The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-11
INSPECTORS NOW IN
BEAVERS DIVISION
Eleven Examiners Probing
His Old Accounts.
BUNDY CLOCK INVOLVED
An Extra 500 Excites Speculation
George B. Hamlet and His Doings
Also Under Discussion.

George w. Beavers, ex-supeTintendent
of the salaries and allowances division
of the Postofice Department, and his
doings during the past few years are
receiving much attention from the Post
office inspectors at present. On Tuesday
6 force Of eleven inspectors went to
work in Beavers office. They will con-
duct a systematic examination of his
accounts. contracts, and promotions un-
til his official career has been thorough
ly exploited.
Considerable work has already been
done in the salaries and allowances Ill
vision, but it has not been systematic
in the sense of going through the whole
Office from start 10 finish. Specific
charges against Beavers have been in
vestigated, and eases of apparent wrong
doing in his division revealed in the
course Of the general investigation have
received attention. but with what result
is not yet known.
Enough of the Beavers method of do
ing business has already been learned
to warrant the holding up of thousands
of promotions made on his order. Why
these promotions were made, and who
benefited by them is one OF the prob
lens the inspectors will have to solve.
Expensive Time Clocks.
The Bundy time clock and its stormy
career IN the Postoffice Department will
keep several of the inspectors busy. Il
is said that clocks used to be delivered
to distributing agent in Washington at
cost OF $50. and ne sold them TO private
companies at only a fair profit abovs
that figure
In some manner the Postoffice officials
were impressed with the idea that the
Bundy clock was the only thing of its
kind worth having, and then, it is said.
the price advanced to $40. or more than
double what it was when sold TO the
distributing agent. liberal supply of
the clocks was bought, and the depart
ment now has enough TO last for several
years.
Who got the extra $50. if the. figures
given are correct, and how the depart
ment was induced 10 pay such a large
price. will make interesting reading for
the public and Congress when the in
l.
The UH4luitous Hamlet.
George B. Hamlet and his career as 4
public official are having ano1her airing
as result of the postofice investiga-
tions.
Hamlet has turned UP so many times
when the inspectors have gone through
the department that he ought TO be
used to the experience. He left
Louisiana, where he was once a member
OF the Legislature. and journeyed TO
Washington. His record as a politician
became SO pleasing TO the Republican
powers at Washington that he was
made first an examiner in the Pension
Bureau and then a postoffice inspector
While holding the latter position he de-
yeloped great intimacy with Sidney
Z. Mudd.
A Clean Bill of Health.
Hamlet's curious interpretation of his
rights to extend the privileges Of his in
spectors railroad pass TO workmen who
were building house for him caused SO
much comment that it was decided
change OF work would do him good Ac-
cordingly he applied to Mr.. Bristow for
a clean bill of health, that he might get
into the customs service. But in Mr.
Bristow he struck snag. The Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General positively
refused to certify to Famlet's desira-
bility as a public servant. In fact, he
took the other tack and recommended
that the housebuilding inspector be dis
missed
Hamlet then betook himself TO Charles
Emory Smith, at that time Postmaster
General, and obtained from him a paper
certifying that on such as the pass
giving inspector the hopes of the Union
were based. Armed with this docu-
ment, Hamlet went to the Treasury and
vas there placed on the rolls OF the Bal
timore Customs House.
Before the Grand Jury.
There was a rumor this morning that
George W. Beavers was being irvesti-
gated by the grand jury. Assistant
District Attorney Taggart was asked
about the story. and refused to deny or
affirm it.
Several PostofHce inspectors were be-
fore the grand jury this morning. but
on what cases was not stated