Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-24
DEpARTMElvT OF STATE,

ter making a most exhaustive eNdHliiidt ioii,
submitted the following report to the Pres-
dent:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
Washington, December %, 1903.
Mr. President: l have the honor to sub
nit to you the answer of Judge Baldwin to
the letter of the acting secretary of state
requesting him to fully explain his con-
nection with the sale of the Brandt auto
matte cashiers to the Post Office Depart
ment. Judge Baldwin seems to have salts
factorily met ar the points covering any
improper actibnsoh his part with the pur-
chase by the1Rost Once Department of the
Brandt autoaaatics cashiers. He states that
in his capacity tassa lawyer and holding no
governmentGpositisn he interested himself
in the business, ufthis son-in-law, who was
a local agent of the fraudulent Company,
to the extent Of talking with Mr.. Perry
Heath and 'EeulIesting Mr.. Heath TO look
into the maHter sof the Brandt automatic
cashier, andT .'ff3 Ire was satisfied that the
Postmasters twereJ DESTROYS of purchasing
the machines and that the machine was a
meritorious and useful device, to at least
accept and pay f0r the machines already in
use and TO purchase such Others as there
might be a legitimate demand for"
1t would appear that the machine was
a useful and valuable device, and one
which was useful to the Post Office De-
partment ii. The statement is true that at
later period air1 after the fraudulent
company iiad been debarred from selling
further machn1eS to2the Post Office Depart
ment owing to some iIegality in the COM
pany's contract growing out of the en-
ployment efeM Mr.. briggs, the company was
reinstated in Its right to do business with
the Post Office Department which after
ward purchase in the neig hborhood of one
hundred machines for its use. Judge Bald
win states that the positions of both Strome
and Miller in the company as its selling
agents were precarious. owing to their fail
ure to satisfy the president of the COM
no rnyif fIl Of hot Inc oy,6
the correspondence submitted by the Post
Office Department seems to indicate that
these men were using every endeavor to
strengthen their position with the president
of the company. Judge Baldwin states:
Used Baldwin's Name.
1T would seem from the correspondence
sent me that from this one effort both
Miller and Strome continually used my
name in their correspondence, and pre-
sumably for the purpose of impressing upon
the company that they were not idle and
that. evidently through some supposed in
fuence that l possessed, a satisfactory
rangement would ultimately be made to
purchase the ma chimes In most incidents
they have used my name without tho
slightest warrant, based upon any CONVEX
sationS with me whatsoever, and have no
doubt that they have used the names of the
distinguished men mentioned in the CORE
spondence likewise for the purpose of inn
pressing the company with the influence at
their disposal, and l have no doubt that the
statements about alleged conversations
with them and promises made are as myth
ical as most of the statements made about
me in connection with the matter
This would appear to be in conformity
with the policy that these men were pursu-
ing toward the president Of the company,
and it is pertinent in this connection to re-
mark that Judge Baldwin states that
Strome was discharged from the employ
ment of the company for Irregularities of a
fiduciary character.
The only letter from Judge Baldwin in
the correspondence submitted by the Post
Office Department Is one to Strome relating
to the proposed action of the president of
the fraudulent Company. who proposed
to repudiate his contract with Judge Bald
wins. son-in-law, Miller. In which Judge
Baldwin makes it clear that as counsel and
attorney -at-law for his son-in-law he would
resist any such attempt. and this letter Is
evidence of the truth of his statement that
the positions of Strome and Miller in the
employment of the company were precari-
Gus. =
Miller's Statement Denied.
The allegation that Judge Baldwin zap
peared to have been willing to adopt any
measures that would bring about an oraer
whether such measures were legitimate in
fiuence or illegitirnate use of money" APP
pears to be based only upon the statement
of Miller in MS ietter or April 3, 1893, In
which he says ale Judge Baldwin, also
says to find out II possible exactly what
this man Beavers wants to insure our sue
cess in that department in the way Of dol
lars and CENTS but not to give it to him
unless forced TO do so, and when you do If
at all. he desires to be present himself and
plan the agreement. but says it is not even
time to thinks6fsthts move.''
This is met by Judge Baldwin with an
absolute. specific .aad categorical denial, as
is the charge that he was in any way con-
nected or that 10i had any knowledge OF
any agreement tq pay any moneys to
briggs or that he knew at all OF the en-
ployment of Driggs In any way by the COM
pany. teed &
1t appears ITO me, therefore, that Judge
Baldwin has, satisfactorily met the charges
of improper or corrupt connection with the
sale of Brandt automatic cashiers to the
Post Office Department and that he should
be deemed exonerated from any completely
with any fraud or. corruption which may
have existed in that business.
Respectfully submitting the above to your
consideration, 1 have the honor to be- Mr.
President,
Your obedient servant,
HERBERT H. ID. PIERCE.
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