Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-03
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SCORES
BRIDE elyERs AND BRIDE
TAKERS.
NO POLITICS IN AFFAIR
IN Memorandum Treating With Bris-
tow's Report Of investigations
Roosevelt, With Characteristic Force
Says Wrong Doors Must Pay.

Washington, D. c., Dec. With
The same fearlessness that
characterized, his work while at the
head of the police department in New
York, the same thoroughness that has
always been part of his nature, Theo-
dore Roosevelt, President of the Unit;
ed States. reviews in a memorandum
the cases upon which Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow has made
a report and recommends measures
which will not only bring to justice the
men who have sinned against. their
country but prevent repetition of
these sins by making the conditions
different The, memorandum, which
has just been given to the public, is
/. one in which the splendid nature of
the President is shown in its truest
light He throws aside party politics
to take up the investigation OF these
cases with but one aim in view-the
preservation of the nation and the pun
ishment of those who by their acts
have Impaired the safety OF the gov
ernment,s
President Roosevelt's memorandum
follows.
Memorandum upon the various pa
pers submitted from the department
of justice and the postoffice depart
! ment concerning the investigation into
Z the corrupt practices obtaining in the
postoff1ce department, notably in the
Office of the first assistant postmaster
general and in the Office OF the assist
ant encouragement for that depart
ment. All the documents in the case
are herewith forwarded to the post
Office department, and will be, held
ready for submission to the congress
1 whenever IT may choose tos ask for
them. +. -
at appears that in December, 1902,
4 Postmaster eneral Payne and Con-
\ gressman e. r. Loud, chairman of the
committee on the postofiice and post
roads, held various consultations Ie-
d garding the postal service, and ass a
h result, of these interviews it was de
4 terInined that as soon asspossible after
the necessary appropriations couldsbe
L made by the congress an investigat ion
Il should be made of the service, bMh
.gtMessrs. Payne and Loud agreeing as
sthe time when it should take place. Ac-
cordingly, an increase of $4,000 in the
Z appropriation bill reported in January
was made for the express purpose of
scarrying on the investigation in aues-
( ton. The reasons for the increase in
the appropriation were known only to
the postmaster-genera to Congress
4 man Loud, and to Congressman Brom-
well
Manner OF investigation.
Subsequently,, sometime in January,
information was laid before me by
Mr.. Seckendorff tending to show inn
proper conduct by Beavers, general SUI
Eperintendent of the division of salaries
and allowances, and Machen, general
Superintendent of the free-delivery
system; and by William Allen White
tending to show corruption bysor under
Tyner, assistant Encouragement for
the postoffice department First As
sistanti Postmaster-G General 'Wynne al
80 informed me that he had become
suspicious of the integrity of both Ma
ychen and Beavers. After full consul
tation with Mr.. Payne it was decided
that Fourth Assistant Postmaster-Gen
eral Bristow should make a thorough
and exhaustive investigation of the
charges in question and of all matters
that might be developed in connection
with them Mr.. Bristows report is a
record Of as thorough bit of investi-
eating work as has ever been done i'm
der the government. After this inves-
tigation had been in progress for about
two months it became evident that lie.
gal proceedings would have to be un-