Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-07-31
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandra Gazette
Washington, d. c., July 81.


of the recent investigations into the
PostofFice Department scandals. Leo
pold J. Stern, of Baltimore; VIM. Z.
Long, of Washington and A. W. Ma
chen, former Superintendent OF Free
Delivery, on the charge of conspiracy TO
default the government in connection
with a contract for shoulder straps Tor
letter carriers satchels; August w.
Machen. Thomas w. Mac Gregor OF
Baltimore and Morris Runkle, on a
charge of conspiracy in connection with
contract for letter carriers satchels and
railway mail sacks; August w. Machen,
w. S. Crawford, of Washington, Geo. H.
Iorenz. former Postmaster of Toledo,
Ohio. and his wife Martha j. Lorenz on
the charge of conspiracy; August W;
Machen, John T. Cupper, mayor OF
Lock Haven, Pa, and VIM. Q. Long,
of Washington. on the charge OF con.
sniracy: VIM C. Long, on the charge OF
nfcrino a bride; John L. Cupper, OF
Lock Haven Pa, on the charge OF oiier-
inc a bribe: VIM. Gordon Crawford, the
official representive Of the Postal LOCK
& Device Co.. of New York, on the charge
Of collecting false claim against
tbeooyernment. The Crawford case is also
similar. The contract held by his firm,
the Postal Lock & Device Co., of New
Jersey, was for S2l, 600 and 1t IS al
legged that he paid to Machen through
the Lorenzs as go-betweens, 81 600. In
all these cases it is asserted that the
department was charged for the straps
bv the contractors until they paid bills,
though the straps had been by furnished
bv the department. The indictments
against joint. Cupper, of Lock Haven,
Pa. charges that, in return Tor MS
securing through Machen a contract Tor
painting letter boxes, he gave Machen
$500. using Long as a go-between.
One of these indictments charges
conspiracy to deiraud the govern
ment and the other bribery. Long
is also indicted separately on
the charge of offering a bride.
The first three indictments are in con-
uection with contracts for furnishing
satcbels for letter carriers and railway
mail service. One of these contracts was
held by Leopold j. Stern, OF Baltimore.
1t is charged that Stern was unable 10
furnish the shoulder straps to 60 with
the satchels and that these were supplied
by the department through Machen, IN
return for which Stern is alleged to have
paid Machen through VIM. G. Long, q
Washington insurance man and friend
Machen, various sums aggregating al
least SO. 900. The Runkle indictment is
on similar charge, being alleged that
in this case Runkle in return for straps
thus furnished by the department paid
Machen 81, 900 and Thos. w. Mac Gre
cor of Baltimore, a clerk in charge o.
the purchase of supplies in the depart
ment $500.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson is the
only guest expected at Sycamore HI
today. He will arrived in time for din
ner and will stay over night. While
there he will take upanumber OF depart
mental matters with the President. The
experiments made by Professor Wiley il
his "poison boarding house" may be dis.
cussed. Prof. Wiley's bOarders have
lately been undergoing cigarette, cigar
and pipe-smoking ordeals and the Secre
tary is likely to have the report on this
interesting series for the Presidents edi
fication. The President does not use
tobacco in any form, though he alway'
keeps a stock of cigars on hand for his
visitors and thus far none of his boys has
taken to the weed in any form.
Upon the complaint of local finan
cier, who received through the mails
some of the alluring literature OF thu
concern, the Postofice Department il
investigating the Cooperative Tur
Association of New Orleans. The pro
moters claim to have a sure thing on thu
races and promise returns of over pc
cent a week on all investments intruste'
to them. They give as references
number of New Orleans city officials
The President has ordered system o
cash prizes for the encouragement 0
gunners which range from $40 pc
month added to the experts pay wht
operates the big rifles on ships down t.
90 per month for him who makes fai
record with a one-pounder.
With rush and roar of wind, volleyinI
crash of thunder, binding lightning
flashes and a downpour of rain almos
} rivalling a cloudburst, a storm Drok
, over New York city late yesterday after
noon. driving away the nearly unsup
portable heat and sitting atmospher
which up to that time had made oven
alike of house and office and caused on
r death and four prostrations. Trees wer
uprooted by the wind, and three falling
trunks in Prospect Park knocked tn
statue of Abraham Lincoln from 1t
pedestal. Many fagpoles were shattere'
by lightning, and bolt caused the tleul
of the entire Huckleberry system.
The refunding of the three and tou
per cent. bonds into two per cents.
which was begun by Secretary Shaw las
April. comes to an end today. Up t.
this morning there have been REFUNDED
$50. 36I.150 of these bonds. Today
offerings, together with two lots whicl
, are known to be on their way here, vii
bring the aggregate close to SSl, 900, 600
Secretary Shaw is very we'll satisfied will
e this result. He offered to take 500,
E 600 GOO but it was freely predicted a
6 the time that he would not receive NOR
than one-third Of that amount /
J is calculated at the Treasury DE
partment that the government through
! the refunding operations will max
/ a saving in future interest pay
ments of between 100000 and $500