The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-14
Government Will Shake Up Things and EndeaVof
 to Fix Blame
ALL WRONG DOERS WILL BE
 SUMMARILY DEALT WITH
Postmaster General Payne Says If the System or Method of Doing Busl- ness Is Faulty He Will Insti-
 tute Proper Remedies.

Washington April 13-Postmaster Gen eral Payne this afternoon gave out a statement in which he announced that the investigation of the affairs of the post office department will be continued and that any parties found guilty of wrong doing will be dealt with summarily. The statement Is as follows:
 During the months of January and February information and reports reach ed me which I deemed 1t for public inter- est to investigate and I personally gath cred such information and facts as would enable the proper officers of the depart ment to undertake a thorough investi- gation as to the truth or falsity of these reports I directed Fourth Assistant Post master General Bristow to take the proper steps to institute the necessary inquiry, using for that purpose the postoffce in- spectors division and such other methods as would thoroughly ascertain the truth or falsity of the charges or insinuations made and he was instructed to proceed promptly and with vigor during my absence. Since my return this morning, l have not seen General Bristow, so that am not advised of the progress made.
 Investigation Will Continue.
 "The investigation will continue, and if wrong doing is disclosed the parties guilty of such wrong doing will be summarily dealt with. If the-systensier method of doing business in the department Is faulty the proper remedies will be applied with out fear or favor. I inaugurated the in- vestigation with the determination that it should be exhaustive. It is proper for me to add that l laid before the Presi- dent the information which I had in my possession and that he fully approved of the action proposed by me-"
 The whole administration of the post office department is made the subject of the investigation under the postmas- ter generals direction and every part will be probed thoroughly and the in vestigation be made as thorough as the departments most expert inspectors can make 1t.
 At the same time MT. Payne's purpose is to give fair and just treatment to all concerned, and not to act arbitrarily and with undue haste. For this reason it can be stated that no immediate changes of importance in the personnel of the serv- ice are now contemplated, and changes will depend largely on the report to be made by Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow on the investigation, al- though developments meantime may ne- cessitate some deviation from this policy. Tinor's Administration Investigated.
 The office of the assistant attorney general for the postoffice department Is among the bureaus included in the gen eral inquiry, and until the investigation of affairs generally is completed it is probable that no successor to Assistant Attorney General Tinor will be named. Postmaster General Payne did not reach the department until 4 o'clock this after noon. score of newspaper men were awaiting him with queries concerning the postoffice investigation. but he par ried all questions with remarks on his trip to the West Indies. He expressed particular qualification at what he ob served of postal conditions in Cuba, and said his observations in Cuba and Porto Rico would be helpful to him in adminis- tering the postal service. MT. Payne sum- moned a number of the officers of the department and held short consultations with them respecting postal affairs. About an hour later he gave out his statement. Subsequently, he held quite an extended interview with Fourth As- sistant Postmaster General Bristow. It is learned that it will be several weeks before the postoffice inspectors will be
 
 have finished Fourth Assistant Postmas- ter General Bristow will prepare a com prehensive report on the whole subject. The report necessarily will embrace mat ters to which publicity may not be war ranted so 1t Is probable some parts of the report will be withheld from publica- ton.
 No Arrests Made.
 New York April 13.-No arrests have been made as a result of the investiga- ton said to be in progress of the charges of the promotion of a syndicate that has been operating to secure payment from employers of the New York postoffice for increases of salaries.
 Postmaster Vancott said today that he had heard nothing official from Wash ington concerning the alleged postoffice scandals. He was loath he said, to be- lieve that any such syndicate could oper- ate in the New York postoffice without his knowledge. and he could not see by what argument the men were induced to part with their money, if such were real ly the case.
 ..@>HN AT uJ0DK AEAIM