The sun., 1892-05-10
HONEST JOHN WANAMAKER.
ACCUSED or USING Hrs OFFICE TO
PROMOTE PRIVATE BUSINESS.


WASHINGTON. May GA document was to.
day presented to Congress by Representative
John c. Henderson OF North Carolinn. Chair.
man OF the Post Office Committee. that brings
to the attention OF Congress aud tho country
the peculiar and boasted business methods"
employed by Honest John" Wnnamakcr in
the conduct OF tho Post ONCE Department.
The evidence convcting tho Postmaster Gem
eral OF using his public of1lce for tho promo
tion OF private business concerns is contained
in the memorial OF s. 1. Lenke of Philadelphia,
charging the Postmaster General with having
prevented the adoption VI tho Lcake pneumatic
tubes by tho postal authorities in Philadel-
rhia because thcre had been deposited with
the Bank Of tho Republic In Philadelphia to
Mr.. Wanamaker's order. 1900 shares OF the
stock OF an opposition company. Tho memo
rial. which was referred to tho Post Office
Committee. asks for an investigation. which
will undoubtedly be granted. and tho oppor-
tunity given to Mr.. Leuke which ho seeks to
provo the accuracy Of every charge which hc
makes against tho Postmaster General. He
has tho necessary letters and other documents
at hnnd to substantiato his charges Ho has
talked with many prominent members on both
sides OF the House to-day. and their active
support has been promised him in laying bare
the remarkable transactions Of the Postmas-
ter-Genoral. Chairman Henderson will see to
It. he says. that the memorial has the imme edi.
nte attention OF the Post ONCE Corn mittee. and
there is no doubt that tho desired investiga-
tion will be ordered.
The Leake com pany is Philadelphia enter
prise. Incorporated in New Jersey in Novem-
ber. 1891. with a capital stock of SlO.OoO.OOO.
On Nov. 8. 1891. President Leake submitted II
proposition to Postmaster Ficld OF Philade-
phia Offering to lay a 2I-inch metal pipe be-
tween the Post Offlco building at Chestnut
and Ninth streets and tho sub-station In
Chestnut street. below Fourth street. and to
thoroughly eauir the plant with pneumatic
appliances. The plant was to cost $4,000. and
was to be donated to the Post Office Depart
ns homSs e. Gareg BY
Thomas tlements gs and Bradley Brothers. rated
Postmaster Field said at the time that he
cred It it to III. Manamaker al No attention M tito twas Was
by the. Washington officials to procure the
right OF way through the streets Of Philadel-
hs nor ssa rsns &d1Hsnr
and Xhie6 preSosSs t. charge $1,000 ie1; ier is
received their proposition: This was startling
master Field that, no personally handed the
;doegment to MI WnnamakerT;; \ Mr n Field was
ns GSss"S st the tins rnf HSSSss
isefss sa0ssaf .ss !ss
a I'pfS 81 tds fSqd shs mot
such 81 %r pro. aas
posed, and etterwnrd Ga, get that privilege
ts tEsm npnesSn the fy wa9h privilege was refused to
to appear Sefors ". Fl. Brooks. ti cnstodian. and
Dol irtn StCfn ~ n In ,Inl lnl
phia Post Office. to give information as to the
power required to & opepPnte the respestiyye
favor OF the Leake company. and Postmaster
Field sent the report to the Post Office Depart
Thon Mr.. Wanamaker had John L. McMann.
Inspector Of Henting Apparatus. sent to phtIa;
delphia to make another report. McMann told
Leaks company rSaulrc,l the use OF only ono
boiler +, operate its fystem, whereas
hs 0nsS 1sad psassS Ss three onee n9
Ing tha. they were specay vnanlo In
Field MIR. WanaInaker ella med that Mr.. Nc
Mann's report was Of such nature that the
Lake INN, iiatnly asked Field for n copy OF
then tcieg"nphe1 to Wnnamaknr. stating the
the two systems. Wnnamakcr then cndeav-
orod to shift the responsibility onto the Treas
Mr.. Lcako then asked the Treasury Depart
ment for a, coi.y Of McMann,s report, This
was refused. He then insisted that either his
conpany had been missrrpresrnted by McMnnn
Wanamake er. and in either case that tho Leakv
company had heen seriously injured. and was
therefore entitled to a copy OF tho report in
ity. The Treasury Department again refused
Meanwhile the Lenke COMPANY, secured
authority from the city OF Phindelrhia to lay
their pipes according TO the uroposition sub
mittrd to Wanamnkcr. Later on the opposi-
tion company renewed their application to tho
which had hccn refused Leakn. was now used
in tho iCty Councils to support the RDplicat ion
of tho opposition company. Tint application
is now pending before the municipal authors
tics OF Philadelphia