The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-30
WHEAT In A BAD LIGHT.
THE INVESTIGATION GOING DE.
CIDRDLY AGAINST HIM.

His Predecessor Denies Having Re-
ceived Rebates - Young Wheats
Arrangement With Bradley Made
With the Connivance OF the Elder
Wheet-Unpopular With His EN-
ployes.
WASHINGTON. Sept 29.-Investigaticn OF
the charges against Postmaster Wheat OF
the House OF Representatives was continued
by the committee on accounts to-day. with
Mr.. Spooner the chairman presiding. Be-
fore any witnesses were examined Repre-
sentative Caswell of Wisconsin, represents
ing Wheat, called the attention of the com--
mittee to the act making appropriations for
the House postoffice, and contsnded that its
phraseology gave 10 the postmaster absolute
right to 5000, appropriated for carrying
the mails. The phraseology had been
changed a few years ago. he said, so that
the postmaster was allowed to use the whols
amount or so much as might be necessary.
FORMER CONTRACTS
Mr.. Dalton, postmaster in the Forty-
eighth, Forty-ninth and Fiftieeh congresses.
was present and desired to make a state
ment He said that when ne entered upon
his office a contract was in existence for
carrying these mails, but the person doing
the work going into other business, he en-
tered into contract with Henry Culbertson
for doing the work at 81, 900 per year. He
never, directly or indirectly, received any
part of this money as a perquisite of his
Office When Culbertson took charge he
did not have any money, so witness leus
him money to buy an outfit and had been
reimbursed.
In answer to Mr.. H ayes, witness denied
having made a statement to Wheat that
Culbertson could afford 10 give Wheat any
money for the keeping Of the contract. In
answer to Postmaster Wheat, witness de-
MED having said to him (Wheat) that Gull
bertson could give to him $3.50 per month,
and it would be all right To Mr.. Grimes
witness said no never had seen Wheat's SON
before to-day; that he never during six
years, had got a cent out of the contract
with Culbertson, and that he never told
Wheat about any of the peFquisites Of the
office.
YOUNG wHEAT's DOUBLE SALARY.
The matter of Wheat's son drawing the
salary for which another mans name was
carried on the rolls was then taken up. The
gist Of the testimony Is that vacancy oc-
curring in the postofiice, young Wheat
asked William Il. Bradley TO permit his
name to go upon the rolls aud to sign
vouchers for the pay at the rate OF 800 per
mohIl, VI Wnacu DFhukey was 10 pay
Wheat S95 per month, retaining IS,
In addition to this the Wheats,
father and son ,tobtained Representative
Caswells indorsement upon Bradley's ap-
plication for a position la the government
| printing Office. When this vacancy was
filled another had occurred, and also the
described arrangement was continued as to
this one, except that Bradley retained $40
this time, notwithstanding threats of the
withdrawal of Mr. Cas wells name from his
recommendation. On behalf of young
Wheat il was explained that he actually
did the work OF the two positions. his own
and the substitute, with occasional help
from his father, the hours of the two places
being such that he could do so.
PARTY TO THE ADVANCEMENT.
Bradley testified that Postmaster Wheat
was present when the settlement was made
between himself and young Wheat, and il
was the elder Wheat, who suggested the
withdrawal of Caswell's Endorsement. Sub.
sequently Postmaster Wheat had spoken OF
the impropriety Of this substitute arrange.
ment, and had discharged Bradley.
Other testimony indicated that Post.
master Wheat is personally unpopular with
some of his employees, some describing him
es 'overbearing," and also that the feeling
existed that young Wheat's attempt to do
the work of the two positions had increased
the labors OF the other employees. On be.
half of Representative Caswell young
Wheat testified that Mr.. CasweIl had no
knowledge OF bis arrangement with Brad.
ley when be (Casweln signed Bradley's
papers at Wheat's request. Wheat Is q
constituent of Caswells.