Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-10
AN INVESTIGATION ASKED.
MI. Lsake's Memorial 60 Congress in Regars
10 His Pneumatic Tube.

n clARo.s THAT THE rosrxAsrEa GENERAL
AND POST OFFICE OFFICIALS ARR TRYING TO
TNJuRE HIN AND FAVOR ANOTHER PATENT
xA- wASAxAKER's DENIAL OF TEE sroar.
Mr.. Henderson Of North Carolina Cby request)
introduced Q petition in the House Yesterday
containing memorial from the president Of
the Leake Pneumatic Company.
Mr.. Leake states in his memorial that the
POSTMASTER General and officials in the post
ONCE department in Philadelphia have had
under consideration for more than . year
the proposition TO connect the substa-
non In that city with the post Office
building BY pneumatic tube for the proper
delivery of mail The Leake Company, he
says, offered TO connect the substation At Chest
nut street and sth and TO donate the plant to
the government A number Of requirements
were exacted, all Of which the company com
piied WITH The company, he says, got per-
mission OF the city council 10 lay the tube,
and at this time the work il nearly
completed at . cost Of $4,000. Notwithstand-
ing this, however, active and earnest effort is
procure the right OF way through
the streets OF Philadelphia for the lay
ing therein OF another and different
system OF pneumatic communication, and that
the intention esists, ~ he is informed and be-
lieves, on the part Of the officers OF the Post Or
nee Department TO give the company control
hing such other system the right TO connect the
post Office building with the said subs;ation.
An offer, 10 says, has been made to the Post
Office Department by the Pneumatic Transit
Company, operating under patents held by the
Electro Pneumatic Company. the owners of
patents covering the right TO construc, and
operate what is knewn rs the Clay system
OF pneumatie transportation, for the construction
OF a system at an expense Of $50, 900 20 the gov
eminent. He alleges that these efforts
the Clay system. He further states that IL has
been openly stated in the city Of
Philadelphia by persons interested in the com
pany controlling that system that certain
officers of the Post Office Department are nov.
or are TO become financially interested. In the
e.gsasss Transit SE%p"ny and A as
Of the capital stock of the company are now
deposited with certain banking house in Phila-
delphia, to be delivered under the directions of
certain post Office people soon ms the system
has been completed. He asks Congress 10 make
. thorough investigation OF the matter.
WHAT Mr.. HENDERSON SAYS.
Mr.. Henderson, chairman Of the committee.
said this afternoon that he had introduced
the mtsiorial by request and that he knew
nothing about the matter beyond that. As
soon as the memorial reached his com
mittee, he said, he would notify AIR.
Wauamaker and ask him for statement. After
that, he said, he would request Mr.. Leake TO APP
pear before the committee TO make his state
ment. IL the facts seemed 20 aI,shorize such
action tho committee would ask for an inyes-
tigation. He said, however, that it would
probably be two or three weeks before the COM
matter further than TO ask Mr.. Wanamaker for
a statement as their attention would he &C.
cupied by the appropriation bill.
MR.. wASAMAKER's DENIAL
A STAB reporter saw Postmaster General
wanamaker today and asked for an explanation
Of the memorial sent TO the House by Mr.. s. +.
Leake Of the Leake Pneumatic Tube Company
OF Philadelphia, charging that wanamaker
had interfered 10 prevent that company
from putting in operation thsir system FOR the
postal service in Philadelphia. and that Mr..
wanamaker had done this in the interest of an
other company which had deposited 4. 500 shares
OF stock for him in the Bank OF Republic.
Mr.. Wanamakcr said that the charge was ab
solutely false. "No one" he said, "eyor gave
me or offered ME q single share of stock. /
should be very foolish TO go into such a thing.
"All know about this matter is that Mr.
Leake has written some letters 10 the depart
ment asking permission to put IN his pneumatic
tubes and that had no authority TO give him
There are two companies in Philadelphia,
Leakes and McHenrys. l know McHenIy
quite well. Both wanted TO put in tubes. but
had no authority to adopt eithsr. I wrote
to Leaks that the Treasury Department
would have to give authority for such work, ard
referred the matter TO that department. The
Secretary sent an expert to examine the Leake
system, and he reported that it did
not have power enough for the pur-
pose. 1 informed Mr.. Ledke OF This
report, but could not give him a copy OF it
as he asked. l do not know what his purpose
is in making these charges, but he asked for an
investigation, and the proper thing is for Con-
grsss to investigate If they think there is any
grounds for an investigation"
"Is the tube that is to be put in at st. Louis
Of either the Leake or the McHenry SYSTEM"
was asked.
IL do not know" Mr.. Wanamaker replied.
al presume not. The proposition there is a
different one. 1t Is that if we will rent a Ger
tain place for substation they will connect ii
by pneumatic tube with the post Office. or
course the department has authority TO accept
such proposition as this"