The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-18
AK AGAIN WELDED IN THE
P0STOFFICE DEPARTMENT
''ndiSCretion" in the Awarding of Contracts Loses
James T. MetcaIfe His Position.
As Usual the Postmaster Generals Voice rembIed With Emo
ton" When He Made the Announcement.

answer this morning that you dIScOur-
aged such a hearing and manifested a
desire that the contract be awarded to
the Wynkoop Hallerbeck Crawford
company Very respectfully,
CSigned) H c. PAYNE.
Postmaster General
Postmaster General Payne, in &C
counting his action, stated that there
was no charge that Mr.. Metcalfe had
done anything against the law. but said
that his conduct was a serious indis-
cretion that could not be overlooked.
Mr.. MetcaIfe, ne says, has always been
considered a faithful, efficient pains
taking and honest empioye.
Sent For Metcalfe.
The postmaster general. on his ar
rival at the department today, sent for
Fourth Postmaster General BristOw
and Assistant Attorney General RObb
and. after detailing the information
that had reached him regarding the
money order bids, instructed them to
send for Mr. MetcaIe and Immediately
investigate the case. The two gentle
men named, with Inspector Fosnes,
thereupOn examined Mr.. Metcalfe close
~ for two hours, and he, it is stated,
corrOborated the facts stated in the
letter of dismissal.
Messrs. BristOw and RObb immedi-
ately afterward had q long conference
with the postmaster general, who also
sent for First Assistant General
Wynne, who has immediate supervis-
ion of the money order system and who
has insisted on the lowest bidder be-
ing given hearing and the opportunity
10 demonstrate his ability to fulfill his
contract. The postmaster general later
conferred with President Roosevelt, and
the order of dismissal followed
Removal Announced
Postmaster General Payne's voice
trembled with emotion as he announced
the dismissal to the newspaper men
late this afternoon. He said 1t had be-
come his duty to make the removal and
it was step which he could not avoid
in the proper discharge Of his duty
In reply to questions he said no con-
sideration had been given as yet to the
appointment of a successor. but that
the duties of superintendent for the
present would devOlve on Mr.. Metcalfe's
assistant. He is Edward F. Kimball
of massachusetts,, VINO has been in the
service seventeen years
Mr.. Metcalfe was originally appointed
from Iowa and had been in the postal
service since 1882. Since his admins
tratiOn of the office the money order
service has been widely extended by
mutual arrangements with large
number of foreign governments
throughout the world and Mr.. MetCale
has enjoyed cordial personal relations
with many foreign officials. His salary
was $1,000 a year.
The WynkOOp- Hallenbeck-C Crawford
company has been the contractor for
the money order blanks for sixteen
years. Norman Metcalfe, the 27-year-
old son of the deposed superintendent
draws a salary of $3.50 from the COM
panZ.
Metcalfe's Statement.
Mr. Metcalfe tonight said that he had
done nothing wrong and had nothing TO
/ conceal; that his sons employment by
/ the bidding firm could have no effect on
the award; that he suggested Her
man because he (Mr. Metcalfe) knew
that Herman's means were limited and
that a stOppage of supplies in the
midst of a contract term would have
proved serious. He says that with
/ Herman's consent he wrote to Mr.
HaIlenbeck. advising that Mr.. Herman
| be restored to his old place, and that
he told Herman that he had little
doubt that the government would allow
Herman to withdraw his forfeit check
Of * 000