Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-24

Saeioii was ofuefed by the postmaster
general. This was really the inception
OF the investigation that has spread in
to every part of the department.
The complaints crystallized into a
formal request for Mr. Tyners reeig-
nation, signed by Postmaster General
Payne on March 8 last. Mr.. Tyner had
been in exceedingly bad health for a
long time and had visited the office
at only rare intervals, leaving the Of
flce entirely in charge of his assistant
ior months at a time. He is suffering
from an unusually severe case of
paralysis and in consideration of this
fact the request for his resignation was
based on his ill health. The cores
rondenee which took place just prior
to Mr.. Payne's departure on his cruise
in the West Indies, follows:
office of the Assistant Attorney Cen
eral, Post Office Department, Wash
inGton.
Henry c. Payne, Postmaster General
My Dear Sir-Lest the effects of the
light stroke of paralysis which recent
, ly disabled my left leg partially, and
my left arm totally, may prevent me
from performing my duties salts
}
sistant attorney general for the post
Office department, | deem it proper to
tender my resignation of said Office, to
take effect May l, 1903.
1T is painful for ne to thus sever
my connection with the postal service
with which | have been closely asso-
ciatcd as an officer of the depal tment
, and member of congressional com
mi nj INF al -,1e ig,1 Of
32 years.
Very truly yours,
fSigneD James n. Tyner,"
The postmaster generals acknoWl-
cdgenent follows:
Washington, d. c., March 9, 1903.
James ]. Tyner, Assistant Attorney
General for the Post Office Depart
ment Washington.
My Dear Sill have your letter of
today rendering your resignation of the
position of assistant attorney general
for the post office department.
Il regret the serious afIliction which
has come to you, and which is of such
a serious character IS to preclude your
diScharging the duties of your office.
1t must, indeed, be painful for you to
sever your relations with the depart
ment with which you have been as
sociated for so many years and of which
you were at one time the official head.
Your resignation is accepted in view
CT all the circumstances, but | deem
it but just and proper that it should
! take effect May l. 1908, and that you
! be given leave of absence until that
date. / trust that this will give you
est and freedom from care, and will
| be of material aid in bringing i'm
provement in your condition, which is
at the present time of such n serious
| nature as to render impossible any la
| Dor on your part.
with kindest regards, | am,
Very sincerely yours,
(Signcd
| II. c. Payne. Postmaster General.
| The announcement of yesterdays de-
| velopments We're made by Postmaster
! General Payne, late this afternoon, to
| a large number of newspaper cores
| pondents. In voice that trembled
| with emotion. ne said that he regretted
| to have to say that he had found il
| necessary to remove from office the as
| sistant attorney general fer the de-
partment, and, after speaking in 4 gem
| eraI way about the facts that had de-
| veIoped said the story was best told
| in the correspondence. which he then
read in Il most feeling tone. The case.
| he added, will be in the hands of the
| department of justice. tomorrow, ana
what further steps will be taken will
| be decided by the attorney general.
Mr.. Tyner at the time papers were
| taken, was still technically assistant
| attorney general and this fact vii!
| figure in consideration of the question
| by the department of justice. 1t is
| pointed out, however, that although Mr..
| Tyner still held the office, his fcSiSna-
! ton not having yet become operative,
the acceptance of the resignation was
| with the strict understanding, Speci-
| fcally stated in the letter of accept
ance. that he would not attempt to ad-
| minister the duties of his office.
| Mr.. Tyncr has been in the govern
mcnt service in various important ca
pacitics for many years. He is from
Indiana He served as assistant at
torucy general for the post office, later
was first assistant postmaster general.
Subsequently he became postmaster
general and later he again assumed
office in that department. He is one
of the best known men in official life
in Washington. He and Mrs. Tyner
and President and Mrs. Grant were in
timqtc friends. During the universal
postal congress- which met here in 1880.
he was one of the committee when
represented this government.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tyner refused to make
any statement, tonight. but the sugges-
ton was thrown out that there might
be something to give out by Mr.. Tyner $
side in the future. Mrs. Tyner appar-
entity took the matter very cody. Gen.
Tyner is in Il very weak and almost
helpless condition from his long sick
ness He remains in his room most
of the time and sees very few callers.
After Mr. Tyner had received the letter
of dismissed from Postmaster GCncrli
Payne he called into consultation X K.
koss Perry and l.. T. Kitchener attorneys
of this city. regarding the matter These
sentlcmen, later in the evening, maze g
statement as follows
James N Tyner asks from the public a
suspension of Judgment until T." can l'Nt
before them the facts relating TO ms re,
moval from office and the cause assign q
therefor by the postmaster general me
matter has come unon him 50 suddenly
that he cannot now make Il detailed state