The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-04-08
FRAUDS THERE.
A RING EXISTS IN THE POSTOF-
FICE DEPARTMENT AT
WASHINGTON

General to Investigate
Men Who D-aw Sala-
ries but Do Not
Work.
Washington, April 3.-The de-
velopments today in the postohce
department scandal Investigation
were startling and for the first
time charges SO specific, with
names, circumstances and defend
ants given, that the departmentim-
mediately put inspectors on the
case,
James Dover, and humble fire
man, was bold. enough to put his
charges in writing and submit them
to the acting postmaster general.
If Bowers charges are sustained
they will lead to the immediate rev.
elation of state of affairs which
may warrant the statement that
there is big ring in almost every
department of the postofice except
the dead letter Office, as already
pointed out by the New York Amer
ican.
Dower's charges are mainly i'm
portant, as it is believed they will
unerringly lead to the uncevering
of blackmailing scheme in the New
York Postomce, the St. Louis post
office and the Indianapolis postof
fee. One of these schemes are
tracable direct to certain active
and ex-omcials of the department.
in Washington.
Dover makes his charges against
] ames O'Donnell, Chief engineer;
Blaine Taylor, chief clerk, and Dis
bursing Officer Merchant.
Dover charges: That there is a
ring ID the engineer department.,
which from the large number of en-
ployes, is as important as any de-
partment of the postofice; that the
chief engineer has used his Office to
promote the interests of his friends,
that rank injustice Is done in the
matter of promotions.
That employees are paid for time
during which they were not en-
ployed in the government service.
That defective material has been
purchased and that worthless con-
tracts were made.
That the chief clerk and disburs-
ing officer permit expenditures
without an apparent effort at ac-
counting.
The postofice officials are dispos-
ed to sustain the officers against
whom charges are made. The Off
cars will file their answer and in
the meantime inspectors will make
an investigation.
The report will probably be made
to Postma master. General Payne, who
is expected here on the 10th of this
month.
The postmaster-generaPs conf
Dental secretary, 81. 81. Rand, will
not discuss his chief movements.
Indeed, Randi will not talk to news
paper men at all about any phase
Of the postof6ce department scandal.
Rand's relations with the depart
ment officials now under searching
investigation of Bristow are so close
and intimate in character that he
feels that he himself were under
the ban. For months his Office in
the postoffice department has been
the headquarters of copper min
ing company in which "Big Gus"
Machen and other department Off
cials are largely interested. The
stock of the concern Is being sold to
employees of the department all
over the country by the methods
that are familiar TO men who use
their official positions to force 'sin-
vestments" from their subalterns.
The phase Of the department scan
dal also is being Investigated by
General Bristow.
Another job that was worked
through congress from Rand's of
fee this winter was brought to the
attention of Bristow today. This
involves conduct that is distinctly
declared by the statutes to be Grim
inal. It consisted in lobbying
through congress just before its
close of the Parish ice claim for
$500, 600.
Rand is one Of Mr.. Payne's polit-
ical strikers in Wisconsin and is
very well known at Madison,
where for years he was conspicu-
Gus member Of the lobby maintain.
ed there by Payne during the ses-
sions of the legislature. A few
years ago he opened an Office in
Chicago as a promoter" When