Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-11-20

lngS. -Four other cases, said to be OF q
similar nature, are being Investigated
by the grand jury, and report on all
or part of them is expected very soon.
All are cases in which post Offices and
postmasters are concerned This in
dictment is said to be the first ever re-
turned against United States senator
on charges of this nature, and caused in
tense excitement in government official
circles in Omaha and in adjoining towns
when it became public
Details of the Transaction.
The details of the postmastership
transaction at Hastings, as given out by
Mr.. Fishers friends, are as fellows:
''The post Office at Hastings up to two
years ago was located in a building
erected by the local post of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Previous to in
stallation in this building it had been
in other quarters, and successive post
masters had furnished the post Office
fixtures themselves. The Grand Army
of the Republic bought the fixtures for
$500. and their use was included in the
government lease. About three years
ago considerable effort was made to Sc
cure better accommodations for the
post Office business, the contention be-
coming one between the opposite ends
of town. Senator Dietrich, who had
then just been elected governor, had
put up new building near the Grand
Army of the Republic building and, an
ticipating removal of the post Office,
ha <f
fee authorities during a visit to Wash
ington. A lease was agreed upon sub
ject to more specific terms, but the ne
gotiations were not concluded until
after Gov. Dietrich had been elected
United States senator. In the mean
time property owners interested in the
other section of the city made counter
offers at reduced rentals, and in or
der to hold it in the vicinity of his
property lease was finally drawn and
signed at rental of 81 300, emitting the
requirements of the owner to furnish
the fixtures.
Believing that he was renting his
property for less than it was worth
for the purpose of holding the post Of
fee for the benefit of the surrounding
property owners it was suggested that
the difference in the rental be made
up by a subscription from the inter-
ested parties. The G. A. R. people also
became involved with protest against
the removal from their building for
fear they would lose the money they
had put into the fixtures and possibly
be tenantless for some time.
Sat this juncture the senator was
called upon to indorse for the posi-
ton of postmaster one Of the appli-
cants, the competition having mar
rowed down to the then mayor, Jacob
Fisher and the editor Of the Hastings
Tribune, Adam Breede.
can understanding was finally
reached by which Fisher was to receive
the appointment of postmaster on con-
dition that he purchase the post Office
fixtures belonging to the G. A. r. post
at the price which it had paid for them,
and it is said that he also agreed to re-
by which he had been compelled to re-
duce the rental from his original fig
ure of $1,000 in order to meet the offers
| that had been made in behalf of To-
cation at the other end of the street.
This difference of 5000 it is said was
to have been made up in equal portions
by the postmaster and his deputy, and
it is alleged that 1t was paid for few
months and then, when the senator dis.
covered its questionable character, the
money was returned to Postmaster
Fisher and Deputy Francis"
Postmaster Jacob Fisher, upon
learning of his indictment by the fed
eral grand jury Tuesday, appeared in
Judge Munger's court The formalities
of arrest being completed, Fisher gave
bond for 1000 for his appearance in
court and was released.
To Be Shipped South.
Denver, COL. Nov. IA special
| to the Republican from Pueblo, COL,
says: Two thousand of the men thrown
out Of employment by the closing of a
portion OF the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company's works will be shipped to the
southern fields to work in the coal fields
there.
Railway Opened.
Hong-Kong, Nov. 1.-THE Canton
and Fatshan branch Of the Canton &
Hankow railway was opened Monday
n the presence Of Chinsss and foreign
ealolalB.