The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-12-03
BR|STOW REPORTS
ON POSTAL FRAUDS
Gives Result of Investigations OF
the Irregularities in the
Department.
President Roosevelt in His Co m IN e nts
ReI,tixe TO the Case Declares That
Severe Punishment of the PERSONS
round Guilty of Wrong Doing IL
Now the Prime Necessity.


Washington, Nov. 30.--The very
lengthy and exhaustive report OF
Fourth Assistant POSTMASTER General
j. L. Bristow on tie postal lnVestlga-
ton has been made public. as well as
President Roosevelt's comments rela-
tive thereto. In concluding his report,
Mr.. Bristow says:
The system OF organized corrup-
ton that has been disclosed began IN
1893 and continued until stopped by
this investigation. The amount OIL
money secured by the corrupt officials
and their confederates is small as com
pared to the total loss to the govern
ment. 1t will aggregate between $500
600 and 100000, while the loss
TO the government, considering the
unnecessary supplies that have been
purchased, and the inferior quality
of those furnished by fraudulent con-
tractors, cannot be estimated with any
degree of accuracy.
Abuses Corrected.
brought to light they have been prompt
ly corrected by the proper department
tai officers. Contracts where fraud ha.
been discovered have been annulled.
AS a result of the investigation four
officers and employees of the depart
ment have resigned and 10 have been
removed. Forty-four indictments have
been found, involving 81 persons, ten
of whom have been connected with the
postal service.
Presidents Comments.
After detailing the course pursued in
setting afoot the investigation, President
Roosevelt says:
The investigation made by Mr.. Brs-
tow discloses condition of gross cor
ruption in the office of the first assistant
postmaster general and in that of the
assistant attorney general for the post
office department The three chief Of
tenders in the government service were
Tyner. Machen and Beavers. In the
case of the superintendent of free deliv-
cry, MaChen, the evidence shows that
his In sconduct began Immediately after
his appointment in September, 1893. In
the case Of the general superintendent
Of salaries and allowances, Beavers, it
began soon after he was appointed to
that place in 1897. In the case of Assist
ant Attorney General Tyner it has gone
on fora number of years.
Puyis hment Prime Need.
However, the prime need is not new
legislation, but the punishment of those
who offend against existing laws. In
any great business, public or private
Wrongdoing is certain at times to oc-
cur. The way to guard against it Is
vigorously to scrutiniZe the character
Of those appointed, carefully to super.
wise their actions after appointment
| and finally, to punish with relentless
severity those who go wrong. All this
is being done.
Justice to Re Melted Out.
In no case has the indictment beer
sought save where the officials OF
the government were convinced of the
mans guilt, and in every case The gov.
eminent will exhaust every eXpedien
in its power in the effort 10 see thai
justice is meted out 70 the offenders
| Those in the pubic service whose duty
! 1t is must ever be vigilant in the to
lection of wrongdoing, fearless in its
| exposure, relentless in its prosecution
Wants stern Reprobation.
,,i,, nnIl ,tr, DIo
| ton that the crime of the corruption
| list in public life, and of the man who
seeks to corrupt him. The bride givel
and the bride taker are equally guilty
| Both alike sin against the primary Law
| of the states safety All questions O
| difference in party policy sink into in
| significance when the people of thi!
| country are brought face to face with {
| question like this, which lies at thu
root of honest and decent government
| elf-government becomes a farce if tn,
representatives of the people corrup
| others or are themselves corrupted
| Freedom is not a gift which will tarry
| long in the hands of ,-.e dishonest Of
/ of those so foolish or so incompetent
| as to tolerate dishonesty in their publ,
! servants. Under our system all power
comes from the people, and all punish
ment rests ultimately with the people
| The federation of the wrong, not thu
| exposure Of the wrong, is the real Of
/ Tense
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
|
Nightmare Kills Woman.