The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-06-25
THE POSTOFFICE SCANDAL.

Writing of the present status of the
postoffice department scandal and in
vestigation Washington correspond
ent says: With the publication of
the reply of the fourth assistant post
master general, Mr.. Bristow, to the
Tulloch charges, the postoffice investi-
cation took a fresh start, and has
been almost the sole topic discussed
in official Washington. Bristow's re-
ply so thoroughly supported the
charges preferred by Tulloch and
reflected so gravely on the admins
tration of ex-Postmaster General
Smith and the ex-frst assistant post
master general, Mr.. Heath, that they
produced a sensation and when it was
discovered, by comparison of dates,
that Postmaster General Payne was
in receipt of the Bristow reply on May
that gave his famous interview in
which he said that Tulloch's state
ment was stump speech, hot air
ETC., and that unless Tulloch could
make good he should be branded as
a slanderer and back bitter, the de-
mand for Payne's resignation became
clamorous, even staunch republican
papers joining in the insistent repre-
sentation that Payne had demon
strated his unfitness for his present
position.
The most grievous offense of the
postmaster general was, however,
what appeared to be an attempt to
drag in the name of President Nc
Kinley. He said in the statement
which accompanied the Bristow re-
port, The charge of Mr.. Tulloch is
in its essence against President Nc
Kinley and Postmaster General
Smith. This statement, which was
construed in many quarters as a mean
revenge against the late President
because he had refused to accept
Payne as a member of his cabinet,
has aroused the ire of so many re-
publicans that it is still a matter of
tect Payne and retain him in the
cabinet longer, Mr., Roosevelt, while
sorely annoyed at the many plumbers
made by his cabinet officer in hand
ling the postal scandal, feels that they
are largely attributable to Mr..
Payne's ill-health. Moreover. the con-
struction put upon Payne's reference
to President Mckinley, Mr.. Roose-
welt knows to be erroneous. Mr.,
Payne so described the Tulloch
charges with the intention of excus-
ing his reluctance to make the Bris-
tow reply public and was as much sur
prised as anyone when he saw that his
meaning had been misconstrued,
Aside from the publication of the
Bristow reply, there have been few
important developments during the
past week. Elk. Representative briggs
of New York has admitted that he
received $l2, 800 from concern which
sold automatic cashiers to the post
Office department during his term il
Congress and his indictment for thii
grave violation of the statute is re-
garded as certain by the postal off
cials. Charles Hedges, superintend
ent of free delivery, and practically
the assistant of Machen, has beer
brought within the tolls of the in
resignation for his part in lobbying
the claim of one j. W. Parrish
through Congress, in which enter
prise II. II, Rand, Mr.. Payne's conf
dental clerk, was also implicated
Evidence has been presented to TIN
grand jury on which it is expected
that an Indictment of Machen for for
gerry will be secured and the indict
ment of George E. Lorenz and hi
wife are expected at once"