Gilpin observer., 1903-12-03

paTLmeuL, EiCoiueAt ---U~StcAI ocuI thO
following memorandum to the legisla-'
tive body:
1t appears that In December, 1902. POST
master-General Payne and Congressman
4. f. Loud. chairman of the Committee
on the Post-Office and Post-Roads. held
various consultations regarding the pos
tai service. and as result OF these IN
terviews 1t was determined that as soon
as possible after the necessary appropria-
tions could be made by the Congress an
investigation should be made of the SER
vice. both Messrs Payne and Loud agree
ing as to the need for the investigation
and the time when 1t should take place.
Accordingly, an increase of 5000 In the
appropriation bill reported in January
was made for the express purpose Of car
rying on the investigation in question.
The investigation made by Mr.. Bris-
tow discloses a condition of gross cor
ruption In the office of the First Assist
ant Postmaster-Ge General and in that Of
tho Assistant Attorney-General for the
Post-Omce department. In the case of
the superintendent of free delivery. Mach
en-, the evidence shows that his miscOn-
duct began Immediately after his appoint
ment in September. 1898. In the case of
the general superintendent of salaries
and allowances. Beavers, It began soon
after he was appointed to that place in
1897. In the case OF Assistant Attorney
General Tyner 1t has gone on for num-
Der of years. but 1t Is impossible to say
exactly when 1t began. The following is
a list of the fourteen Post-Ofice en-
ployes in the service at the time this in
vestigation was begun, who are appar-
emily most seriously implicated In the
wrongdoing, together with an account OF
the steps that have been taken by the
Government in each case.
CThe case of ex-First Assistant Post
,naster-General Heath. who had left the
service over three years before this in
vestigation was begun. is set forth in
the report Of Mr.. Bristow)
James N. Tyner. Assistant Attorney
General for the Post Office department.;
appointed special agent, Post-Ofiice de-
partment, March z, 1861: with intervals
OF q few years has been In the service
ever since. and was Postmaster General
under President Grant for several
months: he was removed April %. 1903;
he has since been indicted three times.
A. w. Machen, general superintendent
free-delivery system; appointed clerk in
post-office at Toledo. Ohio, March l. 1857:
continuously In service ever since save
for three years: removed May 27, 1903:
has since been indicted fourteen times.
George w. Beavers. general superin-
tendent of salaries and allowances: ap-
pointed to clerkship in New York post
ONCE January. 1881: continuous service
ever since; resignation accepted to take
enect March 81. 1903; has since been In
dicted eight times.
James T. Metcalf. superintendent mon-
ey-order system; appointed post-ofiice in
spector February 2. 1882; has been in pos
tai service ever since; removed June II,
1908: has been indicted once.
Daniel v. Miller. assistant attorney,
Post-Office department.: appointed July /.
1902: removed MAY 25. 1903: indicted once:
after one mistrtal was retired and ac-
quilted.
Louis Kempner. superintendent regis
In Va
post-onice August. 1856: removed October
q. 1903
Charles Hedges. superintendent city
free-delivery service: appointed assistant
superintendent free-delivery service July
!. 1888: removed July %. 1903.
James w. Erwin. assistant superintend-
ent free-delivery service: appointed post
ONCE inspector June "a. 1857: removed Sep
tember 1s. 1903; indicted once.
w. Scott Towers. superintendent Sta
tion c. Washington. d. c.: appointed
clerk. Washington post-office November
1880: removed October. 1903; indicted three
times.
Otto F. weis. assistant superintendent
registry division. New York post-office;
appointed clerk. New York post office
June. 1880: removed October q. 1909
T. w. McGregor. clerk. free-delivery d.
vision. In charge OF supplies: appointed
Post-Office department. March II. 1891;
removed June 8. 1906: indicted twice.
-.
ion: appointed July ]. 1900: removed June
s. 1903: indicted once.
NJ. w. Louis. superintendent supply d.
vision: appointed Kansas City post office
April II. 1897: removed October q. 1903
Charles b. Terry. clerk. supply division:
appointed september ~. 1900; removed Oc-
tober 21. 1909
The three chief offenders in the Govern
ment service were Tyner, Machen and
Beavers. Az regards Messrs. Beavers and
Machen the corruption took the form of
bribery and blackmail In connection with
the purchase OF Government supplies. In
the once OF the Assistant Attorney Gem
ieral for the Post ONCE department. under
iTyner and Barrett. far greater wrong
was inflicted upon the public than could
be measured by pecuniary standard.
for in this once the corruption of the
Government ofiicials took the form OF
favoring get-rich-quick concerns and SIM
liar swindling schemes: In other words,
the criminals. whom IL was the sworn
duty of these Government officials to
prosecute. paid them for permission TO
fleece the public unmolested.
heartily approve OF the recommenda-
tion OF Messrs. Conrad and Bonaparte
that the statute OF limitations be EXTEND
ed In the case OF Government servants
to period OF at least five years: for the
persons who In such positions OF trust
engage In corrupt practices can ordinarily
conceal their guilt for a longer time than
Is covered by the present short statute Of
Limitations.
No crime calls for sterner reprobation
than the crime OF the corruptionist In
public life. and of the man who seeks to
corrupt him. The bribe giver and the
'bribo takcr are equally guilty. Both alike
stp against the primary law OF the States
safety. All questions OF difference In par
ity policy sink into insignihcance when
the people of this country are brought
face to face with n question like this.
which lies at the root of honest and de-
cent government. On this question. and
,on all others like Il, we can afrord 10
have no division among good citizens.
l6clf-government becomes a farce n the
Representatives of the people corrupt
others or are themselves corrupted. Free
dom II not gift which will tarry long In
the hands OF the dishonest or OF those,
no foolish or 30 incompetent as to tolerate