The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-18
THE CARTOONIST OF THE FUTURE.

Investigation will be made. The story is
told In the following letter Of dismissal
signed by Postmaster General Payne.
= You are hereby removed from the position Of
superintendent of the money order system. The
charges upon which your removal are based re-
late to your actions in the matter Of letting
of the contract for money order FORMS These
charges were made known to you this morning
by Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Brts-
tow and Assistant Attorney General Robb, Of
the postoffce department, and transcript Of
your answer thereto is inclosed herewith.
Metcalfe's Answer.
It appears from your answer that when the
proposals of the different competitors were
opened, Paul Herman Of Rutherford, N. j., for
merly employed as foreman by the Wynkoop,
Hallenback, Crawford company Of New York,
by which company your son Is also employed,
was found to be the lowest bidder, his prosopal
being $45,o0O below that of the next higher
bidder, namely, the Wynkoop, Hallenback, Craw-
ford company; that the bid of Herman as submit
ted was regular in form, and that he had depos-
ited certified check for $4,000 as forfeit
It further appears that within day or two
the Wynkoop, Hallenback. Crawford company
fled protest against awarding the contract to
Herman, alleging that he was not financially re-
sponsible;S that a short time thereafter Mr.. Her
man called at your office and you advised him to
withdraw his bid and reenter the employment OF
Wynkoop, Hallenback, Crawford company un=
derstanding at the time that such withdrawal
would result in the contracts being awarded to
said company, and consequently IN loss to the
government; that you offered to write, and did
write, letter to said company, apprising it
of your interview with Herman and using your
good Offices in his behalf; that you advised
Herman that his $4,000 deposit would probably
be returned to him If he adopted your suggestion
Exceeded His Authority.
1t further appears that you regarded Mr.. Her
man as possessing the mechanical qualifications
| requisite to the performance of the contract and
that 1t was not any part Of your duty to pass
on the question Of his responsibility. financial OF
| otherwise. 1t also appears that you d1o ho'
acquaint your superior, First Assistant POST
| master General Wynne with the fact that YOU
| had endeavored to have Mr.. Herman withdra"
his bid. It further appears that nearing
| has been had before General Wynne on the
| question OF the financial responsibility Of Mr.
Herman; altho 1t has developed since the suDmls
| sion Of your answer this morning that you dls
couraged the granting Of such hearing ane
| nnanifested desire that the contract be AWARDED
| to tie Wynkoop Hallenback, Crawford com
pany.
| Postmaster General Payne said there
was no charge that Mr.. Metcalfe had done
anything that was against the law, bu
said that his conduct was a serious indis
erection that could not be overlooked.
Advised With President.
The postmaster general, on his arriya
at the department yesterday sent 10
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Genera
Bristow and Assistant Attorney Genera
Robb, and after detailing the Informal o1
that had reached him regarding the none.
order printing bids, instructed them t
send for Mr. Metcalfe and Immediately T
/ 1nyestigate the case Bristow and Robh
with Inspector Fosnes examined Mr.. Met
calfe closely for two hours and he, It !
said, corroborated the facts given In tn
letter of dismissal. T41eE postmaster gen
eral later conferred with President Roose
Welt regarding the case and the order 9
dismissal followed.