Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-29

pointed June %, 1902.
Another employe, Miss Emma V. Jones.
appointed February 8, 1903, was dropped
from the rolls a few days ago. The action was
taken by Postmaster Merritt on instruc-
tions from First Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Wynne. who was carrying out instruc-
tions imposed by Postmaster General Payne
in his order.
My. Payne's Order.
The Postmaster Generals order to his
assistants is as follows:
"Off1ce of the Postmaster General
washington, D. c., April "a.
ITO each assistant.
"Sir: Reports come to me that there are
persons doing duty in the Post Office De
partment .rho are carried on the rolls,
either of the Washington city post office OF
other post offices or who are employed
under specific appropriations for other pur-
poses than the departmental service In
Washington.
This practice is believed to be contrary
to the provisions of section % of the postal
laws and regulations.
'If there are such persons employed In
your office, or under you, you are directed
to order them to report for duty at the
place and Office from which they are detail
ed.
"If the practice referred to above obtains
it should be terminated at once.
Respectfully yours,
l.
Third Important Action.
This is the third important action of the
Postmaster General since the investigation
of alleged scandals in the Post Office De-
partnent was begun about a month ago.
The first was the holding up of notif1ca-
ton of promotions in the New York post
office, to take effect the 1st of next July,
which were recommended by the wholesale,
If iS said nv Mr. George w ReaVerS before
he resigned from the position Of superin-
tendent of the division Of salaries and al
lowances.
The second peremptory action of the
Postmaster General was his order discon-
tinuing the services of the entire staff of
inspectors of canceling machines These
men were carried on the rolls of post Of
fees in certain cities as bookkeepers and
were drawing the salaries of bookkeepers
with travelling expenses in addition. They
were found to have had the new duties as
signed to them by Mr. Beavers.
A Violation, Says Mr.. Payne.
Postmaster General Payne. when asked
this afternoon regarding the notice of dis
missal given to the four clerks in the city
post office. said that 1t was in accordance
with the order he had promulgated. He
also explained that it was in line with the
order issued earlier in the month, which
discontinued the staff or "bookkeeper-in-
spectors."
THE reports came to me, as say in my
order" the Postmaster General said, land
it seemed to me violation Of the postal
laws. There was nothing else to do than
to correct any abuse that might exist"
Postmaster Merritt, when seen this af-
ternoon on the subject. said he had taken
the action in accordance with the order of
the Postmaster General as 1t came to him
through the first assistant postmaster gen.
eral.
One Of the Dismissed Talks.
Miss Paulding of the registry division.
one of the employees affected by the order,
talked frankly to an Evening Star reporter
regarding her dismissal.
'YeS, it is true that l have received no.
tice that my services will not be required
after tomorrow. I understand that several
other ladies are in the same boat as my
SELF
"You are on the rolls as a laborer?" was
asked.
Yes, and I am doing clerical work. Post
master Merritt was very considerate. He
toned to scrubbing floors and windows to
do that class of work, but took pity on US
and dismissed u.s."
Others Were Affected.
1t was developed today that several other
employees who were credited to the Wash
ington city post Office and carried on the
rolls as clerks in the city post Office, but
who had been detailed, it is said, by Mr.
Beavers to departmental work, in violatio
of the postal regulations, were within the
last few days remanded to the city post
office, where they belong.
One of these was Henry Hood, colored
who served as a private messenger to Mr.
Beavers in the division of salaries and al
lOwances.
Hustling Mail Bags Now.
Hood, it is said, never did any work for
the Washington city post office until few
days ago. when at the order of the first as
sistant postmaster general, acting under in
structions contained in the Postmaster Cen
erals order, he was taken from his post in
the division of salaries and allowances and
sent to the city post Office.
This morning Hood, who is a stalwart fell
low, was hustling mail bags in the city post
office. His salary, under the classified
service. is said to be $1,000 year..
Hood was connected with the division of
salaries and allowances as messenger for
nearly six years, going there few months
after Mr.. Beavers became superintendent
of the division. which was in August, 1897.
The action of the Postmaster General is
said to have been tf1 direct result of the
investigation Of alleged scandals in the
Post Office Department, which was insu-
gated by the President Of the United States
and himself.
The Tyner Case.
Attorney General Knox today stated that
the Department of Justice was not further
considering the case of Mrs. Tyner, and
that all the papers had been sent to the
United States attorney for the District
Morgan Beach, for whatever action should
be deemed best. The department officials
declined to give any idea Of what recon.
mendation was made by the department to
Mr.. Beach The general understanding,