New-York tribune., 1903-04-11
DTSCREDITED HERE.
Promotions Could Not Be Sold an the
Neu-York Office, Fan COtt Says.

The officials of the New-York Postof1ce. fnclud-
ing Postmaster Van Cott, declared yesterday that
they had no idea tho local postofflce was sup
posed to be connected with the alleged promotion
scandals now being investigated in washington
rnti, .he dispatches TO that effect received in
this city Mr.. Van Cott has received no official
communication from Washington regarding the
charges said to have been filed with the Postofice
Department.
When asked what he intended to do in reference
70 the charge that promotions of employees of the
New-York office had been obtained on payment of
money TO the agent of the alleged promotion synd-
cate Mr.. Van Cott said that he could do nothing
unless he received official notice from Washington.
He added that he did not believe this postoflce or
anv Of its branches is involved In the scandals.
HOW PROMOTIONS ARE MADE.
THE news from Washington said Mr.. Van
Cott says that employees of the postofice who
have been promoted have paid from s25 10 $50 for
each promotion and percentage of the increase
afterward; also that this syndicate in Washington
had representative in the New-York Postofice.
It would be Impossible under the system in vogue
here for such a thing TO exist The credit per
centages OF the postal employees all fixed by the
respective superintendents, OF whom there fifty
"A thing that shows the absurdty of the
cha rges is that the promotions made in the Gen
eral Postorice recently made mandatory upon
us We received orders from Washington to pro-
all the $500 year clerks TO s1C0. all the 500
clerks to $500 the $500 $500 the 5000 s1Co0 and
that any clerk would be fool to pay for a pro-
motion
All the superintendent in the General Postof1ce
declared that it would be impossible for a promo
ton syndicate to work in their departments with
out their knowledge.
Chief Inspector Thorpe, il was learned yesterday,
has been in Washington three weeks. working on
the scandal
THE CLERKS ASSOCIATIONS
Otto Frederick Weiss. who is in charge Of cor
respondence and records in the registry depart
rnent said knew of no charges that could be
made against him. and denied empha tically that
he ever had anything do with the alleged promo
tim syndicate Mr. Weiss said that he had col
lected money from clerks member of the leg
tsative committee of the National Association of
Postofice Clerks. The association. Mr. Weiss ex-
planned had legislative committee. which raised
money through voluntary subscription. and used
II TO further the associations interests in Wash
ins,on This was done. he said. by sending to the
capitaI men they thought had influence with mem
bers of Congress. AS an illustration. MI Weiss
said that for a long time the postoffice clerks
had no vacations There was a provision that all
federal empIoves should have vacation, but there
was no provision for substitutes to take their
pla ces The association took the matter up, ana
ultimately got Congress to provide FOR the substl-
tutes and now all enjoyed annual vacation The
association had worked for classified system, and,
pbie 4, had not succeeded II would like TO have
done vet In the main 1t had brought about a sys-
tenn that was nearly what they wanted and put
the men on practically eight hour rule. where
as before that time they had from two 70 three
hours overwork daily. All this had been brought
about through the associa ton s efforts. The amount
collected had exceeded $l,5J0 and had on oe-
ga sions been under 81 600 While he had never col
lected this money personally. yet he had, Mr. Weiss
admitted sent 1t Washington. Ex-Postmaster
T1avton ne said. subscribed to the fund. know
ing that il was be used in the interest of the
clerks. -, -
on February 90 1902. order was issued by the
President 10 effect that postal clerks and en-
-.tnrss must desist from attempting TO influence
tojsIst,on either before Congress or before COM
,u99.taes and that the only way employees could
an,,ra legislative benefits through the heads
e heir respective departments. Immediately
,hareafter the legislative committee OF the associa-
me- !i aas dishanded Mr.. Weiss said. and the
ntation uo became simply beneficial organizat ton.
So tndav paid the members sick and death
aaet anu No money had been collected since the
,p1rrna,,,,izatton of the Presidents order
~ Wien asked If any one had grievance against
.,ro who might make false charge, Mf Weiss
said he could think of no one; and on being asked
ss Sa bad had any trouble with any one, he SAID,
Nothing hut over the split OF the association @
a, .ba annual convention of postal clerks In Mem
xtis ,uo years ago. he said vote was taken on
me question Of admitting officials TO the asso-