The Washington times., 1902-12-31

ofice Department have become matters
Of public knowledge aud comment. II
would seem that the Information has
never been brought to the attention Of
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow- Il is within his power at anv
time to cheek the manipulatioas OF the
combine which receives its stated eivi-
dends from favored contractors. and IN
bring 20 the knowledge OF hirber Of
neials facts which would immediately re-
suit In the termination OF the public ser
vice Of the notorious clique. Under
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Geparal
Bristow Is the division Of inspectors Of
which ". E Cochran is chief. and Il is
within his province. even within his
duty. to demand an Investigation Of con-
ditions which he must know prevsiI
The appropriation contained In the
legislative appropriation bill now before
the senate for salaries in the Fourth As
sistant Postmaster Generals eaiea =.
Siz5,lSo ana a lzrge portion OF this
amouns goes as compensation to insnec-
'ors' instead OF devoting some Of their
attention TO the high officials whose
yearly incomes from Jobs and deals far
exceeds their salaries. these Inspectors
with he sanction and auproval ~
course OF Fourth Assistant Bristow ara
occupied in running down The petty of-
tenders and bringing to the bar Of fus-
'iee letter aFriers and postal clerks
wiz eommit minor depredatioas ana -v,f,.
iations cf the rules or the service
Within easy reach are a half dozen or
more big chiefs publicly known to be
using the postal service to advance
their own interests and To add - 49,.
own fortunes
Gould Prevent Fraud.
Al order from the Fourtb Assis..,.
who is as much charged with the duty
OF preventing and punishinR f-suds
against the GovernEz==s4s among tbe-=
high in authority as among the Low
saiaried clerks. would at once reveal
a condition OF affairs, the extent or
which Is only limited by the amour,
they are able to obtain rather tbs,
satisfaction OF their desires TO enhance
tnelr own interests. The $500 letter car
rier who extracts a letter which ma
VI may not contain anything he is aha
20 convert 70 his own use has his s+e,.
logged and Is finally deceived into
rap which not only means his discharge
IN disgrace from the service. but prob-
ably term in the penitentiarv
4he division chief who bv grs,+tr.,
iaVoTs TO contractors, PURCHASING go
plies making allowances NJ -.
moneys TO favOrites. .7id a doze. -.
methods best known 10 those WIZ. 80
=, .,e lhein' Is able to make a s.. 500 or
N'oo5 position pay ten times tb..
amount annually. escapes not only vr,tb-
out punishment. but is auov,sI -
main IN the public service and fror
year 10 year continue HIS Operations =.
the same manner.
Duty to Investigate.
II Is within the power OF Fourth A.
s'stant Postmaster General Bris,ow :.
institute an Investigation and i,s...
ion OF this condition OF aFairs -.
III :, ui'1'rnlore. having knowledge OF The
Iae's' II is his duty to do so. bur nm -
me present time he has taken no .c-
tion IN the matter. notwithstanding 4bo
'@ct that he Elust have been cognizsn+
OF the situation FOR several wears
II mas come to a point where tha
question is asked as 70 why be has ~
remained tdle. Il has never been sus
pected or even inumated that tho For-,,,
Assistant was in any way a party 70 tba
questionable methods ana 5oo,,,s-
the clique which rules the deparfI,en,
ana because he is supposed 10 he cla.n
handed fhere is even greater surnr,,o
because he has not taken steps to uproot
the evil which is making the Postof7~s
Department the seat Of a great govern
ment scandal
Mr.. Bristow has eapable force =,
assistants in the inspectors division
and 1t would be an easy matter 10 sts-+
them at work in the divisions which .re
now reeking with corruption. Wbv
Mr. Bristow does not act is conundrurn
which IL is difieult to solve. As stated
he has the power. he knows OF the con-
dition cf affairs. and he hae The fore.
which is able 20 develop all the facts
from the evidence at their command
VIII Mr. Bristow order an investiea-
tion