Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-06-24
EDWIN C. MADDEN
RISES TO EXPLAIN
Third Assistant P, M, Gen, Writes
P, N. Gen. Payne,
CARBON PAPER CONTRACTS
Alleged He Let Them So ss TO Avoid
Competition lie Asks Tor an
Investigation,

Detroit, Mich, June 23.-Thrd Assist
ant Postmaster General Edwin c. Mad
den, who is visiting H. this city, today
Gent a letter TO Postmaster-General
Payne denying that he let n contract
for carbon paper for the registry di-
vision OF the postofice without permit
ting competition, and asking the post
inaster-general 10 Immediately inyestl-
gate the story and It's source. The
letter is as follows:
Henry G. Payne, Postmastcr-Gener-
al Washington: This mornings Free
Press Of this city tells its readers, N
an article with scarce head lines. that
Third Assistant Postmaster-Gen
Madden Is 10 be Investigated, II II al
legged that | drew specifications Of con-
tract for supplying the department with
carbon paper and that they were so
framed as to allow of no competition.
The article makes Mr.. Wynnc say that
he merely approved as routine mat
tor 1t gives the impression that the
contract is one over which the third
assistant postmaster general has con-
troll. and there Is a broad inference that
you consider the transaction corrupt
"Thc whole statement in 20 far us II
attempts TO Involve me, is absolutely
false | had nothing to do with the
details of the contract | drew no speci-
acaLions. | did not initiate / an not
sign. In fact | never Saw the contract,
If there is one. Ny sole interest ana
connection with the subject is limited TO
an expression Of approval Of the par
ticular carbon paper In question be-
cause II Is l0bOr-saylng and IN other
ways a great improvement, over the old
style maniiolding process and much
better serves the needs Of the postal
service and this approval was not given
until after an investigation and rccom-
mendation 10 me by my superinten-
dent Of registry system. and a recon-
mendation BY the superintendent of d.
Vision Of postofiice supplies Of the first
assigtants office,
THE contract, II there be one. was
both drawn and let by the office OF the
first assistant postmaster-e general, and
with II / had absolutely nothing to do
except that before stated.
IF these statements printed We're
given the Free Press correspondent from
the Office of the first or the fourth as.
sistant postmaster general they misrep-
resent the facts. and the publication
thereof, especially In my home city, is
calculated to put me In hard position
m the city In which | have lived for
inward Of 40 years and where | have
earned what reputation | have. II is
malicious, cruel and without the slight
est justification.
Il know you TOO well to believe that
YOU viii sanction this attempt 10 in
volve and besmirch me uniustly, and
beg YOU not only as man TO man, but as
a consideration due TO my Office. TO in
stituie an investigation and do what
YOU can 10 ascertain whether these
cbroutely false and damaging state
ments were actually given out at the
post0ihce department and by whom, or
whether they are purely the invention
Of the writer | ask that the publica-
tion Of the facts be not tardy
Fl G.. MADDEN"
Third Assistant Postmaster-General.