The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-30
POSTOFFICE FRAUDS
THE SUBJECT OF REVIEW FROM
ROOSEVELT.
GUILT THAT HE DEDUCEs
FROM THE REPORT MADE TO HIM
ny BRISTOW.

History of the Investigation of the
POstOnce Frauds Perpetrated I'm
der His Administration and Gives
Summary Showing What Has Keen
Accomplish d-Draws Morals from
1t All.
White House, Nov. "a, 1903-Memo-
randum upon the various papers sub
mitted from the Department of JUS
tice and the Postoffice Department con-
corning the investigation into the cor
rupt practices obtaining in the Post
Office Department, notably in the office
of the first assistant postmaster gene
raj and in the office of the assistant
attorney general for that department.
All the documents in the case are here
with forwarded to the Postoffice De-
partment, and will be held ready for
submission to the Congress whenever
it may choose to ask for them.
1t appears that in December, 1902,
Postmaster General Payne and Con-
gresham E. F. Loud, chairman of the
Committee on the Postoffice and Post
roads, held various consultations re-
garding the postal service, and as a
result of these interviews it was de-
termined that as soon as possible after
the necessary appropriations could be
made by the Congress an Investigation
should be made of the service, both
Messrs. Payne and Loud agreeing as to
the need for the investigation and the
time it should take place. According
ly, an increase of $4,000 in the appro-
priation bill reported in January was
made for the express purpose of car
rying on the investigation in question.
The reasons for the increase in the
appropriation were known only to the
postmaster General, to Congressman
Loud, and to Congressman BromweIl.
Gave Him Information.
Subsequently, some time in January.
information was laid before me by Mr..
Seckendorff tending to show improper
conduct by Beavers, general superin--
lendent OF the division of salaries and
allowances, and Machen, general su
perintendent of the free delivery svs-
lem; and by Mr. William Allen White
lending to show corruption by or un
DER Iyner, assistant attorney general
Tor the Postoffice Department. First
Assistant Postmaster General Wynne
also informed me that he had become
suspicious of the integrity of both Ma
chen and Beavers. After full consuIta
ton with Mr.. Payne it was decided that
tourth Assistant Postmaster General
brlstoW should make a, thorough and
exhaustive investigation of the charges
IN question and of all matters that
might be developed in connection with
them. Mr.. BristoWs report is a record
or as thorough a bit of investigating
WORK as has ever been done under the
government. After this Investigation
had been in progress for about two
months it became evident that legal
proceedings would have to be under
q Ken against. some of the Offenders.
CWllS TO the Importance of the case
II was deemed advisable that special
counsel should be employed, and Messrs.
Charles j. Bonaparte and Holmes Con-
Iad We're chosen for this purpose
Messrs. Bonaparte and Conrad, in their
review OF the report of Mr.. BristoW,
speak as follows: I'VE consider the re-
port an exceptionally able, candid and
impartial review of it's subject matter
and that it shows clearly reprehensive
conduct, amounting in many cases to
crime, on the part of a number of pub
lie officials. 1t is a voluminous docu-
ment, but this arises, not from prolix-
lty, but from the nature of the mat
lers discussed. We heartily
commend the report and deem its con-
cluslonS fully justified by the facts it
sets forth; and while regretting in COM
mon with all patriotic citizens that
the grave abuses of long standing
winch 1t reveals should have grown
up IN the Postotfice Department, we
consider the exposure of these abuses
and the attempts made to punish those
responsible for them work of the
highest public utility quickly and ably
performed" In all that is thus said of
the report of Mr.. Bristow 1 cordially
agree.
Gross Corruption Shown.
The investigation made by Mr.. Bris-
tow discloses a condition of gross cor
fuptlon in the office of first assistant
postmaster general and in that of the
assistant attorney general for the
Postoft1ce Department. In the case of
the superintendent of free delivery
Machen, the evidence shows that his
misconduct began Immediately after
ms appointment in September, 1898. III
the case of the general superintendent
OF salaries and allowances, Beavers, it
began soon after he was appointed to
mat place in 1897. In the case of As
slstant Attorney General Tyner it has
gone on for number of years, but it
Is impossible to say exactly when Ii
began. A melancholy feature of the
case is that with one exception all the
years in the government service The
following is list of the fourteen post
CInee employees in the service at the
Time this investigation was begun, who
are apparently most seriously implicat-
ed in the wrongdoing, together with
an account of the steps that have been
taken by the government in each case
and statement of the date of orig
mai appointment of each man in the
service:
Those Who Were Indicted.
CThe case of ex-First Assistant Post
master General Heath, who left the
service July 81, 1900, is set forth in the
report of Mr.. Bristow.)
James N. Tyner, assistant attorney
general for Postoffice Department; APP
pointed special agent. Postoffice De-
p5Stment, March z, 1861; with intervals
or few years has been in the service
ever since. and was Postmaster Cen
eral under President Grant for several
months; he was removed April o. 1903;
ne has since been indicted three times.
A. W. Machen, general superintendent
iree-delivery system; appointed clerk
IN postoffice at Toledo, o., March l.
1851; continuously in service ever since
save for three years; removed May q,
times.
George w. Beavers, general superin-
tendent of salSries and allowances; APP |
pointed to clerkship in New York post
oInce January, 1891; continuous serv
nee ever since; resignation accepted to |
take effect March 81 1908; has since |