The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-23
Also Is Accused by the Department
PrObers of Having Loaned His
Travelling Commission.
WELL KNOWN IN INDIANA
WAS LOCATED HERE DURING THE
FIRST HARRISON CAMPAIGN.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Brfstow's Statement and Mr..
Hedges's Explanation.

WASHlNGION, July zz.-CndTieS 11eueeS,
superintendent of free delivery in the Post
office Department, was removed from Of
flee to-day by order of Postmaster General
Payne on a charge of falsifying his diary
of per diem accounts and for loaning his
travelling commission. Hedges is we'll
known in Indianapolis. where he was cor
respondent of the Associated Press during
the first Harrison campaign. He went to
Indianapolis from Texas and returned to
the latter State. When appointed to Of
flee he was living in Texas, but is said to
have claimed Indiana his residence.
Prominent Indianians, however, protested
against his appointment being charged to
their State.
The official statement announcing the dis
missal of Hedges recites the principal
counts against him in great detail. 1t ap-
pears that on several occasions he reported
himself as engaged in official business in
the field, when, as a matter of fact ac-
cording to the records, he was devoting
himself to private affairs. The explanation
of Mr.. Hedges as to the charges against
him does not help his any. He lays
all his troubles to w. w. Valentine, clerk
in the New York postoffice. who held
free delivery, of which Hedges was the as
sistant superintendent in charge just be-
fore his transfer to Washington 1t is
claimed by Hedges that he loaned his trav-
cling commission to Valentine while the
latter was in the field for the government.
Department officials state that it is
violation of the low for postal employees to
transfer to another travelling commissions
which are made out in the name of a par
ticular person whose duty takes them in
the field.
MACHEN INVOLVED.
An interesting feature of Hedges's ex-
PLANTATION in this connection involves Au-
gust w. Machen, former superintendent of
free delivery, now under indictment on
charge of bribery. Hedges says that be-
fore loaning his transportation to Valentine
he consulted Machen, who stated that there
would be no improperly in the transfer if
Valentine used it while travelling for the
department. 1t appears that Valentine
was at liberty to use the commission at
any time and that he did so whenever he
had occasion to visit his family in WASH
ington. While the officials do not admit it,
1t is understood that Valentine furnished
the department with the information on
which the dismissal of Hedges is based
Following is the official statement of the
case made public to-day by Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General Bristow:
Charles H. Hedges was to-day removed
from the office of superintendent of free
delivery for falsifying his diary and loan
ing his travelling commission. He reported
himself at various places on public busi-
ness when in fact he was not in those on
the dates mentioned, but elsewhere in
some instances hundreds of miles distant
On Oct. 25. 1900. he states under oath in
his diary that he was at Joplin, Mo-, on
i'm fact he was in Mansfield, o., attending
the funeral of former Secretary John
Sherman. On Dec. z, 1899, he reports him.
self at San Antonio. Tex, Investigating
Mexico examining mining property. In the
month of October, 1899, A. w. Machen
superintendent of free delivery, was sick
with typhoid fever and Hedges was at the
department acting as superintendent. In
his diary he states, under oath, that he
was at various places. namely New York.
Philadelphia, Bridgeport, Conn.,, Camden
N. j., and elsewhere, actually engaged in
travelling on the business of the free dsiiv-
cry service. Assistant superintendent of
free delivery are allowed per diem of 81
per day in lieu of expenses for each day
engaged actually travelling on the business
of the department. Hedgess false state
ments as to his whereabouts on these days
were manifestly for the purpose of collect
ing per diem to which he was not entitled
There are many other instances of SIM
liar Justification. The facts were submitted
to the postmaster general some days since,
who directed Hedges's removal for the rea-
sons above set forth.
MR.. HEDGES'S STATEMENT.
In a statement tonight Mr.. Hedges said /:
while / was assistant superintendent of
free delivery, with headquarters at New
York. / was called to Washington to take
charge of the entire service while Mr..
Machen was i'll with typhoid fever While
so acting / got $1,000 salary as assistant
superintendent. while Mr.. Machen received
s.. 800. 1t was necessary for me to get the
per diem allowance to make the services
and the compensation equal. 1t is charged
that the per diem accounts show me at
other points. the theory being that strictly
speaking. under the law / was not entitled
to per diem when at headquarters. This
has never been tested. consequently never
decided. 1t has been the practice of the
Office for the party taking the place of the
head of the service to claim per diem in
some form. In my case / was also SUPER
visng the Eastern division while officiating
as general superintendent here. Herbert
w Valentine, now in the New York post
office and formerly stenographer there un-
der me. surrendered private letters and
notes to the inspectors which gave them
this information. / used to drop him line
when l was travelling to keep him posted of
my whereabouts. Valentine is the one who
used this postoffice commission. 1t was
used with the knowledge of General Super
intendent Machen and of First Assistant
! Postmaster General johnson. Valentine
was anxious to so out on field work Mr..
Bristow refused to allow the issuance of a
{ commission for Valentine on the ground