The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-11
GENERAL JEWELL.

THE REPORT OF THE HOUSE POST OFFICE CoMs
MrTTEE COMMENTED UPON by THE xx-Posr.
MASTER GENERAL-THE rALsrTY OF TIN
CHARGES.
HARTFORD, Conn.,, August TO- 1915.
A representative OF the Erentng Post Gale on Gov.
eruor Jewell his oicc this morning, and convcrsed
with him In regard to the alluded to In the report
of the House Pos, Office Committee published this
morning. and the following is tho substance OF what
was drawn from him in the course of the interview -:
The assertion that the contractor Kettle wrong.
fully paid certain his contract is simply false
Tho contract about which there was suspicion could
not, after long and patient investigation DO proved
be fraudulent, and be held TO strict discharge OF
its terms He was used as a witness against Hnds
but as elsewhere stated, in such way lose tho
case. To show that the department had not favored
Kettle 1t should be added that he afcrward indct-
ed on motion the Pos, Office authorities for other
transactions, aud has fed the country In regard to
tho clerks, there were three or four OF
them who bad not participated in the frauds
but coSnizant OF thcm-pcrhaps for pay. They
simply discharged and used as witncsscs their
conduct far as could be proved was not indctabo
The Postmaster General had personally littlc or nothing
TO do with these clerks. as they were IN Mr. Tyners
division, and he took charge OF tho mItter and man
aged II with marked ability, following out tho trails
leading 10 the neglected. duty by his clerks The Post
muster General never Kinds, and does not know
him TO this day After Kinds arrest Governor Jewell
became apprchensivc from Information received from
various sources that OWING To the incfciency or dis
honesty IN the District Attorneys Office Kinds would
not be indicted. or II indicted would be acquitted lie
asked the President to appoint al assistant district at
torncy. The President anxious for the convection OF
r0guep, consented this but Judge Fisher declined
assistance The Postmaster General sent the solicitor
OF his department Judge Spencer three separate times
to Judge Fisher Offering ana urging assistance and
upon Judge Fisher declinng tue Postmaster General
sent for him, and In personal interview
urged Tho employment oil additional counsel, fol
which no (thc Postmaster General) would pay.
Judge Fisher continued to decline. saying that fhs
lures OF the district knew Inn, and no knew the
lures and that therefore, ASSISTANCE would be OF no
avail. His statement proved true as TO his knowledge
OF Jurcs and they OF him, for the trial, brought ON
during the absence OF the Postmaster General on m
inspection tour at tho Wcst resulted IN Kinds acquittal
In regard TO Peterson should be said that far from
his beng flvortc, the Postmaster General Incurred
Pctcrsons hostility by forcing him to properly fulfil
his contract After having personally notified him Ia
ialicd his pay should be withheld, he did fail and tha
pay withheld TO the extent OF 600 quarter,
which Peterson has tired since In every TO recover
but up to Nr. Jewcll's retiring from tho depart
mcnt. without success Peterson thinking bo had
influence In other quarters made strong appeal 10 tho
President and presented his view OF the In
elaborate brief all to purpose Postmaster General
Jewell would refer the pubic Tor all information
corning both the Kinds and Peterson TO hts
ccssor Mr. ryncr, Who IN HIS position Of Second As.
ss,ant Postmaster General had immediate charge OF
them and matters connected thcrowith aud IT ~ but
just Mr. Tyncr 10 say hat he conducted these nvcs
legations with marked ability, activity and integrity,
assisted by Judge Spencer the solicitor OF tho depart
mott; and no decision In these cases was made BY
Postmaster General Jewell without the hearty approval
OF both these gentlemen. who are su IN the depart
mcnt and with tho records before them
plain fully all tho circumstances In regard to Hoi-
brook and O'Bricn, whose testimony this
assault is said 10 DO prcdicatcd, both wcro
discharged from tho department for cause,
OBrien for connivng nj ovcrpaymcnt OF contractors
II this OF the Of RECKLESS release" 10
owing to the fact that proof lacking aud that
any statute had been violated.
Looking TO the good Of the ana the breaking
OF straw BIDS Postmaster General Jewell prepared
bill at the commencement VI tho session last Deccm
Der which would In his opinion correct many OF tho
abuses IN regard to bids and urged lis passage before
the Committee Post Offices aud Post Roads, but up
to his retiring from tho department action had, 70
hrs knowledge, been taken upon II.