The Penn's Grove record., 1903-04-17
PAYNE. TAKES UP SCANDAL
The Postmaster General Says He
Caused the Investigation.
NEW CHARGES AGAINST BEAVERS


ApPIVb0cs
Washington, D. C.-Postmaster-Gen-
eral Payne has returned to Washing
ton. Before seeing any Of his subor.
dinates Mr.. Payne said that he was
personally responsible for the investi.
cation now being conducted, informa.
ton having reached him before lie left
Washington which he felt warranted 0
thorough investigation, and he had &C.
cordingly, with the approval Of the
President, directed Fourth Assistant
Postmaster-General Bristow to make
the necessary inquiry. Not only
would it naturally fall to Mr.. Bristow
to make such an investigation, but the
fact that the divisions to be investi-
gated were under First Assistant Post
master General Wynne's Jurisdiction
made it especially desirable to secure
an ex porte inquiry. The Postmaster.
General made the following statement:
During the months of January and
February Information and reports
reached me, which l deemed it for the
public interest to investigate. and l
personally gathered such information
and facts as would enable the proper
officers of the department to undertake
a thorough investigation as to the
truth or falsity of these reports. I
directed Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow to take the proper
steps to institute the necessary inquiry.
using for that purpose the p~ostoffice.
inspectors division and such other
methods as would thoroughly ascer-
tain the truth or falsity of the charges
or insinuations made. and he was in
structed to proceed promptly and with
vigor during my absence. Since my
return this morning I have not seen
General Bristow, so that I am not adj
vised of the progress made. The in
vestigati0n will continue, and If any
wrongdoing is disclosed the parties
guilty Of such wrongdOing will be sum
marily dealt with. If the system or
method of doing business in the de-
partment is faulty the proper remedies
will be applied without fear or favor.
I inaugurated the Investigation with
the determination that it should be
exhaustive.
laid before the President the informa-
ton which l had in my possession.
and that he fully approved of the ac-
ton proposed by me-"
After debating the above statement
Mr.. Payne held long conferences with
Mr.. Bristow and Mr.. Wynne.
Mr.. Bristow received formal charges
to the effect that Mr.. Beavers, late SUI
p~erintendent of the Division of Salar-
les and Allowances. had been employed
by the Postal Clerks Association, and
had not only drawn a salary from the
association. but had used his influence
with members Of Congress to secure
continually increasing appropriations
for clerk hire. As in the cases of all
charges filed it was merely said that
the matter would be thoroughly inves-
tigated.
The whole administration of the
Postofice Department is made subject
to the investigation under Postmaster
General Payne's directions, and every
charge will be probed thoroughly and
the inquiry made as searching as the
departments most expert inspectors
can make it. At the same time MI.
Payne's purpose is to give fair and
just treatment to all concerned, and
not to act arbitrarily and with undue
haste. For this reason it can be said
that no immediate changes of impor-
lance in the personnel of the service
are now contemplated, and changes
will depend largely on the report to be
made by Mr.. Bristow, although devel-
opments in the meantime may make
SOM deviation from this policy neces-
Sary.
When Postmaster : General Payne
reached the department q score of
newspaper men were awaiting him
with queries concerning the inyestiga-
ton. but he parted all questions with
remarks on his trip to the West Indies.
He expressed particular qualification
at what he had observed of postal con-
ditions In Cuba, and said his observa-
tions in Cuba and Porto Rico would be
helpful to him in administering the
postal service. Mr.. Payne summoned
o number Of the officials of the depart
ment and held short consultations with
them respecting postal affairs.
1t may be several weeks before the
postofice inspectors will be able to
complete their work. When they have
finished MI. Bristow will prepare a
comprehensive report on the whole SUBJ
1ect. The report necessarily will en-
braca matters as to which publicity
may not be warranted, SO it is proba-
BILE that ONE parts Of it will be with
held from publication.
Csrbin Barred From Washington Club.
A sensation has been caused in off.
clal and social circles in Washington
over the withdrawal of the application