Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-07-15
CHARGES AGAINST
JOHN M. MASTEN
PCstoffce Inspectors Are Making
An investigation,
TRIED TO BLEED EMPLOYEES.
Affidavit Of Terry Says lie Was As
sured He Could be Heinstnted for
A Certain Amount Of Money

Washington, July h.--The postotilce
inspectors are investigating charges
made against John NJ Masten, now as
sistant superintendent Of the railway
mail service and formerly chief clerk OF
the first assistant postmaster generals
office. A man named Terry now In the
government service, had made an alil-
dayit before the inspectors alleging
that Masten while chief clerk to the
first assistant postmaster general pro-
posed that Terry pay him $50 down and
IS or $40 a month to secure reinstate-
ment in a former position In Masten's
bureau. Terry urges that he was orig
inally 5000 empoye In the dead letter
office; that he was removed under an
order OF Masten and put into the city
rostoflice that he protested, and hnat-
~ that Masten suggested his getting an
outside party a close friend Of Masten
and a former empoye OF the postal
service, to help him.
The AFFIDAVIT alleges that Masten
gave Terry assurance that II he paid
AAlt oAlNhhN ll'HAibllfu ll' Nbhlu 6fA
back; that he went to Masten's house
about the matter but did not pay the
money. Terry charges that subse-
quently he made an affidavit, making
these charges, and handed In to Mas
ten 10 present to First Assistant Post
master General johnson ana that the
affidavit did not reach Johnson. Ac-
cording to the charges, Masten suisse
quentIy was asked by Terry for the alii-
davit and he refused to return il and
Terry thereupon placed the Information
before the civil service commission,
which took up the matter with the
President
The federal grand jury in this city is
considering several important postof-
fee cases, which are expected 70 prove
OF widespread interest.
Postmaster General Payne said this
afternoon that he expected there would
be some important news during his alb
sence on his trip along the coast and
that he expected the grand jury would
furnish some interesting developments.
There is no definite information avail
able as to the Identity of the cases, but
the jury has been working on them for
some time.
An agreement has been reached be-
tween the postoflice department and the
civil service commission regarding the
transfer Of employees from other depart
ments to the postohice department.
The new regulations provide that in
such transfers II must be shown that
the person TO be transferred will be en-
ployed on work similar to that preyi-
Ously performed by him and mas quail
lcatiOns that win enable him 10 per-
form such work better than person
selected from the eligible register of
the commission, The pending inyesti-
CATION has disclosed a number Of rreg-
ular transfers
The resignation OF George a. G.
Christlancy who was given a leave OF
absence as law clerk Of the department
shortly after the sensational nhing of
the assistant attorney generals safe by
Mrs. Tyner, has been under discussion
at the department, but there VIII be no
final action before Postmaster General
Payne's return 20 the city.
Mr. Payne will leave here tomorrow
morning and viii be aboard the reve-
nue. cutter while It makes its regular
cruise, which Will extend as far as
Boston and possibly up TO the Maine
coast. He said tonight that he had not
made his vacation plans yet, but that
he would like TO revisit Poland Springs,
Me, II possible. He expects TO be
away most Of August
The report Of the inspectors in the
case Of the General Manfolding COM
pany OF franklin, Pa, where an em-
ploye is the son Of William Vogt, for
merly chief of the registry division,
with which the company had dealings,
and now chief of the classification di-
vision, has not yet been submitted to
the postmaster general.