New-York tribune., 1903-04-21
GRAVE ABUSE CORRECTED
afR PAYNE TAKES ACTION.
Effect of Postal Scandals DemordI-
i1ing to the Department.

IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTBuNEl
washington. April 20.-The Postmaster Gen.
.-aI issued an order to-day correcting one OF the
sAyses 70 which attention was called IN The
7--i,une OF April X. Without waiting for an
oninion from the Controller OF the Treasury.
NJ. Payne has ordered back TO the Offices TO
vhich they are charged five postal clerks. de-
~siled presumably. by Mr.. Beavers. TO the
nsiring OF canceIling machines in the various
Iarre postof7ces throughout the country. Mr.
Psvne has also sent a 81 900 clerk charged to
+be Washington PostofTice but retained.
rrsry to law. by Mr. Beavers as his special mes
senger, back to his desk IN the city Office
The men who travelled about the country at
government expense. performing services which
for the remainder OF the fiscal year will be rem
5e-ed BY the regular machinists. one OF whom
s retained in each large postofice, are George
A Barnard. charged TO Boston; p H Bruning.
charged to Cleveland. Ohio: J. H Elliott
charged 20 Syracuse, \. Y; William z. Estes
charged 20 San Francisco. and William H. Mer-
-srt charged 10 Grand Rapids, Mich. The spe-
ciai messenger who detailed to serve Mr-
Beavers is Henry Hood. charged to Washington
THE BoOKKEEPER MACHTNIsTs
The .ebookkeeper machinists'' drew salaries Of
<-o- s. 500 upward. Their employment in the
capacity named was so obviously violation Of
the law that the Postmaster General declared
e ~rnalad-ninistration' as soon he was &C
o7lainted with the details and recalled the re
or,est for q legal opinion on their status which
lad been made by First Assistant Postmaster
General wynne in Mr.. Payne's absence from the
cs-v The charge that these men were also in
-be employ OF the owners Of the cancelling ma
chimes is being investigated by Fourth Assist
e-- Postmaster General Bristow It is evident
moreover that the work to which these men
were assigned is regarded as unnecessary and rs
largely in the nature OF sinecure, as it is said
that the regular rachinists employed in offices
where canceIling machines are used will have
No difficulty in making such repairs as are es-
senttal In making new contracts for the use
Of these machines effort viii doubtless be
made TO compel the owners TO provide for their
proper care.
No explanation is given OF the motive wnich
sctuated Nj Beavers n taking an enlploye OF
the CITY postcfice in violation OF an explicit
r-oz-fsio7 Of the law. and assigning him to duty
n the general postofflce his work being largely
personal service rendered 10 the superintendent
The Postmaster General has declared unequivo-
-auv that he would regard the building up OF
= personal machine among politicians by e
posrof7ce official as sufficient TO disqualify such
official for any Office Of trust in the department
but in making this assertion ar- Payne ADDED
that he was not aware that any Official had at
knew Of 10 charges TO that effect
DEPLoRABLE EFFECT OF SCANDALS.
The ALLEGED scandals in the postal service and
the resultant Investigations are having most
sa--oralizing effect on the department. Factions
nave grown Id. Oflcials against whom charges
have been preferred have their accusers and
their defenders among the clerks, and in some
instances things have come TO such z pass that
employees Of some divisions are not on speaking
terms. Other employees regard their tenure OF
of5ce rs n.cst uncertain, because Of their known
-lose association with officials under inVestlga-
tion and the knowledge that II certain charges
are proved 2 general cleaning out viii ensue-
The Postmaster General, appreciating this de-
1lora be condition Of affairs, has endeavored to
reassure al concerned by the statement that
,-,-- the +.sho,ild suffer but this assurance
soes not appear 20 have the effect OF Quletlng
al fears. ,....... .-..
sare Ny Payue's assumption OF the PoslTnas
1.a7e-aIshfp his position is difficult and ernbar-
rassing, and his coInIorI : @ Ilo' s 81 scora
The merciIess cross-exaTnlna Iroh ne sES
= newspaper correspondents, some OF l!leI!l
PATIENTLY hostile 10 the administration, 10 ~ WhlCL
he patiently. and even graciousIy' suDInlls eacn
RrezTT7f1e Fourth Assistant Postmaster Cen
z-aI P-istov IS utilizing every available IN
sector ana bending every energy to probe TO
fhe bottom the constantly increasing array O5
charges preferred, and II Is frankly aaInltteo @
rr-
- c,es-aS an the better II VIII be for the ser
THE TIME CLOCK CONTRACT.
The time clock contract which has been re-
ported as missing. has finally turned up and Il
sea-,s that Il was made in such irregular form
hat. although handled On several recent occa-
Sims II was not recognized as contract II
< merely q letter proposing certain terms on
which the time clocks would be suppIIed, oiI1 i
t---t- - efg-a+7-res Ct the officers Of the
-o-r-snv and J NJ Masten. formerly chief cIerA
m the First Assistant Postmaster Genera uh-
5a~ ne word Accepted Il covers PERIOD OF
Fo-- Tss-e as has been alleged. Mr.. M7sten'
v-o e nov an inspector under the Second As
sis-ant Postrna ster General was IN " NasnlIs
= - - s-sT+ some time at the department
F5A scl,-owledged signing the contract WIN me
T--e-rariorar Time Recording Company ~Wnlch ~
Es-fe+snt Postmaster General. but in Mr. Jonn-
zor's absence