The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-04-16
POSTOFFICE SCANDALS
Mr.. Payne Says Thorough Inves-
tigation Will Be Made.
NOT TO ACT WITH UNDUE HASTE

No Immediate Changes in Department
Contemplated, and 1t May be Sew
erai Weeks Before Inspectors Com.
pete Their Work.
Washington. April II. - Postmaster
General Payne gave out a statement in
which he announced that the investi-
cation of the affairs Of the postohice
department will be continued and that
any parties found guilty OF wrongdoing
will be dealt with summarily. The
statement follows:
During the months of January and
February. information and reports
reached me which ! deemed it for the
public interest to investigate. and /.
personally. gathered such information
and facts as would enable the proper
officers of the department to undertake
a Thorough investigation as to the
truth or falsity of these reports.
directed Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow to take the proper
steps to institute the necessary inquiry.
using for that purpose the postofiice
inspectors division and such other
methods as would thoroughly ascertain
the truth or falsity Of the charges or
insinuations made, and he was in
structed TO proceed promptly and with
VigOr during my absence. Since my
return this morning I have not seen
General Bristow. so that l am not ad-
vised Of the progress made. The inves-
tigation willcOntinue. and II any wrong
doing is disclosed. the parties guilty
of such wrongGoing Will be summarily
dealt with. If the system or method
of doing business in the department is
faulty. the proper remedies will be ap-
piled without fear or favor. l inaugu-
rated the investigation with the deter
mlnation that it should be exhaustive.
II is proper for me to add that laid be-
fore the president the information
which l had in my possession. and that
he fully approved OF the action pro-
posed by me-"
The whole administration Of the
postofIice department is made subject
to the investigation under Postmaster
General Payne's directions. and every
charge will be pushed thoroughly and
the inquiry made as thorough as the
departments most expert inspectors
can make it.
At the same time. Mr.. Payne's pur-
pose is to give fair and just treatment
to all concerned. and not to act arbi-
trarily and wit. undue haste. For this
reason IL can be stated that no imme-
date changes OF Importance in the per-
sonnet OF the service are now contem-
plated, and changes Will depend largely
on the report to be made by Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow
on the investigation, althC lgh circum-
stances may neceSsitate some devia-
ton from this policy.
The office of the assistant attorney
general for the postohice department is
among the bureaus included in the gen
eral inquiry. and until the investiga-
ton of AFFAIRS generally is completed.
ii is probable that no successor to As
sistant Attorney General Tyner will be
named
1t is learned that it may be several
weeks or more before the postofice in
spectors will be able to complete their
work When they have finished. Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristoyy
Will prepare comprehensive report on
the whole subject. The report neces-
sarlly will embrace matters as to which
publicity may not be warranted. SO IL
Is probable some parts of the report
Will be withheld from publication.