The sun., 1903-04-21
THE POSTAL INVESTIGATION.
TWO on THREE MONTHS WILL
BE REQUIRED 70 FINISH IT.

TIE Pive Clerks Detailed 70 Repair Cancel.
ling Machines Used in Fest O0ces
Are Ordered 70 Return 70 Thcir Ovig.
inal stations-ChaPges Against Them.
WASHINGTON. April ,o.-Postmaster-G Gem
eral Payne issued an order that the i've
postal employees detailed to repair the
various cancelling machines used In post
Offices throughout the country return to
their original stations, pending the results
Of the investigation now under way to
determine the circumstances Of their detail
to this work and the legality Of the pro-
oeeding.
The clerks against whom this order was
directed are George e. Barnard OF Boston.
z. H. Buning Of Cleveland. ]. H. Elliot Of
Syracuse, M. z. Estes OF San Francisco. and
z. H. Merritt Of Grand Rapids. Mich.
Charges were recently fled ct the Post
ONCE Department that these men were
employed by the International Company
Of Bingamton, N. Y. which rents most
OF the cancelling machines used In the postal
service. and also received salaries from
the Government. These charges have not
been made the subject Of Investigation ss
yet, but Mr.. Payne considered IL advisable
field pending the inquiry.
II has become apparent to the Post Ohice
Department authorities that the investi-
cations into the alleged scandals In the
postal service will take q much greater
time than was anticipated. The investi-
CATION, as has been stated. will be most
thorough and searching and will embrace
all details Of the administrative service OF
the Department. In the inquiry now
being made into the conduct Of Affairs In
the salary and allowance division II has been
found necessary TO send inspectors to
post offices both large and small and to
accessible and remote portions OF the
two and probably three months must
elapse before Fourth Assistant Postmaster:
General Bristow's report Is completed and
laid before Mr. Payne.
Auditor Castle Of the Post offioe Depart
ment eaid to-day that he Us not At al dis
mittee OF the Treasury Department had re-
Post once accounts. Mr.. Castle called at
tention to the fact that for the past three
or four years he has been calling attention
In his annual reports to the matters which
mlttee. -
Mr. Castle places the blame for the
acknowledged unsatisfactory condition
Of affairs In his Office. upon Congress. which,
he declares, failed to provide him with
sufficient clerical force. Mr.. Castle
says that to handle such a vast auditing
business satisfactorily and to allow for
review with sufficient minuteness would
require at least 200 more auditing clerks,
seventy-five Of whom should be engaged
In nothing but review work. By this means.
Mr.. Castle says, an adequate check would
be provided in all depart ments Of the postal
service and would make impossible any
improper and extravasant expenditure.
The auditor says the most serious defect
Is In the manner OF handling and accounting
for stamps. He asserts that the first knowl-
edge the Auditors office has OF the exist
ence OF stamp Is when 1t e sent TO post
master. He says:
I'VE should have Immediately copies OF
the invoices OF all stamps printed in order
to keep a check on them. but the Depart
ment does not furnish this. A complete
system of checking stamps should have been
when they hrst came into use.
but Il was not done then and II will require
q great amount Of detail work to estab-
lish q system now. II must come como
day and the sooner The better.' :
Mr.. Castle says the present system Of
accounting for money orders Ii also weak.
The. delay In sending orders In from out
lying post Offices. Mr.. Castle rays. opens up
the possibility Of the most extensive fraud.
Il was mistaken economy TO refuse the
Auditor more assistance when that assist
ance would probably result In the preven.
ton OF frauds or theft.