The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-25
HEDGES IS not ALONE
OTHERS OF THE ALLEGED "RINGo
WILL BE DISMISSED.
Postmaster General Payne Deter
mined to Cleanse the PostOmce
Department..
NEW PURE BLOOD DESIRED
OFFICIALS "WORkING IN" WITH
CONTRACTORS TO GO.
Hedges Claim Against the Govern
neutrality-suspicious. of Rural
Carriers for Indiana.

ground for the belief that the dismissal of
Charles Hedges, superintendent of free de-
livery, will be followed by the retirement of
several others recognized as belonging to
the ring" which has run the department
with high hand for many years. Except
In a few cases prosecution will not follow
the dismissals contemplated.
There is an evident determination on the
part of Postmaster General Payne who is
In very close touch with the investigation,
though away from Washington, to inject
new blood into the departmental organiza-
ton. The relations between officials and
contractors doing business with the govern
ment has been very close, in many in
stances the relatives of division chiefs be-
ing employed by firms interested in secur-
ing department contracts. Although action
may not be taken at once the statement is
made that every such official whose name
has been prominent in the investigation
will ultimately retire.
Very little attention has been given by
Fourth Assistant Bristow to an inquiry
into the allegations that H. H. Rand, of
Wisconsin, confidential secretary to the
postmaster general, had importuned en-
pany in which he is interested. This in
quiry is undertaken by the fourth assist
ant in accordance with instructions from
the postmaster general The charges so
far made against Mr.. Rand are not of a
serious nature. few days ago witnesses
who were supposed to have knowledge of
the fact as to Rand's alleged activity in
seliing mining stock were examined by
the fourth assistant. The result cannot be
learned. Mr.. Rand has been away from
the department several days on account of
illness.
Charles Hedges, recently dismissed on
charge of classifying his accounts, injected
little humor into the monotony of the in
vestigation to-day. He made demand for
sixteen days pay he claimed to be due him
Tor leave OF absence for little more than
one-half of the recent fiscal year Mr.
Hedges will not only not get the pay he
believes is due him, but an effort will be
made by the government to recover the
amounts paid him vouchers drawn as a
result of the false representations made
by the former official.
There was little breeze of interest in the
department to-day occasioned by the report
that Machen and briggs will attempt to
evade prosecution by combating the con-
sttutionality of the federal statutes under
which their indictments were made. 1t
was stated that the federal statute in oues-
ton was declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court of the United States i'm a
case that was contested by former Senator
Edmunds. of Vermont. a number of years
ago, where he represented person SINH
| iarly charged with an offense against the
government. The officials are not concerned
over this matter, asserting that 1t is merely
an attempt the part of Machen and
hat hav
been made against them.
While the investigation continues to pro-
gress in Washington, George w. Beavers.
! former superintendent of the division of SAL
| aries and allowances, continues to play
| peek-a-boo with the legal authorities in
| BROOKLYN. Late advices at the department
are that there has been no change i'm the
! status of the Beaver case.
xy,
| Four indictments resulting from the pos
| tai investigation are likely to be returned
! by the federal grand jury in Washington
! on Monday. This is the fruit of the jury
deliberations at which Postmaster General
Payne limited just before his departure on
| his ten days cruise along the coast The
| jury has had the cases under consideration
for long time. They involve contract mat
| tiers closely related to transactions which
| already have resulted in sweeping action on
the part of the investigating officials. II
| is understood that three postal officials and
| a contractor are involved. One of these
| parties is not resident of Washington
| Extreme reticence has. been observed re-
| garding the cases.
Rural carriers have been appointed in In
diana as follows:
Fountaintown-John L. Rohm, Hattie NJ
| Rohm.
Kingsbury-Frank S. White, Robert H
| White.
Laporte-Herman F. Fenker Charles Fen.
| ker.
| Markle-Allen H. Kelsey, Odes j. Kelsey
| Mill Creek-Gabriel p. Tennis, Clarence
Drollinger.
New Carlisle-Frank M. Williams. Ollie L
Rolling Prairie-Franklin E. Austin Stella
| j. Austin.
Rolling Prairie-Benjamin F. Brown, Ed.
| gar Hakes.
Union Mills-Henry E. Loomis, Eva Loo
mis-.
William d. Moss was to-day appointed
postmaster at Shideler, Delaware county
Indiana, vice William H. Mitchell, re-
| signed.
Rural free delivery will be established
| at Elizaville, Boone county, Indiana, Oh
Aug /. The service will cover an area Of
eleven square miles with population Of
Alp. JOHN E. MONK
| "