New-York tribune., 1901-02-24
CUBAN POSTAL INQUIRY.
RATHRONE DENIES CHARGES AND AT
TACKS BRISTOW

Washington Feb 22-Txo volumes Of The testi-
mony and exhibits in the Cuban postal investiga-
tion We're sent 10 The Senate to-day. They consist
chiefly Of mass Of figures. the only new matter
Of interest being statements made BY ex-Director-
General Rathbone ar3 Z. P. Thompson. postmaster
az Havana. in reply 70 the criticisms Of Mr. Bris-
tow the Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General on
their conduct Of affairs dr. Rathhone state
nent is dated November % last. and in IL ne takes
up and replies to Mr. Bristow's charges seTiatim
Referring 10 Mr.. Bristow's charge that there was
no contract to prices in the purchase Of post
Cffce furniture from the Keyless Lock Company.
of Indiana. he says that the statement Is con-
tradicted by Bristows own report. He also says
there contract with the Mosler Safe and
Lock COMPANY giving this fact a refutation Of
Bristows statement that Neely was absolute in the
matter Of purchases Of safes. etc. Continuing.
Rathbone says:
No opportunity was given to me ~ defend my
second day before Briitoi eS1rtIre The scanty
time then available was devoted by Bristow almost
5,uSlNelS n the eIort 10 ma some lncrInlhaIlhs
e.Eldence against General Perry : Heath. First
interrieu, sJo. NJ oi III I en-, IL; a - ~
explain what appeared against me make any
by my subordinates in the building up Of postal
service from lis very foundation nor of the OBJ
We could under the then existing conditions but
he suppressed documents. letters etc which
made A part Of my statement.
Referring 70 the charges in connection with the
Nicely miscellaneous bills Rathbone SAYS:
The statement there made involves another case
OF suppression. amounting TO perversion Of ma
myself and the oce Of the Assistant Auditor Of
ne Department Of Posts shows-that there We're
thirteen Of the Nicely bills" eight OF which
approved by myself Director-Ceneral and five
Of which were approved by Mr. r Fl Bristow
chief clerk of the Department as Acting Director
General during my absence. when the duty de-
volved upon him Of approving bills of this kind
He infers. he says, from these and other features
Of he Bristow report. that that official intended
deliberately 10 mislead by plain p@rversion and
suppression Of facts within his knowledge" ="
He asserts that P n. Rrstow 6cheF clerk of the
Havana Officer signed warrant No 7,0S7 FOR $1,000
which Rristow charged Rathhone with sisnire
Another transaction charged dereliction
against him is ho saws. chargea hle 70 J. ". Irwin
a subordinate of Bristow.
Rathbone SAYS there Is no evidence and that
none can he secured sustain the allegation that
he careless. loved and refused 10 give
attention details" on the contrary. he asserts
that he worked hard earnestly and long He
says that Auditor Lawshe. and not Perry
Heath was responsible for the appointment ~ Or
". II. Reeves to a place in the Cuban service. He
charges Bristow with suppressing important parts
of his Rathbone's) testimony
Postmaster Thompson takes exception 70 Mr.
Brtstow's statement that he CThompson) had
caused four money orders be issued himself
He says that as matter OF fact, he purchased
nine postofice orders. but In doing so he commit
ted crime, and the shortage was made good
Speaking OF the Havana Office in q general way.
Thompson says:
The Havana postofice was organized under the
most trying and difficult circumstances and irreg
and conduct OF this once were such that Mr.. Bris-
tow could find no reason for change either in lis
conduct IT, / feel that for a technical mistake on
my part have been most outrageously treated.