The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-11-19

ings. Four other cases, said to be of a
by the grand jury. and report on all
or part of them is expected very soon.
All are cases in which post offices and
postmasters are concerned. This in
dictment is said to be the first ever re-
turned against a United States senator
on charges of this nature, and caused in
tense excitement in government official
circles in Omaha and in adjoining towns
when it became public
Details of the Transaction.
The details of the postmastership
transaction at Hastings, as given out by
Mr.. Fishers friends, are as follows:
''The post Office at Hastings up to two
years ago was located in building
erected by the local post of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Previous to in
stallation in this building it had been
in other quarters, and successive post
masters had furnished the POST Office
fixtures themselves. The Grand Army
of the Republic bought the fixtures for
$500, and their use was included in the
government lease. About three years
ago considerable effort was made to Sc
post Office business, the contention be-
coming one between the opposite ends
of town. Senator Dietrich, who had
then just been elected governor, had
put up new building near the Grand
Army of the Republic building and, an
ticipating removal of the post Office,
took the matter up with the post Of
fee authorities during a visit to Wash
ington. A lease was agreed upon sub
ject to- more specific terms, but the ne
gotiations were not concluded until
after Gov Dietrich had been elected
United States senator. In the mean
time property owners interested in the
other section of the city made counter
offers at reduced rentals, and in or
der to hold it in the vicinity of his
property lease was finally drawn and
signed at a rental of 81 300, emitting the
requirements of the owner to furnish
the fixtures.
believing that he was renting his
property for less than it was worth
for the purpose of holding the post Of
flee for the benefit of the surrounding
property owners it was suggested that
the difference in the rental be made
I'D by a subscription from the inter-
ested parties. The G. A. r. people also
became involved with a protest against
the removal from their building for
fear they would lose the money they
had put into the fixtures and possibly
be tenantless for some time.
cat this juncture the senator was
called upon to indorse for the posi-
ton of. postmaster one of the appli-
cants, the competition having mar
rowed down to the then mayor, Jacob
Fisher, and the editor of the Hastings
Tribune, Adam Breede.
"An understanding 49, was finally
reached by which Fisher was to receive
the appointment of postmaster on con-
dition that he purchase the post office
fixtures belonging to the G. A. R. post
at the price which it had paid for them,
imburse the senator for the difference
by which he had been compelled to re-
duce the rental from his original fig
: ure of 81 500 in order to meet the offers
that had been made in behalf of 10
cation at the other end of the street.
This difference of 5000 it is said was
to have been made up in equal portions
by the postmaster and his deputy, and
it is alleged that it was paid for few
months and then, when the senator dis
covered it's questionable character, the
money was returned to Postmaster
Fisher and Deputy Francis
Postmaster Jacob Fisher, upon
learning of his indictment by the fed
eraI grand jury Tuesday, appeared in
Judge Munger's COURT The formalities
of arrest being completed, Fisher gave
bond for 81 900 for his appearance In
court and was released.