Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-04-10

CONGRESS-.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
HICr.ch 1Lh 1915

March m, 1916.
GENERAL POST OFFICE AFFAIRS.
he cor mlttee appointed to investigate the conduct
o. the General Post Office Department., made
That they have used their utmost endeavors 10
ascertain every fact tlat appeared TO be material TO
a'u understanding %: the conduct Ofthe officers OF
that department. AS the inquiry originated in a
request nt he Pest Master General, the committee
IN the first pace addressed 10 him = letter mo 1
icquestne II be formed Of the refsms Of his april
cation TO Congress, ard also that he wonid give
them such information appeared TO he calculated
to facilitate the Investigation. The Post Master
General stated. in his answer, ill4t the application
was Induced by rumour that some person or per-
sons OF the department had sold dr.,Ns for money
due TO the General Post Office, e prelnums which
had converted to their private use, Gee letter
No ..
The committee therefore procre,!ed to enqni~e
iutn the truth of the rumOur By the examination Of
e'ery Persnh who seemed likely to have any know
ledge ri the fact but, in the examination Of some
OF the clerks in the General Post Office various
suggestions were raade ofimprOper transactions in
the department. ctherihan those to which their at
tenton had been drawn by the Post Master Ge-
neral.
The investigation has therefore assumed very
extensive scope, and has consequently occupied
more Time than could have been anticipated at its
commencement This delay has also been incrcas-
CT oY circumstances arising out OF the nature Of tie
iNiN ~ NJ pei SON appeared 70 MIKE any SpeCi
he cha Gcs, the committee had alternative but
10 alsnGoD their undertaking or listen To rutnours
and TIE heaIsays OF some oftiie wnessc' aud Sc ud
Tor other witness. 10 prove the facts: they made
choice of the latter course, aud have examined cye-
ryperson who was either suggested to them or APP
pea"ed as likely opposes any information on the
subjects of their enquiry.
he charges arising ont Of the suggestions of the
witnesses, and which, from the various comnai,iea-
tons they made to the committee, itarpearcd to be
the desire of some ofthem most especially 10 cstab-
lsh. are rs follows, viz.
LIST. That certain persons in the General Pos,
Office. and particularly Abraham Bradley, uniort
assistant Post Master General, had sold Post Office
dral's and checks, and applied the premium to their
private use.
book of the General Post Office, and an erroneous
entry o-nd thereon.
81. That private accounts were improperly
kept with Individuals, On the books OF the Post Of
fee.
4th That Phineas Bradley had been concerned
in cnntract for carrying the msi, that iDpro-
perry oht-ined
5ih That F. Bradley had received corrup,ing
presents from mail contractors.
9th. That =. Bradley and Abraham Bradley, jul
Nor, bad made use Of Post Office money inpur-
chasing deprecated bank notes, for which they
ceiged a premium, and appedt to their private
use.
7,h. That Fark notes which were better than the
paper of the District OF Columbia, end treasury
note, had been returned to post masters, by order
Of Abraham Bradley, Jun.
9Th. Thst tie Washington and Union Bank, and
certain individuals had proiited by tie sale of Post
Ogice drafts.
Oh. That a contract for carrying the mail from
ashirglOu to Fredericksburg had been s,persed-
ed by order of the post master general before ex
pred, and about double the amount given Tor The
same service.
An examination Of the sn joined testimony and
documents, will enable the House To determine
how far The charges either of them have been
sustained the committee have however no besita-
ton IN expressing their opinion on them scyeralty.
T. With respect 10 the FIST charge in relation to
Abraham bradley, Jun. there is no evidence what
ever, 70 iu1nce suspicion, that be has sold post Of
hce drafts or checks Tor premium, nor does il an
penr tiat coy other person ia the general post Of.
nee has sDi rOst office drafts or checks tor a pre-
MUM, other ihan drafts obtained for their own sa-
aries, except 10 the ease Of ~. ri. Edwards, who
hougt post Office draft on Boston, fr District ri
Columbia PAPER, and disposed Of Il by an agent IN
NcF-Gnrk, las " he Prcsumes,' for premium.
1 he committee have not relied upon negative
testimony ~ ,lisprove ibis charge but have aiten-
lively examined the book 1.-THE Union Bank con
taiuing the accounts with the general post Office as
wtl as The private accounts nc Abraham Brsdicy,
Jun. aud Phneas Bradley, with that bank and have
satisfactorily asccrtaiucd that credits hive been ei-
ven 10 them, any other person in the General post
Office, tor premjuu on d,afts or checks they have
si.o a,cerancd hat the prrroiurs for port Office
drafts & checks sHd by fhc bank, have been entered
m the profit and loss account thereof II therefore
couelsqvely follows, that these premiums have ac-
crued to- the bank, ani 90 none olhcr.
g. II appears ttat draft no c,voi OF Elisha Rifgs.
% charged 10 Oe cash hook OF the general post Office
as ,pld to the Union Bans, tlr words Dnon Bank.
being apparently written on ~ eipsurc. But from
go examination Of IRE bocks of tdc Union Bank,
tbe committee asrerfrined ;bat the general post o.
Sec bad credit itr ibis dfart thereon, (sec also the
fc9'imonJ oi Elisha Rgcs) an9 therefore tac DRAFT
having leon actually sold 90. and negoewcl BY tao
Union Bank and aet Elisha Risgs. thcy mot per-
ecyc amy imrrcpriciy ln ti.e entry, and stlI loss
have they b-en abe % discover any improper par