the
head conspiratOr, but he Is only held
responsible for the appropriation Of
about $1,000 and with failing to ac-
count for few warrants which he
cashed and with drawing a per diem
after it had been ordered disallowed.
Neely is made the chief scapegOat. 1t
will be remembered that Neely is still
in New York City fighting the extradi-
ton law which Congress passed for his
special benefit.
This first fruit of carpetbag i'm
perialism ought to be a lesson to the
American people. This government
gave Cuba solemn pledges when it was
liberated from Spanish power. The
Cubans were gravely told that they
were not yet fit for self-government.
but must stand by and learn by watch
ing how our officials did the trick. 1t is
to be hoped that the Cubans will not
attempt to emulate the example set by
Rathbone. Neely. ct al. How inspiring
1t must be to the Cubans to remember
that these officials began to plunder
from the day they took Office and they
might be at it still for anything this
administration cared. only the jealousy
Of certain army officials who were not
sharing In the plunder, let the secret
out. and forced an investigation.
More than a year ago the head Of the
postOfiice department in Washington
was warned that something was wrong
with the Cuban postal department.
Did he act? Not at all. He had absO-
lutte faith in Mr. Hanna's friend, Rath-
bone, and Neely was assumed to be
above suspicion.
Neely went into the business of ap-
propriating government funds in all di-
rections with a cheerful heart. He had
a printing plant in Muncie, Ind. He
allowed himself any price he chose to
charge for printing and paid the bills
twice over when the amount did not
seem big enough. Neely's salary was
$3.50 month. He was in financial diff
ficulties when appointed. yet when he
had been in Office three months he was
able to deposit over $1,000 in bank. He
became more prosperous every month.
In October last he deposited $4,000.
He drew check of over $1,000 as COM
missions to himself for buying $4,000
worth Of furniture for the department.
Neely had so much money that he
didn't know what to do with 1t. He
Invested $4,000 in a trading company
cocoanuts. He had brick
yard near Havana in which he invested
$4,000. He went heavily into South
American mines. And yet the admins
tration talks about its record" in our
new possessions. Even If it did not
know the knavery Of its appOintees-
which it did-it would stand convicted
Of negligence and inefficiency that such
things could go on unpunished and only
be brought before the public by acci-
dent.
Rathbone got his salary increased
from $1,000 per annum to $1,000 and
drew S. per diem besides. He had his
house fitted up in palatial luxury at the
expense of the government. He charged
up trunks. boots, dog collars, coach
mans outfit and similar sundries to
the government. He went on junket-
ing trips to New York and had his
whole family stop at the WaldorfAsto-
ria at the expense of the government.
These are only a few items in the
of fraud and corruption that
reigned in the postal department Of
Cuba. The administration, while ar
resting RathbOne, shows no desire to
punish either him or Neely promptly or
to the full extent of their crimes. The
promise of punishment is made in def
erence to popular Indignation which is
dangerous just before election.
Shows British Sympathy.
Striking proof of the Administrations