The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-17
How It Did Its Work Among the
New York Postoffice EN-
ployes.
Over 1000 Men Were ''Milked' on
Promise of Doing Something
-H-. ' r.,...' 49, -
for Them.
Postofice Inspectors Are Busily En-
gagged in New York Getting
the Facts.

New York, April 17.--Three postoffice
inspectors from western divisions have
been busily engaged In the federal build
ing here examining employees regarding
the alleged promotion syndicate. More
than dozen clerks in the general post
office were called before the inspectors
and questioned closely.
What answers the men made cannot be
learned. It is evident that all have been
cautioned against talking
While none of the postal officials will
admit it, it is learned from a reliable
authority that the method Of the syndicate
was as follows: One OF two or three men
in the general postoffice in this city would
approach a clerk who was on the list
recommended for promotion. This clerk
would be Informed that it was known he
was not on the list of 1915 men recon-
,mended by Postmaster Van Cott, the pro-
motions to take effect on July l. The
agent would say that thru certain Wash
ington connections, he was able to prom
tse that the clerk would be place on the
list.
Usually, unless the clerk was satisfied
his record was so good that his promo
ton practically was assured, an agree
mcnt was entered into whereby money
was paid to the agent, the understanding
being that If promotion was not made the
money was to be refunded.
1t was evident that the Syndicate" had
postmaster and sent to the division Of
salaries and allowances, for a, comparison
Is said to have been made between this
list and that Of men employed in the
postoffice. All Of the men whose names
really had ben left off the list were ap-
preached and informed they had not been
recommended for promotion but sit could
be fxed.' This was accomplished, it is
said, by dropping some OF the men recon-
mended by the postmaster.
It Is understood also that the list as
recommended by the Washington depart
ment differed In many respects from that
sent in by the postmaster.
The amount paid to the agents is said
to have been from s25 to $50 a man.
To keep the men from talking to one
another about the scheme it is said the
agents represented to the employe ap-
preached that his friend in Washington
who had the pull could get only one
or two men on the list. The friend was
represented as occupying a, position so
close to the chief officials that the addi-
ton Of one or two names would be made
a personal favor Each clerk was. eau
toned he must not say anything or the
plan would get to other ears and the
clerks In Washington would he over
whelmed with applications from New
York friends to get them on the list OF
recommended employees. the result, being
that none of them would get an advance
It is said nearly a thousand clerks paid
their money to the agent Of the syndicate
In New York.
In addition to the three inspectors al
work examining clerks, six others are
known to be In the city, detailed on other
ends Of the scandal.
H Mr.. Wynne's Easy Thing.
Special to The Journal.
Chicago, April 17.-Walter Wel]man in
Washington special to the Record Herald
says: The war Of mud throwing continues
at the postoffice department. Now it i
First Assistant Postmaster Genera
Wynne's turn to take q seat in the grid
iron. On account of Mr.. Wynne's yea
as a. reformer Of other divisions Of tn
department his enemies have been looking
into his affairs. They find, first, that tn
original salary of $4,000 a year was no
enough for Mr.. Wynne, and he had it in
creased in the postoffice appropriation bi
to $1,000, or $500 year more than an
other assistant postmaster general gets
Then he contrived to get an allowance G
5000 a year for a carriage, and-strange t
say-$200 a year for "traveling expense
in the District of Columbia" as if thi
were not enough, he put his son. an Is
year-old boy, in as his private secretar
at $4,000 a year, (which is not so slow fo
reformer." say the enemies OF MI