Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-08-30
The CHARGES AGAINST MIR. Wedderburn.

Lie dlSCo d4uoo 4114' w SoASA 1900 49,
Pos, master General Wanamaker yestei-
day aent to the House an answer to the res
olui on OF that body of the 16.h instant,
calling on him for information as to the
charge that gross frauds bad bsen.practioed
on the Postofice Department by Alexander
J. Wedderburn, In connection With the
transmission through the mails OF the Ma
tiondL Farm and FireSide at one eighth OF
the lawful rate that the newspapers print
ed in this city were mailed at postothce
called Grange Camp, established at Wed
desburn's request, one of whose employees
was postmaster and that upon inVestigs-
ton the Office was discontinued, and that
criminal proceedings we're not Instituted
against WeGderburn on account OF the in-
terpoeition OF the Agricultural Department.
The Postmaster General Gays the resoiu-
ton reached the Department on Monday,
the 1S.h. He had left the CITY for few
DAYS on the preceding Friday, the 18Th, and
the Third Assistant Postmaster General,
who, In addition to himself, alone had full
knowledge OF all the facts in the case, was
absent at the dealhbed of his mother. I'm
medietely On bis (ths Postmaster Gsnet-
aPs) return, be ssys he caused the papers
to be prepared. The Postmaster General
saws his Department has had no correspond
deuce in the matter with the Department OF
Agriculture. After summary OF The
facts in tho case, the Postmaster General
savs the Departments investigation dts
closes that the Office was originally estah-
lished through Mr. Wedderburn's exertions,
AptiI %. 1887; that an order for is discon-
tiouance was made April 16.1SSS, which
order was recinded April "a. 1883, and that
the person appointed postmaster, and who
served as such until the Office was discon-
tinued, was not resident OF the place, per-
formed none of the official duties, and was
postmaster in nsme only. The business OF
the postoffice was performed by one OF Wed
derburn's employees, who permitted wed
derburn to obtain his supplies oil postage
clamps on credit, and to mail Issues CT nls
paper without requiring advance payment
of postage (both OF these bsibg acts in viola.
ton of law land is alleged to have received
all the emoluments Of thu Office"
Mr.. Wedderburn. therefore, he saye, al
though not an employe of the postal service,
was absolute director OF the postofhce az
Grange Camp, mailed his papers there 10
Unlimited quantities, and brought or sent
there other mail matter from Alexandra
aud washington, mus SWeiiinH tno oniounO
of bis stamp cancellations, exercising all the
power of the postmaster, realizing all the
Serefts, and being almost its sole patron. II
thus resulted that while the receipts of the
office during it's existence amounted to 81
495 OS. s., 2l5 OF. or 81 per cent. of the whole,
went to pay the com missssioDs of the post
master. The receipts from other business
than that of Wedderburn's averaged little
more than two cents per day.
The Postmaster General says because the
salaries of the post-oHices at Washington
and Alexandria are fixed by law, and the
compensation of the respective postmaster5
is not variable sum. dependent upon the
cancellation of stamps, the whole, or nearly
the whole amouot OF these commi sions
81 215. OF paid on the cancellations OF mall
matter diverted from The two offices mer-
toned, was a complete loss to the Govern
mept. TIE flee was therefore disccn-
tinued The sr wsr says the paper has not
vet been denied admission at second class
rates. The matter is siil under consider
alton, and the D,nar!meDt Is awaiting fur
ther proofs The Postmaster General coz
c!udes with statement that the question
as to the prosecution OF Wedderburn has
been submitted to the Attorney General for
his oDiDjoD