Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-30

to Sept. 20, 1893, and from June /,
1897, to Dec. 81, 1900;
George f. Green;
Diller b. and Samuel a. Croft;
William c. Long, formerly in the
postotfice department from April II,
1890, to Aug. Is, 1898;
Isaac S. McGiehan;
George II. Huntington;
George +. Lorenz, formerly post
master at Toledo, Ohio, from Aug. 3,
1886, TO July 8, 1890;
Martha j. LorenZ;
John Il. Cupper;
II. c. Hallenbeck;
w. ID. Doremus;
Eugene ID. Scheble;
William G.. Crawford, deputy audi
tor postoffice department from June
-, 1898, to Sept. Is, 1897;
Maurice Runkle;
Norman r. Metcalf;
Leopold j. Stern;
Edmund II. briggs;
George +. Miller;
Joseph NJ Johns.
Several of the above have been in
dicted two, three, or five times each.
Tyner, Mach9n and Beavers Worst.
The three chief offenders in the
government service were Tyner, Ma
chen and Beavers. The friends of Ty-
ner have advanced the theory that in
his case the chief offender was really
his nephew by marriage, Barrett,
who was his assistant in the Office for
a part of the time, and that Tyner's
offenses are due to his failing bodily
forth in Mr.. Bristow's report do not
tend to substantiate the validity of
these excuses for Tyner, while they
show literally astounding misconduct
in Barrett. For Machen and Beavers
no excuse of any kind has been alleg-
ed. In the case of Metcalf, the SUI
perintendent Of the money order sys-
tenn, the most vigorous protests were
at first made on his behalf by a large
number of reputable citizens, and
also by others who were at the time
deemed reputable, but who it has
since been discovered were profiting
by MetcaIfs misconduct. One of
them has been indicted in connection
with him. When these Investigations
were begun, some nine months ago.
many of the chief offenders who
have been indicted or dismissed, or
both. as above enumerated, were con-
sidered to have excellent regulations.
\ number of the most respectable
people i'm the land offered voluntary
Testimony on behalf of Mr.. Tyner. So
highly were Messrs. Beavers and Ma
chen thought of by those who had
been brought into close connection
with them that the congress actually
provided at its last session for raising
the salaries of both, the salary in
each case being increased $500, to
take effect at the beginning of the
fiscal year July l last BY that date
they were both out of office, and the
department Of justice was taking
steps to have them indicted. During
Machen's term Of service he was
twice investigated by the congress,
once by committee Of the senate
and once by committee of the house,
but cleared on each occasion. Yet at
that very period, as has been shown
in the present investigation. he was
engaged in the corrupt business for
which he has now been removed and
indicted. This is no reflection upon
the committees who conducted the in
vestigation; for so skillfully had Ma
chen concealed his wrongdoing that
it was only revealed after months OF
laboriOus and exhaustive work by
trained inspectors.
The details of the corruptions are
set forth in full in Mr.. Bristow's re-
me. As regards Messrs. Beavers and
Machen, the corruption took the form
of bribery and blackmail in connec-
ton with the purchase of govern
ment supplies. In the office of the as
sistant attorney general for the post
office department, under Tyner and
Barrett, far greater wrong was in
fiicted upon the public than could be
measured by pecuniary standard,
for in this office the corruption of the
government officials took the form of
favOring get-rich-quick concerns and
similar swindling schemes; in other
words, the criminals, whom it was the
sworn duty of these government Off
Gals to prosecute, paid them for per-
mission to fleece the public unmo-
Tested.
/ heartily approve of the recon-
mendation of Messrs. Conrad and Bon
aparte that the statute of limitations
be extended in the case of govern
ment servants to a period of at least
fke years; for the persons who in
such positions of trust engage in cor
rupt practices can ordinarily conceal
their guilt for a longer time than is
covered by the present short statute
of limitations. This recommendation
has been laid before the congress in
the report of the attorney general,
and it is earnestly hoped that it will
be acted upon favorably. Moreover,
our experience shows that outsiders
claiming political influence some
times sell their influence to candi-
dates for Office, or in other words,
blackmail these candidates. There
should be legislation which will per-
NIT of summary dealing with such of
tenders.
Punishment Needed.
hk, =.