The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-23
UBIQUITOUS
Mr.. HEDGES.
His Ability to BE Many Places
at the Same Time
Was Not Appreciated by Gen.
Joseph L. BristOw.
WAS TOLD TO QUIT.
Held Office of Superintendent of
Free Delivery.
Makes No Denial But Offers Ex-
plantations.


Washington July 23.-Charles Hedges
has been removed from the office of
superintendent of free delivery of the
postohice department on the charge of
falsifying his diary and loaning his
travelling commission. 1t is charged that
he reported himself at various places
when in fact he was not at those places
on the dates mentioned, in some in
stances being hundreds of miles away.
Mr.. Hedges, while making no general
denial of the charges, contended that
they were not sufficient justification for
removal. Erwin II. Thorpe postofice in
spector in charge at New York, who has
been assisting in the administrat ton of
the free delivery service since the in
ception of the investigation, has been
designated acting superintendent of free
delivery in place of Mr.. Hedges
In the official statement of the case
made public by Fourth Assistant Post
master General Bristow he says in part:
'On October %, 1900, he (Hedges)
states under oath in his diary. that he
was al Joplin, Mo. on extension of free
delivery service when in fact he was in
Mansfield, Ohio, attending the funeral of
former Secretary John Sherman. On De-
cember 7, 1899, he reports himself at San
Antonio. Texas, Investigating carriers
service while in fact he was in Mexico
examining property. In the month of
October, 1899. A w Machen, superin-
tendent of free delivery, was sick with
typhoid fever and Hedges was at the
department acting as superintendent. In
his diary he states under oath that he
was at NaTiOug Dl.4Ceg.. namely New
York. Philadelphia. bridgeport, Conn.
Camden, N. J., and elsewhere, actually
engaged in travelling on the business of
free delivery service. Superintendent
of free delivery are allowed a per diem
of "a per day in lieu of expenses for
each day engaged actually travelling on
the business of the departments Hedges
false statements of his whereabouts
were manifestly fore the purpose OF COZ
lecting per diem to which he was not
entitled.
There are many other instances of
similar classification. The facts were
submitted to the postmaster general
some days since, who directed Hedges
removal for reasons above set forth"
The case was worked up by Postoffice
Inspector George Sutton, assisted by
inspectors Bennett and Jones. There
were several charges on file against MI.
Hedges, but none of these constituted
the basis OF his dismissal. The acts
which led to his removal were discover
ed by the inspectors in the course of
their general investigation of the rec
ords of the free delivery office. The case
has been under investigation for sew
eral weeks. Mr.. BristOw summoned Mr..
Hedges shortly before the close of office
hours yesterday afternoon and notified
him of his dismissal
Mr.. Hedges, was appointed to the pos
tai service from the Tenth congressional
district of Texas on July 1, 1898. and
was appointed superintendent of the
free delivery July 1. 1901. His salary
was So 900 year. He had charge of the
delivery service in the cities. the rural
free delivery service being under anoth-
er superintendent, and both being under
the general supervision of August W.
Machen. In a statement last night Mr.
Hedges said:
While I was assistant superintendent
of the free delivery. with headquarters
at New York. l was called to Washing
ton to take charge of the entire service,
while Mr. Machen was i'll with typhoid
fever. While so acting l got $4,000 sal
airy as assistant superintendent, While
Dir. Machen received $4,000. 1t was
necessary for me to get the per diem
allowance to make the services and the
compensation equal. 1t has been the
practice of the office for the party TAX
ing the place of the head OF the service
to claim per diem in some form. In my
case 1 was also supervising the eastern
division while officiating rs general SUI
perintendent here. Herbert w. Nalen-
tine. now in the New Y OrK pOStOf1ce
and formerly stenographer there under
me, surrendered private letters and notes
to the inspectors which gave them this
information l used to drop him a line
when l was travelling to keep him post
ed on my Wherea bouts. Valentine is
the one who used this pOstoffice COM
mission It was used with the knowledge
of General Superintendent Machen and
of First Assistant Postmaster General
johnson. Johnson was anxious to go
out on field work. Mr.. Bristow refused
to allow the issuance of a commission
for Valentine on the ground that he
was a clerk and not an officer. Mr..
Machen however. held that as Nalen
tine was engaged on the work of the
office, his use of the commission was
not illegal As to the San Antonio ref
erence I was in Mexico, but not eX-
aiming mining property. I did not see
this mining property. In making my
reports 1 never put down towns that
had not visited. nor did I put down all
the towns that 1 visited, as l was per-
mitted to do. Thus. I omitted mention
ing the Mansfield visit because 1 had
no official work there, and Joplin was
the last place where I had official work.
I simply prolonged the time on the
list"
Mr. Bristow declined to say anything
as to the status of Mr. Valentine, who.
Mr.. Hedges says. travelled on his COM
mission.
Reform Scheme Is Inadequate.
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