Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-02-23
CUBAN POSTAL
INVESTIGATION.
Two Volumes Of Testimony Report
ed to the Senate,
MR.. RATHBONE'S STATEMENT
lie Takes Up and Replies 90 General
Bristow's Charges Seriatim MIR.
Thompson Takes Exception. !

Washington. Feb. 23.--Two volumes
Of the testimony and exhibits In the
Cuban postal investigation were report
ed to the Senate today. They consist
in the main Of mass of figures, the
only new matter of popular interest
being statements made by ex-Director
General Rathbone and Mr.. Il. 7.
Thompson, postmaster at Havana, In
reply to Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow's criticisms Of their
conduct of affairs.
Mr. Rathbones statement Is dated
November Goth last and in It he takes
up and replies to Mr.. Brstows charges
seriatim.
Referring to Mr.. Bristows charge
that there was no contract as to prices
in the purchase of postofiice furniture
from the Keyless Lock company of In
diana, Mr.. Rathbone says that the
statement is contradicted by Bristows
own report He also says there was
cOHtidCl WIN tHc noSitI PdAf anu AE"N"
company giving this fact as refuta-
ton of Bristows statement that Neeiys
authority was absolute in the matter
Of purchase OF safes, etc.
Continuing Mr.. Rathbone says:
mo opportunity was given to me to
defend myself or the service which
had created until the second day be-
fore Brstow's departure. The scanty
time then available was devoted by
Bristow almost exclusively in the eff
fort to find some discriminating evil
dence against Gen. Perry S. Heath
first assistant postmaster general or
myself, as the interview shows NO
opportunity was given to me 10 eA'
plain what appeared against me or 10
make any showing Of the time ana
labor devoted by me and 10y my SUD
ordinates in the building up OF pos
tai service from its very foundation,
nor OF the obstacles that were met ana
overcome by us as best We could uh.
der the then existing conditions, put
the suppressed documents, letters, ETC.,
which | made q part Of my statement
Referring 10 the charges IN connection
with the Nicely miscellaneous Bills
Rathbone says;
The statement there made Involves
another case Of suppression, amounting
to peryersion Of material facts. Gen
Bristow knew, for ! told him myself
and the office OF the assistant auditor Of
the department of posts shows-that
,f no fNaalN hiIld
eight of which We're approved By myself |
as director general and five OF which |
were approved by p. H. Bristow. chief |
clerk Of the department, as acting d. |
rector general, during my absence, |
when the duty devolyed upon him OF |
approving bills Of this kind
He infers he says from these and |
other features OF the Brlstow report |
that the officials intended TO "deliber-
ately mislead by a plain perversion OF |
of facts within his own
knowledge He assertes that p. II.
chief clerk in the Havana Of
fee. signed warrant 1857 for $4,000, |
which Gen. Bristow charged him (Rath-
bone) with signing. Another transac-
ton charged as dereiction against
him is, he says, chargeable TO w. Ir-
win, a subordinate Of Gen. Bristow.
Mr.. Rathbone says there Is no evil
lence and that none can be secured to
sustain the allegations that he was
careless. loved ease and refused to give
attention TO details" on the contrary,
he asserts that he worked hard, earn
,stly and long
He says Auditor Lawshe and Perry s.
Heath were responsible for the appoint
nent of Dr. w. H. Reeves to place In
he Cuban service. He charges Bristow
With suppressing important parts of his
Rathbone's) testimony.
Postmaster Thompson takes excep-
ion TO Gen. Bristow's statement that
Ie (Thompson). had caused four mon
" orders TO be issued to himself, He
avs that as a matter Of fact he pur-
hased nine postoflice orders, but that
n doing so he committed no crime. the
heritage was made good. Speaking OF
he Havana office in general way. Mr..
Thompson says;
THE Havana postoffice was organized
nder the most trying and difficult cir
ane irregularities were
Iound TO occur. The organization and
onduct Of this office We're such that
FIR. BrIstow could find no reason for
change either In Its organization or
he number OF employees required TO
onduct e.. ] feel that, for techni-
al mistake on my part. | have been
1ost outrageously treated"