The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-23
Another Head Falls in POst-
 office Scandal Basket
CHARLES HEDGES IN TROUBLE
Not Only Gave False Accounts of His Whereabouts, But Loaned His Travelling Commission to
 the stenographer.

Washington, July 22.-charles Hedges was today removed from the office of superintendent of free delivery of the postoffice department on the charge of falsifying his diary and loaning his tray- cling commission. It is charged that he reported himself at various places when he was not there on the date mentioned
 MT. Hedges. while maldng DO general denial of the charges. contended that they were not sufficient justification for removal Erwin H. Thorpe, postoffice in- spector in charge at New York, who has been assisting in the administration Of free delivery service since the inception of the investigation, has been designated acting superintendent of free delivery in place of MT Hedges. The following is the official statement made public today by Fourth Assistant Postmaster Bris- tow:
 5ristow's Statement.
 Charles Hedges was today removed from the office of superintendent of free delivery. He represented himself at va rious places on public business, when in fact he was elsewhere, in some instances hundreds of miles distant. On October 25, 1900, he states under oath, in his dia- ", that he was at Joplin, Mo-, on 'ex- tension of free delivery service when in fact he was in Mansfield, Ohio at tending the funeral of former Secretary John Sherman. On December [, 1899, he represents himself at San Antonio. Tex as. Investigating carrier service while in fact he was in Mexico examining mining property. In the month of Ooto. ber 1S99 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, actually engaged in trayeling on the business uf the free de- livery service Assistant superintend- ents of free delivery are allowed per diem of s4 per day in lieu or expenses Tor each day actually travelling on business of the department. Hedges false state days were manlfestly for the purpose of collecting per diem to which he was not entitled.
 ''There are many other instances of sim liar falsihcation. The facts were submit ted to the postmaster general some days since who directed Hedges removal, for the reasons above set forth"
 Was Appointed in June, 1888.
 MT. Hedges was appointed to the postal service from the tenth congressional dis trict of Texas in June, 1SS, and was ap- pointed superintendent of free delivery July l. 1901. His salary was $3000 a year. He had charge of the delivery service in the cities, the rural free delivery service being under another superintendent and both being under the general supervision of A. w. Machen.
 Tn statement tonight MT. Hedges said:
 While I was assistant superintendent of free delivery with headquarters at New York I was cnlled to Washington to take charge of the entire service, while MT. Machen was i'll with typhoid fever. While so acting I got $200 salary as assistant superintendent while MT. Machen received $35O0. It was necessary for me to get the per diem allowance to make the services and the compensation equal It Is charged that the per diem accounts show me at other points, the theory being that strict ly speaking, under the law, I was not en- titled to per diem when at headquarters This has never been tested, consequently never decided It has been the practice of the office of the party taking place at the head of the service to claim per diem in some form. In my case I was also supervising the eastern division while off ciating as general superintendent here.
 Valentine Gave the Information.
 Herbert w. Valentine, now in the New York postoffice and formerly stem ographer there under me- surrend cred private letters and notes to the inspec- tors which gave them this information l used to drop line when was travelling to keep him posted on my wherea bouts. Valentine Is the one who used this post office commission. It was used with the knowledge of General Superintendent Ma chen and of First Assistant Postmaster General Johnson. Valentine was anxious to go out on field work. Mir. BristoW re- fused to allow the issuance Of commits sion. MT. Machen however, held that as Valentine was engaged on the work of the office his use of the commission was not Illegal. As to the San Antonio reference. l was in Mexico, but not examining min ing property.
 Tn making my reports I never made a report of the towns I had not visited nor did I put down all the towns visit ed. as I was permitted to do. Thus failed to mention the Mansfield visit. be- cause l had no official work there. and Joplin was the last place I had had off, cial work. I simply prolonged the time on the list"
 Mir. Bristow declined tonight to say anything as to the status of MT. Valen- tine.
 Editor Is Fined $1Oo0. Tnfp