The Washington times., 1903-06-19
MAY CAUSE
PAYNE To RETIRE
Threatened With Collapse.
Weary of Investigation.
ASKED LEAVE TO RESIGN
When in Cleveland at Hanna Wedding
He Disclosed His Desire to Presi-
dent, But Was Dissuaded.
ASKED LEAVE TO RESIGN

Postmaster General Payne's in health
has become a matter OF grave concern
TO his friends. and il would not be sur
prising in the opinion CT many we'll
Informed people II this fact. apart from
all other considerations. should compel
his retirement from the Cabinet within
short time. as predicted in The Times
two weeks a=o.
AS IS well understood in regard to
the official developments In the Post
ONCE scandals. much of the fraud and
corruption now uncovered occurred In
previous administration OF the de-
partment. long before sIr. Payne be-
came connected with II. but the conduct
OF the investigation has been marked
by incidents which have occasioned so
much criticism of Mr.. Payne personally.
for alleged poor judgment. that this to-
gether with the unpleasant nature OF the
revelations, has brought him to the
verge Of nervous prostration.
Once Purposed to Retire.
On excellent authority it can be said
that only the urgent representations OF
the President and party leaders prevent
ed Mr.. Payne from resigning a short
time ago. When he and the President.
with other members OF the Cabinet and
many prominent Republican Senator'S.
were in Cleveland on June 10. attending
the wedding OF Senator Hanna's daugh-
ter. Mr.. Payne himself brought CD the
subject. He declared that he would new
er have accepted the Postofice Depart
ment portfolio if he could have foreseen
this investigation
IL was most displeasing to him. hs
said. TO have 10 conduct such an in
quiry into the official acts OF old friends.
and he was sick and tired OF the whole
business, besides being IL actual i'll
health He then expressed the wish to
retire from the Cabinet
The President. Senator Hanna. and
oths. members of the gathering dissuad-
ed him srom such a course. declaring
that Il would be the worst thing he
could do. both sor himself and the
party. TO resign in the midst OF the in
vestigation. They pointed out that the
results, no matter whom they hurt.
could not in any way affect him. and
argued that as he had taken I'D .he
work 8. was now his duty TO see it
through to the end.
A Target for Criticism.
Mr.. Payne was finally persuaded to re-
main. in spite of his personal feel
ings and his i'll health
In the past few days he has become
even more than before, the target for
criticism, and many newspapers (son.s
of them Republican, are demanding that
he be retired Even his best friends
regret what they term his unfortunate
management Of the publication OF the
Bristow report. and his early hippant
comments upon the TulIoeh charges
The Bristow report. which more than
confirmed Tulloeh's charges. was held
hack until ii was given an sXaggerated
Importance il the eyes OF tho nublic. ard
attracted far more attention than would
have been the case Il it hal been PUB
lished al the same time as the other re-
Plies TO the TullOch interview. When
Mr.. Payne was denouncing Tulloch's
charges as hot air" he had in his desk
tie papers describing the frauds IN The
Washington postofice. Mr. Payne himself
feels the situation keenly, and it would
surprise no one II he should break down
Under the strain.
Il is understood that the inquiry that
has been conducted by inspectors in tie
Washington. New York. Baltimore and
Brooklyn offices has been completed, and
that a total Of a dozen cases 10 be
acted upon by Federal grand juries is the
Ret result. The Offices in Cincinnati.
ST. Louis. Chicago. Kansas City. and
New Orleans are to be investigated i'm
mediately.
The particular line Of inquiry at pres
ent is regarding supplies. Evidences
have been discovered in the department
here that millions OF dollars have been
paid out for what now appears 10 be
expensive and highly useless furniture,
adding machines. typewriters. and un-
necessary supplies of all sorts. II is
with a view OF taking az inventory to
establish or disprove the charges OF cor
ruption IN this connection that every
leading postoffice is at present being ex-
amined.
The threatened ructiOn between the
postal authorities and the District At
torney's Office. over delays in the in
vestigation by the grand jury. is now
believed TO have been averted II Is
thought that speedy action viii be OBJ
tanned on four cases In which the jury
voted TO indict over q week ago but
has as yet failed 10 return true bills 10
the court. dozen other cases arc
ready for presentment to the grand jury.
but have been held back until those al
ready considered by that body should
be reported.
$1,000 FOR HUSBAND.