Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-06-19
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette'I
Washington, ID. c., June ~.

Washington, ID. O., June ~
It is understood that the inquiry that
has been conducted by inspectors in Wash
ington, New York, Baltimore and Brook
lv1 postofices has been completed and
that total of dozen cases to be acted
upon by Federal grand juries is the re-
suit. The offices in Cincinnati, St.
Louis. Chicago, Kansas City and New
Orleans are to be investigated immedi-
ateIy. The particular line of inquiry at
present is regarding supplies. Evidences
have been discovered in the department
here that millions of dollars have been
paid out for what now appears to be ex-
pensive highly useless furniture, adding
machines, typewriters and other unnec-
essary supplies. 1t is with view of
taking an inventory to establish or dis
prove the charges of corruption in this
connection that every leading postofiie is
at present being examined. 1t is the
belief this morning that the threatened
ruction between the postal authorities
and the District attorneys Office, over
DELAYS in the investigation by the grand
Jury, has been averted, and that speedy
action will be secured in which the jury
voted to indict over week ago but has
as vet failed to return true bills to the
court. A dozen other cases are ready
for presentment to the grand jury, but
have been held back until those already
considered by that body should be re-
ported.
It would not be surprising, in the
opinion of many well informed persons
here. if Postmaster General Payne
should retire from the Cabinet in the
near future as result of the investiga-
ton of his department and the i'll
health which it has occasiOned him. 1t
is we'll understood, Of course, that much
of the fraud and corruption that has been
uncovered prevailed in apreyious admin
istration of the department long before
Mr. Payne became connected with it.
But the conduct of the investigation has
been MARRIED by incidents which have
occasioned much criticism of Mr.. Payne
personally for alleged poor judgment
and this. together with the unpleasant
nature of the revelations, brought him
to the verge of nervous prostitution.
From excellent authority it has been
stated that only the urgent representa-
lions of the President and party
leaders prevented Mr.. Payne from
resigning short time ago.
Mr.. Payne is now more than before
the target for criticism, and many news
papers are demanding that he be retired,
some of them republican. Even his
best friends regret what they term his
unfortunate management Of the publica-
ton OF Bristow's report, his early flip
pant comments upon the Tulloch charges
and his hasty action of Metcalf, chief of
the money order division. The Bristow
report, which more than confirmed Tul-
loch' charges, was held back until it was
given an exaggerated importance in the
eyes of the public and attracted far more
attention than would have been
the case if it had been publish
ed at the same time as the other replies
to the Tulloch interview. When he was
denouncing Tulloch's charges as "hot
air. he had in his desk the papers de-
scribing the frauds in the Washington
postofice. The criticism of his course
in apparently trying to keep from the
public the facts is becoming so strong
that it is doubtful whether the President
if Mr.. Payne's offer Of a few days ago
should be repeated would reject it now.
Mr.. Payne himself feels the situation
keenly and it would surprise no one if
he should break down completely under
the strain.
By direction of the Postmaster General
letters are being sent out today to cor
porations and firms having contracts with
the government for supplies notifying
them that all contracts extending beyond
the end of the fiscal year, June 80, are
likely to be held up. 1t is understood
this course has been made necessary by
the discovery of irregularities in the div
ision of salaries and allowances. 1t is
understood that charges against A. W.
Machen, former Superintendent of the
rural free delivery of selling positions
and promotion in the rural free delivery
bureau have been sustained.
Further evidence of the continued
--osperity of the United States is furnish
ed by .o ~. -ury Bureau of Statistics
~h' SHOW al. Che foreign commerce
NJ y d1D1g the fiscal year
,t..H 10 end jole 3Oth will be the
iarge~t ir it- i-ort. Imports will, for
tic first time. iced a billion dollars
and exports va. be larger than in
any preceding year except 1901. The
indications, based upon the actual
figures for eleven months, are that the
imports this year will amount to about
81 ,O2O, 600, 600 or over 500, 600, 600 |
more than last year, and that the ex-
ports will exceed 81, 400, 600, 900.
The grand jury, which has been con-
sidering PostOffice Department cases,
adjourned yesterday until next Monday. !
Two true bills, found nearly a week ago, |
have not yet been transformed into the
form of indictments, and as the indict
ments must be signed by the foreman of
the jury, there is not the least probabil-
ity that anything more can be done this
week, 1t is said that fifty postal cases
are pending before the grand jury.
Senator Martin, OF Virginia, is in the
city on business before the departments
and is guest at the Raleigh.
Attorneys representing John F. Nc
Cormick, a printer, have filed bill in
the District Supreme Court asking that
a receiver be appointed and an account