The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-29
Regards Situation as Due
Chiefly to Clerical Error,
and Not a New Phase of
the Postoffice Scandal.
0ns
ACTION BY CABINET
Politicians Desire a Bulletin
~a.to Offset Disclosures-S.
A. Croft Will Be Heard
With His Brother.

Postmaster General Payne explained
this morning the order OF r. J. Wynne,
First Assistant Postmaster General. re-
ducing the salaries of assistant post
master in second-class Offices
The law specifically declares that as
sistant postmasters in irst-class Of
fees. with the exception of New York,
shall receive so per cent of the salary
allowed the postmaster he said.
'sPhere is no law governing the salary of
the assistant postmasters In second class
Offices. but the rule of the department
is TO pay them so per cent of the salary
allowed the postmaster.
s"All of the first and second class of
fees have been examined, and fourteen
assistant second-class postmasters have
been found drawing more than half of
the sum named as the postmaster's sal
airy. AS the excess is not illegal. but
only contrary to rule OF the depart
ment, the salaries will be reduced on
July l.
Not Great Saving.
1.-THE total amount saved TO the Gov
ernment Will be only $500 per year
Six clerks in four offices are being
paid salaries slightly in advance of the
salary named by law. They will be
reduced TO the legal limit Immediately
Eight clerks in seven offices are class
flied under the wrong heads, and are
drawing too much money. They will be
classified properly and their salaries reg
ulated accordingly.
I'm seventeen offices there are persons
mi
to the law There is no doubt of the
. persons referred to in this clause being
active and efficient. and they are proper
Iy employed but wrongly classified on the
pay rolls, and the postmasters have been
Instructed to change their designations
to the proper title.
Promotions Stopped.
These changes have nothing to do
with the suspension of promotions,
Which took place some weeks ago. The
promotions were stopped because too
many people were getting certain sala-
ries and not. because clerks, were getting
more salary than the law named for
their positfons.'' f=
Due to Clerical Error.
Mr.. Payne said also the cases straight
ened out in his last order were evidently
due to clerical errors and that. consid-
ering the great number of people en-
pioyed in first and second class offices,
It was a wonder that there had been
such few mistakes.
Mr.. Payne and Mr. Bristow both said
that there was nothing new today in
the investigations.
Have Not Seen Beavers.
They have not seen George W. Beavers,
superintendent of the division of
salaries and allowances, who was re-
ported to be in Washington yesterday.
The department will be closed to-
morrow
Action by the Cabinet
The Postmaster General and the other
members of the Cabinet now in the cit,
have not been informed that It is the
Intention of the President TO call meet
ing of his advisers Immediately upon
his return to Washington Friday The
general impression is, however. that
such meeting will be held. This opin-
ton is shared by leaders of the Senate
and House, and next week there will be
great influx of prominent politicians
unprecedented in the summer history OF
Washington.
Up TO the time Secretary Shaw left
for the West, with a view to passing
through Iowa in company with the
President, it was understood here that
all members of the Cabinet would be in
Washington on the day the President
r,a1 hon r 1aar ad a
Treasury Department today. however
that the Secretary has determined not
to return from Iowa until after the
commencement exercises at Mount Yer
Eon, where the Secretary is to deliver
an address and Miss Shaw is to be grad
uated
It may be. however. that the Secre-
tary has refrained from coming TO 2
decision until he has consulted with the
President. and learned the. plans con
ce:ning the prospective meeting.
Politicians Are Agitated.
The Postofiee Department scandal is
agitating politicians from all parts Of
the country, and inquiries have been re-
ceived by several OF the Cabinet mem
bers regarding the probable effect of the
disclosures upon the next national cam
peign.
Oficeholders generally are on the
anxious seat regarding this phase of the
Postoffice investigation. If the scanda
reflects upon the administration 1t il
conceded that it would affect also tn,
Republican chances in a number o.
doubtful districts. Long-headed poIiti.
clans now say that to counterfeit any
evil effect IL will be necessary for the
President to continue his reform
methods and perhaps extend them tc
ether departments.
Results have been obtained from the
investigation. and Il is argued that this
VIII combat any political capital the
Democratic party will be able TO find
In the Postofiiee scandal Up TO the
time OF the removal OF Assistant Attor-
ney General Tyner. and the arrest oil
A. w. Maehen, general superintendent
Of the free delivery system, II was fear,
ed SO little would be accomplished tina;