The Grenada sentinel., 1903-11-21
The Indictment Of Senator Dietrich
and Postmaster Fisher Is
the Talk Of Omaha.
POSTMASTER FISHERS FRIENDS
GIVE A VERSION OF THE AFFAIR,
According to Them the Entire Dana-
Guilty Was Brought About BY q
Change of Location OF the Post
once and Financial Considera-
tiOns Involved.

Omaha Neb.. Nov. 17.-The indict-
ment returned by the federal grand
jury against United States Senator
Charles H. Dietrich and Postmaster Ja-
cob Fisher, of Hastings, Neb., on
charges of bribery and conspiracy in
connection with the appointment of the
latter as postmaster is subject of ex-
treme interest in Omaha At the fed
era building small groups of govern
ment officials, employees and others
gathered to discus the subject.
United States District Attorney w.
S. Summers, who has conducted the
case for the government,re refused to talk
OF the matter or even to see reporters.
Story By Fishers Friends.
The details of the postmastership
transaction at Hastings, as given Ou'
by Mr. Fishers friends, are as follows:
The post Office at Hastings, up to two
years ago, was located in a building
erected by the local post of the Grand
Army of the Republic Previous to in
stallation in this building it had been
in other quarters, and successive post
masters had furnished the post Office
fixtures themselves. The Grand Army
of the Republic bought the fixtures for
$500, and their use was included in the
government lease. About three years
ago considerable effort was made to
secure better accommodations for the
post Office business, the contention be-
coming one between the opposite ends
of town.
Senator Dietrich Appears.
Senator Dietrich, who had then just
been elected governor, had put up
new building near the Grand Army of
the Republic building, and, anticipat-
ing removal of the post office, took up
the matter with the post Office author
tiles during visit to Washington.
lease was decided upon, subject to
more specific terms but the negotia-
tions were not concluded until after
Gov. Dietrich had been elected United
States senttOr. In the meantime the
property owners interested in the 9TH
cr section of the city made counter
offers at reduced rentals, and in order
to hold it in the vicinity of his prop
erty, a lease was finally drawn and
signed at rental of 81 300. omitting
the RECRUITMENT of the owner to furnish
the fixtures.
Evened Up the Difference.
Believing that he was renting his
property for less than it was worth
for the purpose of holding the post Of
flee for the benefit of surrounding prop
erty owners, it was suggested that the
difference in the rental be made I'D by
n subscription from the interested par
ties. The G. A. r. people also again
became involved with a protest against
the removal from their building, for
fear they would lose the money they
had put into the fixtures, and possibly
be tenantless for some time
At this juncture the senator was
called upon to indorse for the position
OF postmaster one of the applicants,
the competition having narrowed down
to the then mayor, Jacob Fisher, and
the. editor of the Hastings Tribune,
Adam Breede.
An Understanding Reached.
An understanding was finally reached
by which Fisher was to receive the ap-
po1ntment Of postmaster on condition
that he purchase the post Office fixtures
belonging to the Grand Army, at the
purchase price which it paid for them,
and it is said that he also agreed to
reimburse the senator for the difference
by which he had been compelled to re-
duce the rental from his original fig
ure of $500, in order to meet the Of
fers that had been made in behalf OF
a location at the other end of the
street. This difference of 5000, it is
said, was to have been made up in
equal portions by the postmaster and
his deputy, and it is alleged that it was
paid for few months and then, when
the senator discovered its Questionable
character, the money was returned to
Postmaster Fisher and Deputy Francis.