Mexico Missouri message., 1903-12-03

master-General Payne and Congressman
70. F. Loud. chairman OF the Committee
on the Post-Office and Post-Roads. held
various consultations regarding the pos
tai service. and as a result OF these In
terviews II was determined that as soon
as possible after the necessary appTOpria-
lions could be made by the Congress an
investigation should be made OF the ser
vice, both MessrH, Payne and Loud agree
ing as 20 the need for the investigation
and the time when Il should take place.
Accordingly, an increase OF $500 In the
appropriation bill reported in January
was made for the express purpose OF car
rying on the investigation In question.
The investigation made by Mr.. Bris-
tow discloses a condition OF gross cor
ruption in the office OF the First Assist
ant Postmaster-Gener and in that of
the Assistant Attorney-GeneTal for the
Post-Office department. In the case OF
the superintendent OF free delivery, Mach
en-. the evidence shows that his miscon-
duct began Immediately after his appoint
ment In September, 1893. In the case OF
the general superintendent Of salaries
and allowances, Beavers, It began soon
after he was appointed TO that place in
1897. In the case of Assistant Attorney
General TyDer II has gone on for a num-
Der OF years, but II Is impossible to say
exactly when IL began. The following is
a list OF the fourteen Post-Ofice en-
Dloyes In the service at the time this in
vestigation was begun. who are appar-
emily most seriously implicated in the
wrongdoing, together with an account of
the steps that have been taken by the
Government in each case.
CThe case of ex-First Assistant Post
master-General Heath. who had left the
service over three years before this in
vestigation was begun. Is set forth in
the report OF Mfr. BristowD
yamaa N
General for the Post-Ofice department;
appointed special agent, POst-Omce de-
partment, March Z. 1861: with intervals
Of a few years has been in the service
ever since, and was Postmaster General
under President Grant for several
months; he was removed April p. 1905;
he has since been Indicted three times.
A. w. Machen, general superintendent
free-delivery system; appointed clerk in
post-office at Toledo. Ohio March /. 1851;
continuously I'm service ever since save
for three years: removed May q, 1903;
has since been indicted fourteen times.
George w. Beavers, general superin-
tendent OF salaries and allowances; APP
pointed to clerkship In New York post
office January, 1881: continuous service
ever since: resignation accepted 10 take
effect March 81, 1900; has since been in
dioted eight times.
James T. Metcalf superintendent mon
tg-OTutE hgtAeHls appointed
spector February 2 1882: has been in pos
tai service ever since; removed June II,
1908; has been indicted once.
Daniel V. Miller, assistant attorney,
Post-Office department; appointed July /,
1902: removed May rs, 1903; indicted once;
after one mistrial was retired and ac-
Quilted
Louis Kempner. superintendent regis
try system; appointed clerk in New York
post-Office August, 1885; removed October
81 1903
Charles Hedges, superintendent city
free-delivery service; appointed assistant
superintendent free-delivery service July
/, 1898: removed July e. 1903.
James W. Erwin assistant superintend-
ent free-delivery service appointed post
ONCE inspector June q. 1857; removed Sep
TENDER Is. 1908; indicted once.
w. Scott Towers, superintendent Sta
ton c. Washington, d. c.; appointed
clerk, Washington post-Ofice November,
1890; removed October, 1903; indicted three
times.
Otto f. wels, assistant superintendent
registry division, New York post-ofiice;
appointed clerk, New York post-ofice
June. 1880; removed October q, 1903.
T. w. McGregor, clerk, free-delivery d.
vision, In charge OF supplies; appointed
POst-ofice department, March II. 1891:
removed June 5. 1893; indicted twice.
ion; appointed July /, 1900; removed June
8, 1903; indicted once.
II. W. Louis, superintendent supply d.
vision; appointed Kansas City post-office
April II, 1897; removed October q, 1903.
Charles b. Terry, clerk, supply division;
appointed September 20, 1890; removed Oc-
tOber p, 1908.
The three chief offenders in the Govern
ment service were Tyner, Machen and
Beavers. AS regards Messrs. Beavers and
Machen the corruption took the form OF
bribery and blackmail In connection with
the purchase OF Government supplies. In
the office OF the Assistant Attorney-Csen-
eral for the Post-ohice department, under
Tyner and Barrett, far greater wronk
was inflicted upon the public than could
be measured by a pecuniary standard
for in this office the corruption OF the
Government officials took the form OF
favoring get-rich-quiek concerns and sim
liar swindling schemes; in other words
the criminals, whom II was the sworn
duty Of these Government officials to
prosecute, paid them for permission to
fleece the public unmolested.
l heartily approve OF the recommenda-
ton of Messrs. Conrad and Bonaparte
that the statute OF limitations be extend
ed in the case OF Government servants
to period OF at least five years; for the
persons who In such positions OF trust
engage In corrupt practices can ordinarily
conceal their guilt for a longer time than
Is covered by the present short statute OF
limitations.
No crime calls for sterner reprobation
than the crime OF the oorruptionist In
public life, and Of the man who seeks TO
corrupt him. The brlbe giver ana the
bride taker are equally guilty. Both alike
sin against the primary law OF the States
safety. All questions OF difference IN par
y policy sink into insighihcaneA when
the people OF this country are brought
face 10 face with a question ike this.
which lies at the root OF honest ana de-
cent government. On this question, and
on an others like It, We can afford 70
have no division among good oitizens.
self-government becomes a farce Il the
representatives OF the people corrupt
others or are themselves corrupted Free
dom Is not a gift which will tarry long n
the hands OF the dishonest or Of those
20 foolish or so incompetent as 70 tolerate
dishonesty In their public servants. Un-
der our system all power comes from the
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Water supply Important.