New-York tribune., 1903-04-14
PAYNE TAKES Up SCANDAL
SEARCHING INQUIRY.
EUery Guilty Person viii Be Sum
mariIy Dealt Uith-
IBY TELEGRAPH ro THE rrrBuyE.I ]

LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TErBUSEI
Washington. April 13-Postnaaster General
Payne returned TO Washington to-day but did
not reach his office until late this afternoon
Before seeing any OF his subordinates Mr.
Payne said that he was personally responsible
for the investigation now being conducted. in
formation having reached him before he leSr
Washington which he felt warranted a thor
ough Investigation and he had accordfnEIv with
the approval Of the President. directed Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow TO make
the necessary inquiry. Not only would il natu-
rally fall 10 Mr.. Bristow to make such an in
vestigation, but the fact that the divisions b
investigated under First Assistant Post
master General Wynne's Jurisdiction made II
especially desirable to secure an ex porte in
quiry. The Postmaster General made the fol-
lowing statement this evening:
During the months OF January and February
information and reports reached me which
ana personally gathered such information and
facts as would enable the proper officers of the
department 20 undertake thorough investiga-
ton as TO the truth or faIsity OF these reports
l directed Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
BTistow 10 take the proper steps TO institute the
necessary inquiry. using for that purpose the
postoffce inspectors division and such other
methods would thoroughly ascertain the
truth or raIsity Of the charges or insinuations
made. and he was instructed to proceed prompt
ly and with vigOr during my absence Since my
return this morning I have not seen General
Tess made. The investigation will continue and
II any wrongdoing IS disclosed the parties guilty.
OF such wrongdoing will be sunmarily dealt
with If the system method Of doing busf-
ness in the department is faulty the proper
remedies will be applied without fear or favor
1 1nauSuTdted the investigation with the deter
nination that II should be exhaustive
II is proper for me to add that / laid before
the President the information hich had in
my possession. and that he fully approved OF the
action proposed by me-
After debating the above statement Mr.. Payne
held long conferences with Mr. Bristov and Mr.
Wynne.
CHARGES MADE AGAINST BEAVERS.
Mr. Bristow received formal charges to-day
20 the effect that Mr.. Beavers. late sUperin-
tendent OF the Division Of Salaries and Allow
ances. had been employed by the Postal Clerks
Association and had not only drawn a salary
from the association. but had used his influence
with members Of Congress 70 secure continu-
ally increasing appropriations for clerk hire
AS in the cases Of all charges filed. it
merely said that the matter would be thoroughly
investigated.
The publicity given to the Investigation Is
matter OF regret to the officials OF the Postofce
Department who believed that all interests
could be best served il the affair could be kept
out OF the newspapers Every effort in this
direction has been made. but the precipitate
resignation of Mr.. Beavers on the day he
learned that his division under investiga-
ton. followed by a published interview with
him. gave the newspaper correspondents the
necessary cIew. and since theR-i il has been I'M
possible to prevent some facts from leaking out.
although it is said that considerable conjecture
has found it's way into print. 1t is believed that
the characterization OF Chiefs Beavers and Ma
chen had much 10 do with inducing the Post
master General TO order the investigation, and
much OF the information which has reached the
press has become public through their divisions
Otaer Information however. has been COTnrnuni-
Gated by persons fling charges. among whom
there are doubtless some malcontents, as well
as some who have reason to feel they have not
been Justly treated
Postof1ce INSPECTOR Fosnes. OF the North
western Division. who Director General Of
Posts in Cuba from the time of Mr. Rathocnes
dAnosaI 10 the close of the American occupa-
ton of the island is the principal assistant OF
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Br1stoW
and Chief Inspector Cochran. in the actual COT
duct Of the investigation Inspector IhoTpe' OF
NeurYork and others have been brought IN
from the field The end OF the Investigation IS
not vet in sight and no complete report can
he made TO the Postmaster General at this time
FAIR TREATMENT FOR ALL
rba whole administration OF the Postoffce De-
nartnent is made subject 70 the investigation
Postmaster General EayueS UlleIt4'i4s'
- ey-arx- charge will be prObed thoroughly
and the fnauiry made as searching as the de-
nartmeut's most expert inspectors can make Il
A. the same time Mr.. Payne's purpose Is %
give fair and lust treatment 70 all concerned.
and not to act arbitrarily AMI with undue
haste For this reason it can be said that no
Immediate changes Of Importance IN the per-
sonneI of the service are now contemplated,
and changes will depend largely on the report to
he made by Mr. Bristow, although developments
in the mean time may make some deviation
from this policy necessary
The Office OF the Assistant Attorney t1snerai
for tbs. Postofice Department IS among the
bureaus included in the general inquiry. ana
until the investigation is completed II Is proOa
he that no successor 70 Assistant Attorney
General Tyner will be named
When Postmaster General Payne reached TIE
dapartuent this afternoon a score or news
pa per men were awaiting him with queries con-
cernfng the investigation. but he parried al
Questions with remarks his trip 70 the West
Indies He expressed particular gratfncation at
what he had observed OF postal conditions N
Cuba and said his observations in Cuba and
Porto Rico would be helpful 70 him IN admins
tering the postal service. Mr. Payne summoned
number OF the officials OF the department ana
held short consultations with them respecting
postal affairs
II NAV be several weeks before the postotHce
inspectors will be able 20 complete their work
When they have finished Mr. Bristow VIII pre-
pare A comprehensive report on the Whole sub
ters as 10 which publicity may not be war
rauted, so II is probable that some parts OF y
will be withheld from publication