The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-07
The POSTAL INVESTIGATION,
MR.. PAYNE SAYS NE BEGAN TT
AFTER CONGRESS ALIJOURNED.

II Vas We'll Under Way when Supt. Beavers
Resignation Precipitated Matters-A
General Overhauling OF the Entire
Postal Service Is Now Cont empiateSi
WASHINGTON, May Gen
eral Payne this afternoon reiterated his
statement, made some time ago, that the
result OF the general investigation now
being made by Fourth Assistant Post
master General Bristow would be used az
the basis for complete reorganization
of the postal service, II 1t was found neces-
sary or expedient, and at any rate for the
rehabilitation Of such portions Of the SER
vice as have heretofore been handicapped
by red tape, or old-fashioned methods,
or in which business had been done in an
irregular manner.
At the completion of the present inquiry
into the alleged post Office scandals Fourth
Assistant Postmaster-G General Bristow will be
instructed to look into the methods OF doing
business which prevailed in the post Offices
at New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago,
Baltimore and San Francisco and at other
places where the yearly receipts aggregate
$500 900. This supplemental investigation,
Mr. Payne believes, will not be completed
until December, 1908. and perhaps not then.
il 1t Is found to be necessary to put into effect
new methods at many Of the Offices to be
overhauled.
I'm the natural course of events" said
Mr.. Payne, "a general overhauling of the
entire postal service is just about due. The
methods Of doing business now in force
were instituted during the administration
Of Postmaster General Wanamaker. Since
then the revenues of the Department have
almo st tripled, the enormous rural free
delivery service has been added in its en-
tirety and every other branch OF the SER
Vice has increased in proportion. The
methods which will keep the Department
machinery in working order and enable it to
run smoothly and without hitch or hindrance
under the increased pressure. / have no
doubt that the present investigation will
serve to show that many changes are abso
lutely necessary. that checks must be placed
at various points in the vast postal system to
safeguard the interests OF the Govern
ment and Of the people, and that obsolete
and time-bound methods must give place
to new ways of transaoting business.
This inyestigathi9,n; has been given wide
on or make it's scope any the more COM
prehensive Last December after numer-
GUS conferences between Chairman Loud
Of the Post ONCE Committee and myself,
the bill increasing the appropriation for
from 81 600 to $1,000 was introduced to
defray in part the expenses of the con-
templated general investigation. This was
done as it was believed very positively
that outside help would be necessary.
This belief has been born out by subse-
quent developments. It was agreed upon
by Mr.. Loud and myself at that time that
it would be better not to begin the investi-
cation until after the adjournment of Con-
Eress when other Pressing dgsI matters had
hered to. The investigation was well
under way and progressing nicely when the
resignation Of Supt. Beavers Of the Salary
and Allowance Division precipitated mat
ters somewhat.
investigation and forced the Departments
hand. ! can frankly say that / regretted
the necessity for this. Our plans had
been nicely arranged to cond uct the in
vestigation in a most thorough and COM
has been given the alleged scandals in the
Department was not bargained for. But
when it came. it practically forced the
Department to an immediate investiga-
ton OF the scandals, reserving until future
date the completion of the general investi-
CATION OF the postal service and the intro
duction of modern methods where neces-
sary.
MIR. Bristow has told me that his report
on the scandals will be ready about the first
of June, and when it is laid before me l
shall instruct him without delay to CON-
tinue the inquiry to the big post offices
I throughout the country and to all branches
OF the service not included in his investi-
CATION up to the first of June.
Mr.. Payne said that he had received re-
plies to his letters to former Postmaster
General Smith, Fourth Assistant Post
mast err General Bristow, Comptroller OF the
Tracewell and Postmaster Mer-
rill relative to the charges of former Cashier
Of the Washington post office
alleged Irregularities in the |
service.
The Postmaster-G General said he had not |
vet heard from Mr.. Tulloch with regard |
10 documents and papers In his possession |
OF the charges made, but |
expected to within a day or 30, as he be- |
ieved Mr.. Tulloch was acting in good |
faith.
Mr.. Payne said that Postmaster Van
Colt OF New York, had recently asserted |
10 the Department that he had made no |
requisition for the expensive automobile |
used in New York to carry the receipts of !
of the Post ONCE to the Sub-I'reasury |
and that former Superintendent Beavers |
mad supplied the machine without sugges- |
ion from him. There is no record on the |
ies Of the Department here that an auto |
mobile was ordered, and it appears that |
Mr. Beavers took the initiative in intro |