The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-15
P.O,MSpECTORS W0RKSUNDAY
DIG CHIEFLY INTO ALLEGED
PROMOTION SYNDICATE.
POstn,aster Van Colt Says an ExtraOrdl'
nary state OF Affairs Wonld Arise
n Ills Expert staff We're Held Down
TO the ~ ,4W Salary schedule.

|
| A dozen inspectors from Southern and
Western cities continued YESTERDAY the
investigation of the New York Post Office.
The men have been assigned to different
| branche OF the system There were two
or three working about t. general ONCE
| and the others were in the branch stations
Of Manhattan.
Postmaster Van Colt went 10 the office
early in the morning. When asked II the
investigation had been carried directly TO
the Executive Department he said:
Il don't know thing out this investi-
CATION except what has been told me by
outsiders and what have read in the news
papers / am busy enough with my own
business Is the investigation a part OF
my business? Why no | only know
am going to report to Washington every
thing regarding the office. Auditor Jar
dimes is now preparing schedule OF the
forty EIGHT finance clerks, and l expect to
forward it to First Assistant Postmaster
General Wynne either Monday or Tuesday
The inspectors appear to be largely busy
about the alleged promotion syndicate
II is said that much evidence has been
collected and that within few days the
working force II the syndicate will be
known.
One lire of the investigation has been
completed. This was based upon list OF
newspaper of men. said to be clerks in sta
tions b, F and I, who had got sinecures
from the superintendent solely on account
of their winsome wives. The inspectors
learned that the names were not on the
roster and that no such men had ever been
IIl .v1 %
Recently the books OF George F. Miller,
who is at the head Of the company that got
The contracts for automatic stamp-selling
machines for the New York Office. were ex-
amined at his office at e77 Broadway and 1t
is said nothing wrong wss found.
report will be sent to Washington to.
day by the special commission appointed
to arrange for more floor space, for the
registry department at the Grand Central
Palace.
The commission consisted Of Edward
Post, superintendent OF the general registry
division; Vincent Bradley, who 10 con
nected with the local registry, and Mr.,
Sands. connected with the Washington
Post Office. II was found impossible to
required e1e at the st%ep The Grand ten
trail Palace has figured prominently In the
a year, The owner, is obliged to furnish
all the furniture and equipment and light
Postmaster Van Colt sald yesterday
that should the order from Washington
to redesgnate the finance clerks and cash
iers have the effect Of putting all the clerks
on the 81 400 salary basis the effect on the
system would be extraordinary. The rea-
son Of the so-called improper designation
he says. Is because the bylaws have not
provided for sufficient salaries for the
men filing places OF responsibility In the
office One of these clerks is Vincent ".
Collier, who il under bond Of $40 900. His
salary Is $1,000 year. His duty is to I'LL
the acquisitions Of the stations and sub
stations for stamps and supplies Each
Of tie stations il required to send the money
before the reuuisition can be filled. In
this Office Mr. Collier handles about 81 .0oO,-
600 each month.
Another who will be affected is Frank
Roome. who makes out the schedule Tor
the railway mail service. He must be
an expert accountant, and very slight
mistake on his part would put the entire
system in an intricate middle. His salary
IL 81 900 year.
John Tiederman is In charge OF the
foreign mails, the pneumatic tubes and the
money allowed for salaries Of substitutes.
which is 5000 a year His salary la
81. POO. and under the ruling from the De-
partment at Washington will be cut down
Supt. Richard Van Colt said yesterday:
II have not paid any attention to the news
paper reports concerning me and am az a
loss to know upon what ground to make
a statement. am sure there ia no irregu-
larity in my department. and II there was
would know it, have had no idea OF re-
signing; have simply been appointed to
s,iperintend the delivery Of mail in New
York. The fact that Miss Fleige has been
brought into the general topic does not
merit discussion. She is simply stenog-
rapher employed in the Postmast er's Office
at regular salary and regular hours.
She has enjoyed no unusual privilege
to my knowledge. This talk has all come
from the outside, and am inclined 10 wait
for something official before denying any