The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-10-29
w. 81. Landvoight, Chief of Classif-
cation Division, Resigns by Re-
quest Of Postmaster General.
HAS son EMPLOYED With FIRM
HOLDING GOVERNMENT CONTRACT
Other Charge Mnde-Dismi ssal
Necessary to Uphold Principle In
yolved-Three Other Officials Re-
moved for Various Causes as Re-
sui OF Bristow Report.

,WdSHlASlou, OCt. 0.-Wllllam II.
Landvoight, chief of the classification d.
vision of the post Office department,
Wednesday presented his resignation to
Postmaster General Payne. The res
ignation was requested by Mr.. Payne as
a result Of the investigation by the in
Spectors of the charges growing out of
the employment of Mr.. L%andvoight's son
in the General Manifolding company, of
Franklin, Pa, which had a contract for
supplying patented registry books to the
department. Mr.. L~andvoight was chief
of the registry division of the depart
ment prior to his comparatively recent
transfer to take charge of the classical
ton work Of the department.
Mr.. Landvoight presented his resigna-
ton to the postmaster general in per-
son. 1t was brief and merely called at
tention to the fact that the only criti-
cism of him was the employment of his
son Arnold with the company. 1t was
made to take effect at the pleasure of
the postmaster general. Mr.. Payne ex-
pressed his regret at the necessity of
the action, but stated that the employ
ment of: the son with the company in
volved a principle which must be en-
forced. Mr.. Landvoight has been in the
postal service about 20 years. He be-
gan as a clerk and worked his way up.
Under a detail Of the third assistant post
master general he went to New York
some years ago and r~eorganized the
registry service of that city. Mr.. Land
voight said that the request for his
resignation carried no intimation Of any
~wrongdoing whatever and that the only
question was the principle involved in
his sons employment.
Other Removals.
Postmaster General Payne has also re-
moved from Office Michael w. Louis, su-
perintendent of supplies of the post Of
flee department.; Louis Kempner, chief
'ofithe registry division of the third as
sistant postmaster generals office, and
G. B. Terry, a 5000 clerk in the post Office
department, and directed the postmaster
at New York to remove Otto Weis, a
clerk These removals are the first re-
suit of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow's report on the irregu-
~larities in the post Office department.
The postmaster general made an official
announcement Of his action as follows:
=, The Causes.
Michael w. Louis has been re.
moved from the Office of superintend-
ent Of the division of supplies because
the recent investigation shows that he
Influenced the awarding of contracts
for supplies to favored bidders, that
he has been ~extravagant and wasteful
in the administration of his office, and
that he has paid excessive prices fer
supplies to favored contractors.
Louis Kempner, superintendent
registry system, has been removed for
incompetent and negligent admins
t%ration, for wasteful and reckless ex-
4travagance in sending expensive man
ifold registration books to a large
number Of fourth class post offices,
and for violating the revenue laws by
a system Of petty smuggling.
sc. B. Terry, a clerk in the division
of supplies, has been removed for
making false affidavit, attempting to
obtain money from clerks under the
guise that he could influence their pro.
motion, and general ineficiency."
Due to Bristosv's Report.
In reply to questions, Mr.. Payne
said the discharges were the result of
disclosures made by the Bristow re-
port. Il have read the report" he
said, land am free to say that my &C.
ton to-day vas the result of its Pc
rusal." sHe declined to say whether
there would be other removals as a re-
suit of the report, but it is understood
that while a few others may follow,
there will not be any wholesale dis
missals. 1t is stated that there are
three or four other employees upon
whose conduct there is some refec-
ton and whose cases hang in the bal
ance. They were not implicated so
much as those whose cases were acted
upon Wednesday and some of them
may remain permanently in the pos
tai service, though possibly not in
their present positions. -
. Case Is Adjourned. =.