The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-16
POSTAL INSPECTORS
 ARE WORKING HARD
Office of Physician Will Proba-
 ply be Abolished
BANDS CASE TO COME UP
Reply of MT. RrIstow Regarding TuI- looh's Charges to Be Given Out Thursday-conference Is Held
 and Printing Bids Heard.

Washington, June 15.-Chief Postoffice Inspector Cochran today returned from New York, where he went in connection with the investigation of postoffice af- fairs. The investigating officials refuse to disclose the nature of his mission, but say the published returns of his trip are not correct. Inspectors were busy today in the office of the assistant general at torney of the postoffice department con- tinuing the overhauling of records.
 It Is probable that one of the ultimate results in the investigation will be the abollshment of the office of postoffice physician on the ground that there is no law for the position of such an office. The employment at Washington and New York already has attracted attention. There are five postoffices in the country where physicians are carried on the rolls. The office of physician was abolished in Washington some time ago. The cities where postoffice physicians are now em- ployed are New York, Chicago, Philadel- phia. Brooklyn and Boston.
 Will Take Up Rands Case.
 The inspectors will take up the case of H H. Rand. the postmaster generals for mer confidential clerk and at present an assistant superintendent of the salary and allowance division of the department, and examine his connection with a mining company, the fact that he was prominent ly identified with a concern of which Au- gust W. Machen, the deposed head of the free delivery system was president and also into other matters This inquiry will not be made immediately, but will be con- ducted before the close of the investiga- ton.
 The reply of MT. Bristow to the post master generals letter regarding the Tul- loch charges, together with certain ex- hibits relating to the investigation of the Washington postoffce by the inspectors will be given out for publication Thurs day morning. These reports were taken to the White House today by Postmaster General Payne who discussed them with the President
 Postmaster Warfield of Baltimore was at the department today in conference with First Assistant Postmaster Wynne and Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow regarding affairs of his office
 To Hear Bids.
 First Assistant Postmaster General Wynne and Superintendent Metcafe of the money order service gave a hearing to representatives of two rival bidders for the contract of printing money or ders. Counsel for Wynkoop & Halen- beck of New York who bid $1750O0 and who have had the contract for years, contended that the lowest bidder Paul Herman, of Rutherford N. J., who bid $135,000. could not do the work for that amount, and that. having no plant, he would have to sub~let the contract, in contravention of the law.
 Herman's counsel admitted he had no plant, but guaranteed to establish an adequate one immediately He offered to furnish bond in any amount to guaran- tee the work, letters and testimonials as to Hermans standing and a certificate of his bank deposits. Both sides will sub init papers, and any question of illegality will be referred to Assistant Attorney Robb.