New-York tribune., 1903-07-14
JOHN DOE" SUBPOENAS.
Financial Men SAID To Be Called for
Washington Investigation.

There was much speculation in the Postofice
yesterday over the sudden return to the city
of half a dozen postal inspectors. Inspectors
Little and Oldfeld reached here late on Satur-
day evening from Washington. and called at
the headquarters of the postoffice inspectors in
the Federal Building yesterday for their mail
and then departed 1t is thought that they
spent the greater part of the day in Brooklyn.
working on that end of the investigation
Inspector Mayer. of Chicago who figured IN
the Investigations that brought about the down.
fall of several Washington officials, arrived here
yesterday. Inspectors Sutton and Noyle, who
also hail from Western divisions reached the
city some time Sunday, and it is known that
they, with several other inspectors. were busy
about the city during the day.
1t is said that, in company with deputy
United States marshals, some of the postal In
spectors served a number of subppnas yester-
day on officials of trust companies and banks.
requiring them to produce the books of their
concern before a John Doe" investigation
scheduled to be held within a few days In
Washington. The nature of the investigation
could not be ascertained. and the names Of
those served were guarded with great secrecy.
1t is known, however. that the suppoenas were
served and that, according to the papers. John
Doe" was named as the individual about whom
the inquiries to be made
1t is evident from the character and business
of those on whom the summons were served
that the government proposes to examine into
the nature of certain monetary transactions that
are evidently being traced through checks or
drafts. It is said that two of the inspectors
called at the Clearing House and there made
inquiries about the course drafts and checks
sent to New-York for payment would take
At the Clearing House it said by the clerks
that they did not know of any inspectors calling,
but that inquiries relating to the treatment OF
commercial paper in New-York by local banks
was so common as to pass practically unnotlced'
AS far as could be learned, none of the in
spectors were at any of the branch postofhces
nor at the General Postofice. 1t was generally
thought the investigation, as far as the New
York office was concerned had ended, and sew
eral weeks have elapsed since any of them have
made, as far as is known, this city the scene or
their labors. Rumors have been circulated from
time to time that the Postmaster General and
| others were about to resume the investigation
| of the New-York Office that was suddenly
| stopped about the time indictments were found
| against Congressman briggs and George r.
! Miller, in Brooklyn. for alleged completely in
connection with the purchase by the govern
ment of the $50 automatic cashiers from the
Brant-Dent company. of Watertown Wis
Each time the rumors set a date for the re-
sumption of the Investigation here, but the in
l
! announcement from Washington that the Post
| master General had gone on his vacation came
! the inspectors from the west, evidently here to
! resume where they left off. 1t is said that the
| inspectors are now looking up the various con-
| tracts made by the department for postal sup
! plies Several millions of dollars are paid out
I acre annually TO persons Who are turnishlnis
/ the department with all manner Of supplies Tor
| the various postoffices through the country.
| Not alone the contractors themselves De
| ing looked up but their entire connections as
we'll. In many instances ii is said, certain per
! sons have put in bids for supplies for line or
| goods that they Were not themselves interested
| in sub-letting that portion of the contract. 1t
| is also said that there are contractors who are
| not interested in or connected directly or in
| directly with the class Sf goods they sup
! plying but have them made up at factories
| throughout the country, assembled at one point
| and forwarded to the government.
! Just what connection these contractors may
! have if any with postal officials and the causes
| that induced them to bid for contracts in lines
| that thev were not acquainted with 1t. is to
| said to puzzle the inspectors is how these sue
| cessful contractors succeeded in undertaking
others engaged in those particular lines OF trade.
| 1t will take, however, according to those In a
| positfon to know. a number of months before
! these contracts can be carefully investigated
and it is not likely, therefore: that anything
| will come out of il. or, at least, anything that
will be made public before fall
| Postmaster Van Cott was not at the Postoffice
Yesterday being confined to his home by a
| slight attack of indigestion. His Illness pre-
vented the list of promotions as arranged by him
| from being forwarded to Washington.
| 1t was rumored, yesterday that the tnvestiga-
tfon might have some relation to the transfer of
| the deposits of the local postoffice from the
! Chase National Bank to the Seventh National
| Bank when Perry S. Heath and Fletcher s.
! Heath were directors and the former was First
| Assistant Postmaster General This could rot
| be definitely learned last night