The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-12
STIR IN POST OFFICE HERE.
SEVEN INSPECTORS SEEkJNG
GROUND FOR INDICTMENTS.
Not Anxious to Stir Up Scandal. It's SaAd'
but Are Preparing for Criminal FRO
ceetiings--van Colt Called On TO Gas
SHY IS Clerks, who May BE Reduced.

SHY 4s Clerks, who May BE Reduced
Officials at the Post ONCE were much
disturbed yesterday when 1t became known
that seven Post Office inspectors were
here making an investigation. II was
said that the Department at Washington
had centred its investigation OF the Post
Office scandals here In New York and that
the inspectors were cunning for big game.
One official declared that the object OF
the investigation was not to expose scandals
but to obtain material on which indictments
can be based. The inspectors were said
to be looking into certain expenditures
and also running down rumors OF irregu-
larities and Of money having been paid for
promotion.
Four inspectors, r. D. Simmons and j.
and Walter Mayer OF Chicago, have been
In town for several days. To this force
were added yesterday Chief Inspector
st. Louis and another inspector, whose
name could not be learned.
1t was said that Simmons and Sullivan
had announced that they were going to
Washington, but were really still in the city
Inspector Vickery is the man who got the
eral Tyner, who was assigned to the Post
Office Department at Washir gton. None
OF the inspectors would say on what special
line they were working.
1t was learned incidentally that forty
Of the best inspectors Throughout h u, the the
to work on the post office scandals. E.
H. Thorp, the chief inspector here, has
been called to Washington, and Mr.. Dag
gett, who is taking his place, said that he
knew nothing about the investigation,
but added
-Im pretty sure that it is not for the
purpose of bringing to light scandals or
besmirching the reputation OF any man.
The investigation, believe, is to get evil
dence for prosecutions and the securing
of indictments,
In connection with this an official who
that before the investigators got through
men high up in the building would find
themselves in sorry predicament.
Postmaster Van Colt was directed yester-
day from Washington to classify or desig
nate forty-eight men in the finance de-
partment 1t was explained that Mr..
Van Colt would have to report just what
the duties of each man were and how much
salary he received. This order caused
much uneasiness, because it was taken to
mean that the authorities at Washington
were making careful scrutiny of the local
department.
IF the Department at Washington held
to strict Interpretation of the laws. it
was said. the calling for the ssifications
would end in a number Of men losing from
$3.50 to $500 OF their yearly salaI les
All the men that Washington has asked
for a report on are listed on the payroll
as cashiers. Locally they are known as
division superintendent. Should it be
decided that the postal laws make no pro-
vision for such Offices, Mr.. Van Colt may
have to reduce them to clerkships at 81, 400
a year.
Postmaster Van Colt would not say
yesterday whether he had selected his son,
Richard Van Colt, or Charles w. White. as
superintendent of city delivery, Richard
Var Colts salary is s., 200 year and Whites
q. 400, If the Postmaster retains his son,
White will become a clerk at 81 ,40I year.
He is G. A. r. man and has been in the
postal service for more than thirty years.
The Postmaster was told that he could not
have two city superintendent. He said
yesterday that he had sent an explana,,
ton to Washington that he thought covered
MY SON he said. has charge out
side Of the city deliveries in Manhattan
and The Rronv, and MIR. White, who works
in the building, is under him. That's all
there is to it
There was another story that the Post
master was going Washington this week.
He was asked about it and said: 81 am
not. l never go to Washington unless l
am compelled to-
Mr.. Van Colt would not discuss the story
that Miss Lolita f. Fliege, stenographer
assigned to work in his sons office. has
received unusual privileges She was at
her desk yesterday after having been away
for three weeks Her salary is 81 800 a year.
Her sister, Miss Sophia Fliege, is ste
nographer in the assistant postmaster's
office, and her brother John Fliege, is
clerk in the outgoing malls department.
They are wards OF Mr. Van Colt
Another piece Of gossip was that young
Mr. Van Colt had written out his resiRna-
ton and was ready to send it to Washng ton,
but that his father would not let him. Mr..
Van Colt was asked il he was going to resign.
and replied.
sNo. / would not resign under fire.