The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-30

PO1e-
master general
DIVISION OF SALARIES AND
ALLOWANCES.
In August 1897, George w. Beavers
was appointed chief of the salary ana
allowance division. Beavers methous
have been reckless and without rune OF
regularity. Increases of allowances Ior
clerk hire in postofices were made as
matters of favor regardless of the neces-
sites of the service PromoCons We're
freouently made without consideration
of the merits of the clerk proIIlote t
Long time leases for postoft1ce premises
were Cancelled and the rent increased
upon the recommendation of prominent
political leaders, sometimes without re-
gard to the rental value OF the premises.
Sale of promotionS.-Otto f. Wels, a
clerk in the New York postofhce and an
intimate friend of Beavers, an on1cer
of the Postoffice Clerks association, ac-
cording to his own story collected from
IS, 900 to $4,000 from clerks upon the pre-
tense that it was to be used In securing
favorable legislation.
Many of the clerks in the New York
and Jersey City postof1ces stated under
oath that they had contributed to Wels,
legislative fund under the promise OF
promotion. Frank c. Hay, clerk IN
the Jersey City postoffice,. states that
Weis told him that this money was 10
he paid to Beavers after deducting the
expenses for collecting.
Clerk Hire.
Tho appropriations for clerk hire are
made under two heads: For compen-
sation of clerks in first and second
class postoffices" and For separating
mails at third and fourth class most
The amount allowed to third and
fourth class offices is based upon the
number of pieces of mail handled III
transit. This appropriation, averaging
been distributed by Beavers largely py
personal favor. If a senator. memDer
of congress. or any prominent politician
whom Beavers was anxious to please
requested an increase in the clerk hire
allowed a postmaster, Beavers would
comply regardless of the merits OF the
case. To illustrate:
The postmaster at Duquoin. ILL.,, IN
December. 1901, asked for an allowance
for clerk hire. The postmaster was d.
rected to keep a count of the transit
mail handled, which he failed to do;
but submitted a statement showing the
local work of the office. He was in
formed that no clerk hire could be
allowed under the law for local work
recommended that an allowance of $500
per annum be given that office. and
the request was compiled with. The
amount was afterwards increased to
$500 per annum. Under the rules of the
department, on the basis Of count
made in August, 1903. the office was
entitled under the law to $50.
John w. Langley, appointment clerk
of the census Office, on December 6,
1900, requested an increase in the al
lowance for clerk hire at Prestonsburg,
KY, the postmaster being his sister.
A count was ordered and the report
showed the Office entitled to $3.50 per
annum, but an allowance of $500 was
made, which afterwards. at Langley
request. was increased to $780,
In May, 1900. the member of congress
recommended an increase in the allow
ance at Conyers, Ga, which was then
$40 year. A count was ordered and
the report showed the Office entitled to
$3.50 per annun; only 800, however, was
allowed. Afterwards, the congressman
called on Beavers personally and the
allowance was increased to $500. This
increase of S720 was paid to clerk rec
commended by the congressman. On
July 1, 1902. this clerk was transferred
to another Office and the allowance was
then reduced to $500 per annum, plainly
indicating that the $720 increase in the
allowance was made to give clerk
employment and not because Of the
needs Of the office.
At Port Deposit, Md, the postmaster
was receiving an allowance of $50 per
annum for separating purposes. On
February IS, 1903, the member of con-
gress asked that on account of in
creased business the allowance be made
$500, and that Ethel w. Colvin be des-
ignated as the clerk at that salary.
On February II he was advised that
the increase had been authorized. On
February 27. the postmaster having
refused to appoint Miss Colvin. the
congressman wrote stating that fact
and suggesting that the allowance be
reduced to $780, which was Immediately
dOnS.
Offices of First and Second Classes
1t was however. in offices of the first
and second elias ses that Beavers reach
ed his climax of reckless and criminal
waste in the matter of clerk hire.
Clerks were appointed in postoffices
when they were not needed. Promo
tons were made without consulting the
postmasters Clerks were placed upon
the rosters of postofices and paid when
no service was rendered Changes
were made in the titles of clerks or en-
ployes in offices in order to increase
their salary. while the duties perform
ed would remain the same.
In five first class offices assistant
postmasters have been designated as
cashiers for the sole purpose of giving
them larger salaries than they were
entitled to under the law Forty-fve
clerks at first class postoffices have
been receiving salaries of from 500 to
$500 per annum in excess of what thew
were entitled to.
Maurice Hooker was appointed a Ia
borer in the Dostoffice at Fredonia N
Y, at $500 per annum, on January
1902. and though he did no work in the