The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-19
Agreement With lundy Ca Not
 Legally Authorized
POLITICAL PULL EVIDENT
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Rrlstow Trying to Find Out How Four-Year-contract Was Exc
 cuted at High Prices.
BY wArTERsoN sTEALEY.

Washington, D. C., June B.-(Special)- Charges to the effect that the present contract with the Bundy Time Clock com pany of Binghamton, N. r., was executed without legal authority have been filed while the inspectors are busy in New York and elsewhere looking into the methods by which it is alleged clerks and carriers combined to fraudulently register their time Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Brstow Is trying to find out why a four-year contract with the Bundy company was suddenly executed in March. 1903, in the face of favorable report on the Dey time register made in Syracuse, N. Y. when, up to that date, the department had simply extended It's contract with the Bundy company from year to year. He wouIa also like to know if 1t Is true, as has been stated, that Bundy clocks were sold to private firms in this city for much less than the price charged the postoffice department. It is rumored that as a result of this investi- gation MT. Bristow will recommend that the department dispense with the use of the clock altogether.
 The 5undy Clock.
 The Bundy clock Is operated by means of keys, the time being recorded on long piece of tape. It is said the keys cost 50 cents a piece and each carrier is required to have three or four of them, which have to be replaced frequently, as the metal is so soft they easily wear out. The ta al hu ttnan ClpFla. The Dey register is operated by lever and the clock assemblies the time mechan- ically.
 Postmaster General Payne has referred to Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow a letter from N. H. Baker, rep- resenting the Dey Tine Register com pany, in which MT. Baker does not mince terms in referring to George w. Beavers, late superintendent of salaries and allow ances or to John Masten, formerly chief clerk to the first assistant postmaster general. It Is said that Beavers secured Masten his place as chief clerk because the two had become very intimate in the Brooklyn, New York, postoff1ce when they were employed there, but that they had a disagreement and their relations were not so pleasant during the last lew months of MT. Masten's incumbency. First Assistant Postmaster General Wynne had Masten transferred from his position as chief clerk as soon as he as stunned office and Beavers resigned at the commencement of the investigation which Is now going on.
 In his letter to the postmaster general MT. Baker alleges that MT. Robert B. Brown, Jr who Is associated with the law firm of former Senator John M. Thurston, brought one of the Dey clocks to Washington in September, 1901. and that MT Masten directed Postmaster Merritt of Washington to give it trial. He did so and he. the chief timekeeper, and the superintendent of the delivery made A highly favorable report Up to this time the contract had been simply extended from year to year, but when the report on the Dey clock was received the situation changed and while Masten was acting first assistant postmaster gen. eral in the absence of then First Assistant Postmaster General Johnson he executed a four year contract with the Bundy company.
 Mir, Baker Quotes the Law.
 Mir Baker points out that the law reads "the postmaster may, if the good of the service requires it, enter into four years contracts for supplies for the delivery ser vice" He comments on this In very caustic language. saying: "The gentle men who were responsible for tihs con tract will lose all their teeth and their tongues will wear out in attempting to show the public that there was a neces- sity for 1t. If the contract had been made under ordinary circumstances for four years without advertising, without com pensation, and without the public neces- sity which the law requires. the act would have been absolutely indefensible. But when 1t was made in the face of a favor able report of officials of your depart ment on another device the responsible party is either a knave or incompetent and should be dismissed from the department at once The public Is at liberty to draw its own conclusions as to the motives that actuated a high official in filing away Postmaster Merritts report and rushing headlong into four year contract when, for the past several years the department had simply extended the clock contract from year to year.
 It is said that considerable stock in the Bundy company is held by prominent New York politicians who from time to time, have visited the department on matters connected with this contract. Postmaster General Payne has stated that under the contract enough clocks have been pur- chased already to supply the department for several years to come. He has in- formed MT. Baker that the matter has been referred to the fourth assistant post master general for investigation.
 
 RECONCILIATION DENIED.