The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-18
He Had Been in the Postal Service
Since 1882.

He Had Been in the Postal Service
Since 1882.
Washington. June 18.-As a result Of
alleged indiscretons in matters pertain
ing to the award of contracts for print
ing the money order forms of the gov
erument James r. Metcalfe. for many
years superintendent of the money order
system OF the postohice department, has
been removed from office by the post
master general fun investigation of
the case viii be made later The dis
missal is the result of acts OF MI Net
calfe in opposition to the bid OF Faul
Herman of Rutherford, n. J.. the lowest
bidder by $4,000 and in favor OF the
next highest bidder the Wynkoop, Hal
ienback Crawford company of New
York Of which Mr.. Metcalfe's son IS an
The story is briefly told in the follow
ing letter of dismissal, signed by Post
master General Payne, at ocloek
Wednesday afternoon:
Washington June IT, 1903-Mr- Jas
T. Metcalfe superintendent of money
order system. postOffice department:
.'Sir.-You are hereby removed from
the position of superintendent OF the
The charges upon which your re-
moval is based relate to your actions IN
the matter of the letting of the contract
for money order forms. These charges
were made known to you this morning
hv Fourth Assistant Postmaster tener-
al Bristow and Assistant Attorney Cen
eral Robb of the postofhce department..
and a transcript of your answer thtIeto
is inciosed herewith.
1T appears from your answer that
when the proposals of the dlffefent
competitors for the contract OF supply
ing money order forms We're opened
Paul Herman Of Rutherford. n. ~
formerly employed as foreman by the
Myncoop- Halenbeck-Cr Crawford co n
pany. of New York, by which company
te "a
was found to be the lowest bidder. ala
proposal being $4,000 below that of the
next higher bidder namely. the Wyn-
c0op-Hallenbeck- Crawford company;
that the bid of Herman as submitted
was regular i'm form and that he hal
deposited a certified check for $4,000 as
a forfeit 1T further appears thai
within dav or two the W yncO0p-Hal-
lenbeck-Craw wford company filed pro-
test against awarding the contract t5
Herman, alleging that he was not
financially responsible; that a short
time thereafter Mr.. Herman called at
your office and you advised him to
Withdraw his bid, and re-cnter the en-
ploy of the Wyncoop- p-Hallenbeck-Cras y
ford company. UNDERSTANDING at tn+
time that such withdrawal would result
in the contract being awarded to said
company. and consequently in loss to
the government; that you offered to
write and did write. letter to said
company. apprising it of your interview
with Herman and using your good Off
ces in his behalf: that you advisec
Herman that his $4,000 deposit would
/ probably be returned to him if he
adopted your suggestion. Tt further
appears that you regarded Mr. Herman
4 as possessing the mechanical qualifica
tions requisite to the performance of
the contract and that it was not any
part of your duty to pass upon the
question of his responsibility, financial
or otherwise. 1T also appears that you
did not acquaint your superior First
rIesfa No
with the fact that you had endea Vored
to have Mr.. Herman withdraw mis- bid
4 Tt further appears that a hearing has
/ been had before General Wynne upon
bility Of Mr. Herman. although it has
developed since the submission of your
answer this morning that you dsscour~
aged the granting of such a hearing
and manifested a desire that the con-
4 tract be awarded to the Wynkoop- Hal
lenbeck- Crawford company.
Very respectfully.
III c. PAYNE.
"POstmaster General
Postmaster General Paynein announc-
ing his action. stated that there was no
charge that Mr. Metcalf had done any
thing that is amenab BILE to the law but
said that his conduct was a serious in
/ discretion that could not be overlooked.
/ Mr.. Metcalfe. he said. always has been
considered a faithful. efficient pains
taking and honest employe.
Mr. Metcalfe originally was appointed
from Iowa and has been in the postal
service since 1882 During his admins
tration of the office the money order
service has been widely extended by
/ mutual arrangements with large num-
+ ber of foreign governments throughout
the world and Mr.. Metcalfe has had
I cordial personal relations with many
( foreign postal officials. His salary was
( $4,000 year.
The Wynkoop. Hallenbeck Crawford
company has been the contractor for the
money order blanks for l6 years. Nor
man Metcalfe, the 27-year-old son Of
the deposed superintendent. draws a
salary Of 50 250 from the company