Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1903-10-29
Pos-A.- CLERKS REMOVED
Discharges Were RESULT Of Disclosures
Made bv tho Bristow Renort.

Washington. Oct. 23.-Postmaster
General Payne removed from office
Michael w. Louis. superintendent of
supplies OF the p~ostotiice department
Louis kempner. chief of the registry
division of the third assistant postmas-
Ter generals office, T. &. ID. Terry, a
$500 clerk in the p%ostofiice department
and directed the postmaster at New
York to remove Otto Weis, a clerk.
These removals are the first result of
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristows report or the Irregularities in
the postoflice department.
information of the contemplated dis
charges did not leak out at the depart
ment until the postmaster general
made an official announcement OF lis
action as follows:
Michael w. Louis has been removed
from the Office of superintendent of the
division OF supplies because the recent
investigation shows that he Influenced
the awarding of contracts for supplies
to favored bidders; that he has been en-
and WaSteeul in the admin
istration of his Office, and that he has
paid excessive prices for supplies to
favored contractors.
Louis keElpner, superintendent OF
the registry system. has been removed
Tor incompetent and negligent admins
tration; for wasteful and rockies eX-
travagance in sending expensive mani
fold registration books to a large num-
Der of small fourth class postoflices, and
for violating the revenue laws by a
system of petty smuggling.
&c. IL. Terry. a clerk in the division
OF supplies. has been removed for MAX
ing false affidavits; attempt to obtain
money from clerks under the guise that
he could influence their promotion, and
general inefficiency."
The postmaster general also stated
that the postmaster at New York had
been directed to remove Otto Weis, a
clerk in the New York postoffice, for
collecting money from clerks to in
huence legislation to procure promo
tons.
In reply to questions. Mr.. Payne said
the discharges were the result of dis
closures made by the Bristow report.
II have read the report" he said,
and am free to say that my action
was the result of it's p%erusal.''
He declined to say whether there
would be other removals as a result of
the report. but 1T is understood that
while a few others may follow, there
VIII not be any wholesale dismissals.
1t is stated that there are three or
four other employees upon whose con-
duct there is ONE reflection, and whose
case hang in he balance. They were
Wv SO HULL DIS tuOSS WHO'S
cases were acted upon, and some of
them may remain permanently in the
postal service, though possibly not in
their present positions.
Weis, the New York clerk who has
oeen relieved. is said to have enjoyed
confidential relations with George w.
Beavers. late superintendent of the SAL
airy and allowance division. and he is
charged with having acted as a me-
lium through which other clerks in the
New York postofiice were communi-
Gated with.
Terry is from Indiana. He was tenn
porary clerk in the postofiice depart
nent. and vas afterwards removed.
He made charges that he had beeh dis
charged from his position by John M.
Masten, hen chief clerk of the first
assistant postmaster general, but now
assistant superintendent of the railway.
nail service, because he had refused to
give money to Masten for his retention,
and the president directed his rein
statement. 1t Is understood tina the
Investigation failed to substantiate
rerry's charges, and his permanent re-
'noval Is the result of that failure.
The possible effect of the Bristow in
JURY upon the fortunes of Louis and
kempner has been much discussed.
Beth have been in the postal service
some wears.