Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-28
POSTMASTER WAeAT's cRoOKEDNEss
lie Admits that He Received Money for
Letting the House Contract.
BY tola graph 20 the Dispatch.I

WASHINGTON, September 27.-The House
Committee on Accounts to-day began IN,
yestieation into the charges preferred
against Postmaster Wheat, of the House,
in the resolution introduced by MIR. Enloe.
The charges are in effect that MIR. Wheat
required the contractor who carried the
mails from the House to the post-office to
nav him $3.50 per month from the contract
price; also. that the Postmaster has on bis
roll of employees at 800 per month MIR.
Bradley. who works in the Government
Printing Office, aud that Bradley pays S95
OF il to Mr.. Wheat's son.
The committee first took up the charge
relating 10 the letting of the mail contract
and called Mr.. Wheat to the stand TO make
a statement concerning it. The contract
was entered into, he said, in December
last with Mr.. Culberson at the rate of
$4,000 per year, of which sum Mr.. Culber-
eon was to give him $3.50 per month. Some
time after the letting of the contract he
feared that il was being liked of by dis
charged employee as not being proper
thing. The charge subsequently, appeared
In the newspapers. He then talked the
situation over with other persons and came
10 the conclusion that the contract was a
violation of the law.
HOW he RETURNED THE MONEY.
He then wanted to give the money he
had received from Mr.. Culbertson $3.50
back to him, but was advised that IT did
not belong to him, but to the Government.
lie then went TO the Treasury Department
and deposited the money and received q
receipt for II. He had received no more
since from Mr.. Culbertson under agree
ment. Replying to Mr.. Enloo, the POST
master said that he had consulted the
Clerk Of the House, Representative Cas-
we'll. the Speaker, and Others about the
matter. He was asked if his son Walter
had not gone TO Contractor Culbertson,
telling him there was likely to BIO
an investigation and asking him to
put $3.50 in the hands Of third
party. lie declared he knew Of no such
conversation. subsequently the contract
was taken away from Mr. Gqlberson and
reiet at 81 900 year. Mr.. Wheat said fur
ther that number of persons had spoken
70 him concerning the perquisite of $3.50
per month before the contract was enter
ed INTO, but their names he did not rocall.
Mr.. Harry Culberson, the contractor who
carried the mails, was then sworn, and
identified the contract. He had carried
the mails for Mr.. Dalton. the former Post
master, for six years previous TO Decem-
Der last. He had received as compensa-
ton 5000 per year. The witness declared
that he had not made similar previous pay
Ioents OF $50 per month TO the Postmas-
ter.
"ANIED -ZVJ Pfb MONTH.
He explained how il was that the pres
ent transaction came about. Mr.. Wheat
bad asked him TO come TO his room. Mr..
Wheat asked him at first for 500 per
month in return for the contract. The wit
cess said he could not give him that. but
made counter proposition TO give him
ei5o. This, he said, would require him to
do the work at starvation price.
MIR. Dillon was called in as a witness
to the affair. He did not pay any part of
his contract money TO any person during
the SIX years of Postmaster Dalton's adj
ministration.
In reply 10 member of the committee,
witness said that he was Dalton's brother
fu-lsw.
Witness said he had paid money to Mr..
Wbeat's son Walter. One day, when it
was apparent that an investigation was
probable, MIR. Wheats son csme 70 him
and sought to have the money, $3.50,
handed over temporarily to q third per.
nou. but this was not done. He had re-
ceived notice subsequently, Of desire 10
close the contract. but there was months
DAY still due him.
n. Edward Mcpherson, Clerk of the
H0use. was next called to the Witness
sfand, He testified in effect that Mr..
Wheot had come 10 his ofdcc With Richard
Gricht TO geo him some time In May last.
WEeof allowed him certificate OF the pay.
r,6nf Of G760 into the United States Trea-
my. he also testified that when he
jo6snod Of tho conditions OF the contract
. e0fased fohgp the Seesapt tor the June