Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-06-20
ME7CALF OUT.
Postmaster. r.Gon0ral Discharges
Old Emp|oye.
Was Head Of Order Money Depart
mcnt, and Had Been In TIE Service
Fl Years-Condlct Is Simply Called
q "Serious indiscretlon."

Washington-As a result OF alleged
indiscretiCn In matters pertaining TO
the award of contracts for printing the
n.Grey order forms Of the government,
James T. Metcalf. for many years SUI
perintendent of the money order sys'
TEN, and 21 years with the postoihce
department, has been removed from
office by The postmnster-generai:
The dismissal Is the result CT acts
Of Mr.. Metcalf in opposition to the bid
of Paul Herman of Rutherford, N. d.
the lowest bidder for printing the
money order forms by $45,OOO, and III
favor of the next highest bidder, the
Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, Crawford CON-
pany CT New York, Of which Mr.. Met
calf's son is an employe.
The story Is briefly told In the fol-
lowing letter Of dismissal signcl by
Postmaster-General Payne:
washington, Mr.. James T. Metcalf,
superintendent of money order sys.
TEN, postoffice department.:
Sir: You are hereby removed from
The rosition CT superintendent Of the
money order system.
"The charges upon which your re.
moval is based relate to your actions
in tho matter of the letting OF the
contract for money order forms.
"These charges were made known
to you by Fourth Assistant Postmas'
ter.General Bristow and Asst-Atty.-
Gen. Robb of the postoffice depart
ment and transcript Of your answer
thereto is inclosed herewith.
1T appears from your answer that
when the proposals Of the different
competitors for the contract fer sup.
plying money order forms were
opened, Paul Herman Of Rutherford,
N. ]. formerly employed as foreman
by Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, Crawford
company of New York, by which COM
pany 1t seems your son is also en-
ployed) was found to be the lowest
bidder his proposal being $45,O00 be-
low that of the next higher bidder,
namely, the Wynkoop, Hallenbeck,
Crawford company; that the bid of
Mr.. Herman as submitted was regular
in form. and that he had deposited
certified check for $4,000 as a forfeit.
ut further appears that within a
day or two the Wynkoop, Hallenbeck.
Crawford company filed a protest
against awarding the contract to Her
man, alleging that he was not finan.
cially responsible; that short time
thereafter Mr.. Herman called at your
Office and you advised him to with
draw his bid. and re-enter the employ
Of the Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, Craw.
ford company, understanding at the
time that such withdrawal would re-
said company, and consequently in
loss to the government; that you Of
fered to write and did write a letter to
said company, apprising it OF your in.
terview with Herman, and using your
good offices in his behalf; that you ad.
vised Herman that his $4,000 deposit
would probably be returned to him II
he adopted your suggestion.
"It further appears that you re-
garded Mr.. Herman as possessing the
mechanical qualifications requisite to
the proper performances OF the con-
tract, and that 1t was not any part of
your duty to pass upon the question of
his responsibility, financial or other
wise.
1T also appears that you did not ac-
quaint your superior, First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne, with the
fact that you had endeavored to have
Mr.. Herman withdraw his bid.
1T further appears that hearing
has been had before Gen. Wynne, up
on the question Of the financial re-
sponsibility of Mr.. Herman; although
1t has developed since the submission
OF your answer that you discouraged
the granting of such q hearing, and
manifested desire that the contract
be awarded to the Wynkocp, Hallen.
beck, Crawford company.
Very respectfully, H. c. PAYNE.
"Postmaster-Gen G General"
Postmaster,G General Payne, in an.
nouncing his action. stated that there
was no charge that Mr.. Metcalf had
done anything that is amenable to the
law, but said that his conduct was q
serious indiscretion that could not be
overlooked. Mr.. Metcalf, he said, al
ways has been considered faithful,
efficient, painstaking and honest EN-.
ploye.
Mr.. Payne's voice trembled with
emotion as he announced the dismiss.
oil to the newspaper men. He said it
had become his duty to make the re-
moval. and 1t was a step which he
could not avoid in the proper dis.
charge of his duties.