Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-09-30
THE HOUSES SCANDAL.
Investigation Of the Charges
Against Postmaster Wheat.
WHERE UNCLE SANS MONEY WENT

WHERE UNCLE SANS MONEY WENT
Large Profits on a Mail Contraot--An EN-
ploye Who Did s6I Worth Of work and
Gave 500 of Itto Young whsat-strange
Doings-
WAsHINGToN, Sept 30,-The investiga-
ton into certain charges made against the
official character of Mr.. Wheat, the post
master Of the house Of representatives, was
continued by the house committee on ac-
counts Representative Caswell (wis),
representing Mr.. Wheat, called the atten-
tion Of the committee TO the act making
appropriations for the house postoflice, and
contended that the phraseology OF the act
gave the postmaster the absolute right TO
use the whole amount (s5 OOO) appropriated
for carrying the mails. The phraseology
Of the act had been changed few years
ago so that the postmaster was allowed TO
use the whole sum or so much as may be
necessary" Representative Spooner. the
chairman Of the committee. submitted a
statement made by the clerk OF the house
priated annually since the Forty-thlrd
congress-
Ex-Postmaster Dalton Testifes.
Mr.. Dalton who was postmaster OF the
house during tho Forty-eIghth, Forty
ninth and Fiftieth congresses, testified
that he had not considered any OF the
5000 as a perQuislte for granting the
contract He had found that the contract
could not be thoroughly carried out for
less than the full appropriation, and he
| had given tho contract for g., 900 to Mr.
| Culberson, who was his fathor-in- law.
| He had advanced about 81, 800 to Mr.. Gull
berson to purchase the horses and wag-
ons TO carry out tho contract Mr.. Cul-
bertson had not paid him the full amount
advanced but had recently decided him a
lot to cover tho sum remaining due. The
witness said that he had had a conversa-
| ton with Mr.. Wheat about the time the
latter became postmaster concerning the
contract for carrying the mails and had
told the latter how the contract had been
granted
Postmaster Wheat asked the witness II
he had not assured him that Mr. Culber-
son could give him sl50 q month out of
the mail contract and II would be all
right" Never, sir, never, = was the reply.
Young wheat's Alleged SON Snap.
William Il Bradley testified that he had
been sworn in as a messenger IN the house
postofflce In March last, but had never
done any work there Mr. Wheats son
had come to see him and had asked him II
he wanted to make a few dollars by being
sworn In as a messenger in tho house post
office to serve for few days until man
/ from Dakota could arrive to take his place.
The vacancy was caused by the discharge
of an employe named Denny. Young
Wheat agree TO give him t5 for serving FOR
serving for the few days He served for
three weeks and drew about COZ which he
turned over 20 young Wheat with the ex-
ception OF s.. Wheat had secured him an
indorsement on an application for gov
ernment position rs further reward for
his services. Walter Wheat had come 10
him again and asked him 10 represent a
man named Frank Hall In the postoflice
and he had agreed 10 do 30. He drew s97
for representing Hall
TheV Compounded on $40.
He asked Walter Wheat TO divide the
money but he refused TO do 30, and in the
presence OF Postmaster Wheat they had
compromised on $40 The postmAster said
something about having Mr.. Caswell with
draw his Endorsement IL he insisted on
having the money divided. The witness
had been discharged from the postofIice,
the reason being given that the propriety
OF having a substitute In the postofflce had
been questioned
Wheat Was Very Angry.
Walter Wheat, the witness said, had
promised to do his work in the postoffioe
as we'll as the work he (Wheat) was doing.
w. ID. Catiett testified that he had been
an employo In the house postofIice. Mr..
Culberson had told him how the mail con
tract was carried on and the witness had
talked about IT Mr.. Wheat was very an
CRY, and wanted to know II the witness
had given Information about the contract
TO members Of congress and newspaper
reporters The witness expected 10 be dis
charged al once, but was two months after
ward transferred 10 the folding room.
Witness said that the postmaster was over
bearing to his employees
Samuel Rosmer, assistant postmaster OF
the house, testified that he knew Walter
Wheat was doing the work Of two men.
The postmaster, he said. was perhaps a
little severe on his men. The witness
knew OF no instance where any omploye OF
the postofiice had paid part Of his salary TO
Walter Wheat Several employees OF the
house postoffice testified that Mr.. Wheat
had always treated them we'll.
Went Down on Hrs KneeA
j. E Haven. another employe, testified
that Mr.. Wheat had been severe on him,
and that Mr.. Culberson had told him that
Mr.. Wheat did not allow enough money
for the contract Mr.. Culberson, the wit
ness said, had told him that he had paid
Mr.. Wheat over 800, and after the publ.
I cation Of this fact In the newspapers Wal
tor Wheat had come to his room and begged
Culberson on his knees to take back the
money aud hand it over to a third party
naming James Fisher
The chairman laid before the committee
a letter from James NJ. Fisher stating that
he had not agreed to take charge of the s7Ol
OF the Contract money until charges made
ag2inst the postmaster by an employe
named McCord, a son Of Congressman Nc
Cord, had blown over. Fisher personally
testified that Culberson had told him about
paying $50 month to Mr.. Wheat out OF
the contract money. Walter Wheat had,
the witness said, also admitted to him that
his father was receiving sl5O a month from
Culberson- Mr.. Enloe called the atten-
tion of the committee to the fact that there
was no testimony that Fisher had agreed
to receive the 800.
i Mr.. Culberson, the ex-contractor for the
house mail, repeated his conversation with
/ Walter Wheat, in which the latter, the
witness said, had suggested that the wit
ness take the 500 back and place It In the
hands of Mr.. Fisher until the charges
brought against the postmaster by young
A F.gF - - NJ