Evening star., 1903-07-02
MANIFOLD CONTRACT
Important Development in
the Investigation.
MR.. LANDV0IGT'S SON
Is EMPLOYED By THE COMPANY
AT FRANKLIN, PA.
He Eeciines to Talk, but Says He Has
Satisfactorily Explained
to His Chief.

The investigation into the contract OF
the General Manifolding Company of
Franklin, Pa, was today pointed rather
directly to the employment of the son OF
Mr.. Landvoigt, superintendent Of the GER
tification division of the office Of the third
assistant postmaster general, with the
Franklin company.
When Mr.. Landvoigt was seen by a Star
reporter today he preferred to make no
statement concerning the employment OF
his son by the company that held an I'M
portant contract under the department.
"Of course" he said K would like to
make a statement in The Star and set my
self straight before the public, but l have
explained the matter to the third assistant
postmaster general and he had reported 1t
to the Postmaster General, and 1 do not
think it would be proper for nee to say any
thing l am feeling very comfortable over
the outcome of this matter"
An Important Development.
No one about the department acquainted
in an official way with the facts in the
case Of the employment Of Mr.. Landvoigts
son by the General Manifolding Company
would discuss it today. 1t is learned,
however that it is regarded as Father an
important development in the investigation,
especially since it has been learned that the
young man is receiving salary of $2oO0
per annum. 1t does not necessarily Imply
any improper relation between the ofncial
who had something to do with the selection
of the particular manifolding paper by the
department and the company that alone
handled the paper and the explanation that
it is understood has been made by Mr.
Landvoigt of the circumstances connected
with the appointment Of his son tends to
hot ha niTltT M
sought by the father nor even known OF
until it had been made.
How the Position Was Obtained.
It is said that after the education of Mr..
Landvoigt's son had been completed and 1t
was time for him to become established on
an independent basis the father remarked
to a friend that he would like to have the
Young man located in some good business
enterprise This friend, who had long
known them both, replied that he would 40
anything that he could do to bring about
Landvoigt did not know that there was any
proposition to have the young man enter
the employ of the General Manifoiding
Company until the appointment had peeh
made 49,
Those who have commented on this ap-
pojntment at the Post Office Department
have suggested that the salary OF $z,ooo Is
very unusual for a young man VINO hao
beyond his majority. 1t Is said. however,
that Mr. Landvoigts son is young man
of unusual ability and that he was wen
fitted by education and natural capacity 10
fill an important place
A Settled Policy.
The action of the Postmaster General IN
abolishing the office Of physician IN post
Offices of the country is but an evidence OF
the policy that has been pursued recently
in Strengthening out all matters OF ap-
pointments so that in the expenditure OF
money appropriated by Congress II De ap-
phed to the exact purposes that We're III
tended. This principle has been followed to
a considerable extent recently, so that no"
1t is said, except in rare cases Oh mucN,
needed services, money is being appleo
only for the objects for whlcn II mas pee'A
specifically appropriated
When Congress meets 1T Is declared tnat
this matter of having money spent 1or eA-
actly the purposes for which 1t mas peen
will be attended TO SO that
without a single exception it shall be spent
In accordance with the provisions Oh ap-
propriation acts. When unusual services
are needed such as the employment or pny-
sicians Congress will be asked to PROVIDE
for them, and If it does not see fit to do So
then the matter will be dropped.
Postmaster General Looking Better.
The Postmaster General was looking bet
ward to his trip to the Catsklls with a
great deal Of pleasure. He VIII return here
Tuesday next. During his absence First
Assistant Postmaster General Wynne will
be acting postmaster general.
Deficiency Over $4,000
The most important development Of the
postal investigation today was the an
nouncement that the deficiency in the pos
tai service for the fiscal year just closed
will be almost double the deficiency of the
previous year. The exact amount, as esti-
mated by Capt Henry A. Castle. the au-
1itor of the treasury for the Post once De-
fiscal year ending June 30, 1902. was ST.
}61 40 The receipts Of the postal service
for the past fiscal year, the last two quar-
ters being estimated. were $l34. .26S, ,6O9, the
receipts of the previous years being $12l,-
s4S OH while the expenditures were $13S,-
sS5 S12. against almost $124, ,SO9,217 for the |
previous year. These figures show the I'M
mense strides the postal service has taken
n the last year, and the receipts indicate
the great growth in the postal business.
The deficiency, which does not fall far
short of being twice the amount reported
for the fiscal year. 1902, Is accredited al
most entirely by postal officials to the
enormous increase in the expenditures on
account of the development Of the rural
free delivery service.
That service has been extended to pene-
trAyo
state in the Union, and 10000 Of the routes
are now in operation throughout the United |
States, All these mean an infinite number of
other expenses, the salaries of carriers, in |
spection, equipment and other items and
the result is that the figures of expense for |
this. the most extensively developed branch |
Of the postal service. have reached amazing
The deficit now announced exceeds the |
entire postal receipts of the government |
sixty years ago. The deficit, however, falls |
short of the estimate made by the Postmas- |
ter General to the Secretary of the Treas |
ury last November. when he put the proba- |
Bile deficiency for the year at $500, ,227, and |
the deficit for the current fiscal year, which !
ends June 80, 1904, at 1924, ,S56 Postmas- |
ter General Payne takes the view that def |
cits are not to be viewed with apprehension, |
as it is the policy to extend. postal facilities
and cheaper the cost of the service to the |
public as rapidly as possible. 1t Is possible |
that the deficit in the free delivery service, |
reported couple of months ago by Post
master General Payne to reach 1927 300, |
may prove larger than that figure, but the |
exact figures are not yet known.
Contract Awarded to Herman.
Paul Herman OF Rutherford, N. j.. was
late yesterday afternoon awarded the con-