The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-30

Perhaps the most interesting part OF
Che presidents memorandum Ia his in
direct reference TO the indefinite charges
made against Perry 8. Heath. the sec
retary OF the national Republican COM
mittee, who was first assistant post
master general in the Mckinley ad-
mInistration and who Is popularity re-
garded as quite as guilty as, or more
80 than, the officers who have been In
dicted. The president expresses no
opinion as to the guilt or innocence of
Mr. Heath.
The president expresses regret that
the statute of limitations applies at the
expiration OF three years from the time
of the wrongdoing OF officials and urges
that the time limits be extended to at
least Ave years, as recommended by the
attorney general. This is generally taken
TO mean that Heath would be prosecuted
IL the law did not operate TO prevent IT,
One somewhat surprising feature of the
presidents memorandum Is his ac-
cusations against Gen. Tyner who was
summarily removed from the office of
attorney for the post Office department
and who the public has heretofore be-
lieved was the victim of designing SUBJ
ordinates. The president. however. says
Tyner was knowingly and wilfully cor
rupt. He promises TO use every endeavor
10 convict the indicted men. and In
closing his memorandum uses this
phrase: "The federation of the wrong,
not the exposure of the wrong. is the
real offence"
THE REPORT.
General Bristow said. In part. in his re-
port to the postmaster general:
For the purposes OF this report, the
Investigation ordered by you on March
has been completed. In the preparation
OF cases for trial where indictments have
been found. information may be secured
which will necessitate further investiga
ton and possibly involve persons not now
implicated.
More than 40 inspectors have been
employed upon this work. some Of them
continuously every day since the investi-
CATION began. The records OF 100 post
offices have been examined and the files
OF many divisions Of the department. COW
ering a period of from six TO ten years,
scrutinized
1.-THE system of organized corruption
that has been disclosed began In 1893 and
continued until stopped by this investi-
cation. The amount OF money secured
by the corrupt officials and their confed-
crates Ia small as compared to the total
loss TO the government. To illustrate:
There is no evidence that Louis received
any compensation from Tult Il Wilson.
yet during the first year OF his admins
tration the expenditures for concelling
Ink Increased over $4,000. IL does not ap-
pear that Kempner received money from
the manifold company, yet the cost OF
manifold supplies increased more than
$4,000 year. Barrett received but 5000
from Arnold yet that company defrauded
the people out OF over $3,0oo0oo. Machen
probably did not receive more than $4,000
from the Groff fastener. Yet the govern
rnent hax paid approximately $4,000 for
that device. which represents a net loss.
eince the department continued. by the
terms of the contract for letter boxes. TO
pay for the original fasteners, Beavers
and his associates received less than S2O.-
0oO from the automatic cashier. Yet the
department expended $74215 for this who'll
Is unnecessary machine.
CORRECTED ABUSES.
THE total amount that the perpe-
traitors Of these frauds themselves re-
ceived cannot be definitely learned. but II
will aggregate between 100000 and $780,,
600. while the loss to the government.
considering the unnecessary supplies that
have been purchased and the inferior
quality Of those furnished by fraudulent
contractors. cannot be estimated with
any degree OF accuracy.
''As the gross abuses have been brought
10 light they have been promptly COR
rected by the proper departmental Of
fcers. Contracts where fraud has been
discovered have been annulled.
AS result Of the Investigation four
offcers and employees OF the department
have resigned and i3 have been removed.
Forty-four indictments have been found.
involving 81 persons. 10 OF whom have
oeen connected with the postal service.
"A number OF changes should be made
IN the organization Of the department In
order TO provide a more perfect check on