The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-19
SUPERINTENDENT OF MONEY OR.
DER SYSTEM ousTED BY Mr..
pAyNE's ORDER.
CHARGES OF INpIscRETIoN
THE ACCUSED OFFICIAL OPPOSED
LOWEST BIDDER ON GER
TAIN CONTRACTS.


the government, James T. Metcalfe.
tor many years superintendent Of the
money order system of the postofice
department. was removed from office
by the postmaster general. "A full in
vestigation OF the case will be made
later. The dismissal is the result of
acts Of Mr.. Metcalfe in opposition to
the bid of Paul Herman of Ruther-
ford, N. j.. the lowest bidder by $45,-
600, and in favor Of the next highest
bidder, the Wynkoop, Hallenback.
Crawford company of New York. of
which Mr.. Metcalfe's son is an EN-
ploye.
The story is briefly told in the fol-
Postmaster General Payne:
Receives Notice Of Removal.
'Mr. James T. Metcalfe, superintend-
ent OF money order system, post
Office department.
"Sir:-You are hereby removed
from the position of superintendent
of the money order system.
1.-The charges upon which your re-
moval Is based relate to your actions
In the matter of the letting of the con
tract for money order forms. These
charges were made known to you
Wednesday morning by Fourth AS.
sistant Postmaster General Bristow
and Assistant Attorney General Robb
OF the postof1ce department, and a
transcript of YOU answer thereto is
enclosed herewith.
1T appears from your answer that
when the proposals of the different
competitors for the contract of sup
plying money order forms were open
ed, Paul Herman Of Rutherford, N. j.,
formerly employed as foreman by the
Wynkoop. Hallenback, Crawford com.
pany of New York, by which company
1t seems your son is also employed),
was found to be
The Lowest Bidder,
his proposal being $4,000 below that
Of the next highest bidder, namely,
the Wynkoop, Hallenback, Crawford
company; that the bid of Herman as
submitted was regular in form, and
that he had deposited a certified Chez.
for $4,000 as a forfeit. 1t further ap-
pears that within a day or two the
Wynkoop, Hallenback, Crawford com
pany filed a protest against awarding
the contract to Herman, alleging TINT
he was not financially responsible;
that a short time thereafter Mr.. Her.
man called at your Office and you ad-
vised him to withdraw his bid. and re-
enter the employment of the Wynkoop.
H~allenback, Crawford company, un
d%erstanding at the time that such
withdrawal would result in the con-
tract being awarded to said company,
and consequently in a loss to the gov.
eminent; that you offered to write
and did write, a letter to said com.
pany, apprising it of your interview
with Herman and using your good
offices in his behalf: that you ad-
vised Herman that his $4,000 deposit
would probably be returned to him
II He Adopted Your Suggestion.
It further appears that you regarded
Mr.. Herman as possessing the me-
chanical qualifications requisite to the
performance of the contract and that
1t was not any part of your duty to
pass on the question of his RESPONSE
b1!ity, financial or otherwise. 1t also
appears that you did not acquaint your
superior, First Assistant Postmaster
General Wynne. with the fact that
you had endeavored to have Mr.. Her
man withdraw his bid. 1t further ap
pears that a hearing has been had be-
fore General Wynne on the question
OF financial responsibility of Mr.. Her.
man.; although 1t has developed since
the submission of your answer
Wednesday morning, that you dis.
couraged the granting Of such a hear.
Ing. and manifested a desire that the
contract be awarded to the Wynkoop.
Hallenback. Crawford company"
Postmaster General Payne. in an
nouncing his action, said that there
was no charge that Mr.. Metcalfe had
done anything that was amenable to
the law, but said that his conduct
Was Serious ln%discretion
that could not be overlooked. Mr..
Metcalfe. he said. always had been
considered a faithful. efficient, pains
taking and honest employee.
The postmaster general on his ar
rival at the department sent for
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow and Assistant Attorney Gen.
eral Robb, and after detailing the in
formation that had reached him re-
gsrding the money order printing bids,
Instructed them to send for Mr.. Met
calfe and Immediately to investigate
the case. Bristow and Robb. with In
spector Fossnes, examined Mr.. Met
calfe closely for two hours and he, ii
is said, corroborated the facts given |
In the letter of dismissal. Messrs.
Bristow and Robb Immediately after
ward had a long conference with the |
postmaster general. who also sent for
First Assistant Postmaster Wynne.
The postmaster general later con;
ferred with President Roosevelt re.
garding the case, and the order of dis
missal followed.
Was Appointed From Iowa.
Mr.. Metcalfe originally was ap-
pointed from Iowa and has been in
the postal service since 1882. During
his administration of the office the
money order service has been widely