Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1900 — RATHBONE’S LAVISH EXPENSES. [ARTICLE]

RATHBONE’S LAVISH EXPENSES.

Spent Money for “Any Old Thins:” and Charge 1 It to Cuba’s Account. Senator Platt, Connecticut, chairman of the committee on relations with Cuba, has made public a statement from the auditing committee of the War Department showing tlie expenditures of E. G. Itathbone, late director of Cuban ports. The report covers 291 pages, aud is a solid mass of figures. There is no comment. The committee makes disallowances for sixteen months, the total being $72,631. The disallowances include: For a duchess carriage, $850; set of harness, $202; jipigupa hat for coachman, sl2; more harness, $306; rent perjnontb for coachman, stable, etc., $110; coachman’s boots, sls; coachman’s uniform, S4O; new tires for carriage, S4O; rain coat, $26; bath tub, $42; coachman’s monthly laundry bill, from $lO to S2O. Many of the accounts credited to 0. F. W. Neely were disallowed. Most payments made to him were for office furnishings, freight, advances iu salaries, et,c. Rathbonc spent SSOO in one trip to the United States. Itathbone’s residence seems to have been furnished at the cost of the government. Bills aggregating $3,000 for household articles were found. There were bills for champagne, wine glasses, kitchen utensils, carpets, cloth, shirts, collars and cuffs. Tlie auditor recommended the disallowance of $12,281 spent for repairs on tho department building and also a deposit of $12,000 erroneously credited to Rathbone.