The evening times., 1896-02-06

=
mail bag sweatshop continues to develop
important and interesting phases os the per-
secution Of male and female employees in tina {
department.
In the summer and fall of s94 commit.
tee OF employees of the Postofficc Depart
ment Investigated certain charges that had
been preferred against Major K. ID. 3. Tyler,
chief of the mail bag shop.
The investigation was a thorough one,
lasting about ttwomonths. Witnesses swOre
positively that the charges were based on
facts, and yet the report OF that committee
has never been made public. Major Tyler
still retains his position.
A Times reporter tried this morning to OBJ
tain some official Information in regard to
this report, but was unable to do SO. The
Department Is not giving out such infornn-
ton Just now. Second Assistant Post
master General Nelson was visited and
asked if the committee had ever made q
report
He answered this question, like a Yankee,
by asking one. 'Who are your? he de
nianded.
Il am from The Washington Times,
answered the reporter.
We'll, sir, this is postoffice business that
you are after now. l cannot answer your
question. You will have to see the Post.
master General. He is at the head OF this
Department and all such Information must
come from him.
WHAT THE CHARGES WERE.
|. The office OF the Postmaster General was
next visited ard the reporters card taken
in to that official. Mr.. Wilson was very
busy this morning, and. as the prospects
for The Times seeing him before this after
noon were poor, the reporter was forced
to leave without asking him why the re-
port of the committee had not been made
public and whether or not the charges
We're found to be true.
The charges made against Ma ior Tyler
at that time and which were considered
serious enough to be investigated, covered
rather a wide range. The committee APP
pointed to lCok into the matter consisted OF
Messrs, Graham. Sullivan and Murray.
The names OF the witnesses who went
before this committee and sworc positively
that these charges, or at leas st part of them,
were true, are: F. b. Hunt, George Water
bury, jr., George Waterbury, sr., Edward
Waterbury, Assistant Foreman Cleyela nd,
r. +. Potts, Edward Alsop, John Dowden,
Jerry Cavy and others.
The charges or allegations were, that
$50 900 mail bag key blanks were pur-
chased from the manufacturer ut the rate
of cents each but by the time they reached
the department, by some mysterious method
of calculation their value had increased
10 cents apiece, and this is the price
tn. government was compelled To pay for
them.
Also that useless machinery, that had
never been used in the shops, was purchased
at a large outlay Of money and allowed
to remain in the building without being
put up.
II was claimed that this machinery in
Guided Il gas engine which cost 81 COO;
one profiling machine for die sinking. 500,
when no die sinking had ever h.n done
in theesta blishment: one ,iriif grinder. $l15,
which was allowed to lie In beap for
three years without being put together
until the Investigation commenced; ore
large lathe. 81 900, not needed in the pla ce;
one toolinakcr's lathe, S7c0, not needed
for the work of the service, and which re-
mained in the shop for months before it
was put together.
THE PURCHASE OF STEEL
Also that fourteen tons of diamond steel,
which was already useless for any purpose
connected with the shops. was purchased
at cost of over $1,000, and allowed 10
remain in the place as old metal.
That several tons of new lock shells,
constructed under dimensions furnished
by Major Tyler, were made wrong and
were finally sold for old stock. The tools
were also spoiled and new ones had to
be made.
That Jot of tumbiers were made which
did not work and which had been melted
up to get them out ofthe way.
That Major Tyler employed government
material and workmen for the repair of
his private yacht, which was moOred at
one OF the city wharves, the loss to the De-
partment being Appropriated at not less
than $500.
Also, that the carpenters employed at
the mail equipment shops did work and
used public material in repairing and i'm
proving the property of Gen. Bell, now
x-Second Assistant Postmaster General.
up about $500 OF public
funds.
And. further. that $500 worth of tools
were made in the shops to be used in the
manufacture of Ma jor Tyler's patent label
case, prior to its adoption in the shops by
Gen. Bell.
Favortism and incompetency were also
charged.
WHAT THE WITNESSES SAY.
Mr.. Franklin b. Hunt, one of the witnesses
before the committee, stated to The Times
reporter this morning that he knew that
some OF these charges were true, and that
he knew the names of men who could tes-
tify to others. Some of these are out Of the
city at present. but he said they are willing
to forward affd wits.
Another former employe of the shop. who
went before the committee, but who does
not wish to have his name made public, un-
less necessary. stated that he knew work
had been done in the shops. for which AOac-
count had been kept of time or material.
This work was for Major Tyler and Gen.
Bell. He also said that the charges In re-
gard to the shells and tumblers were true.
and ne had SO testified before the committee.
Although the Pustoffice Department Off
cials refuse to say anything in regard to
the subject, it is known that the investi-
eating committee made a report, and The
Times has been informed, on what may be
considered reliable authority, that the re-
port was adverse to Mai. Tyler.
Why has ii never been made public?
An answer is furnished The Times by Its
informant In this case that Mr.. Don NJ.
Dickinson of Detroit, who is Mai. Tyler's
influence" came on Lere at that time
and spent a week bob-nObbing with the
President. AS Iesult tie alleged adverse
report was pigeOnbOled.
The PostOffice Department is, however,
asked to deny or verify these statements
Trial NJ Tnha nueshurU PrJaOuera