New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-30
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.

For the purposes OF this report the investigation
ordered by you on March has been completed In
the preparation Of cases for trial where indictments
have been found information may be secured which
will necessitate further investigation ana possibly
involve persons not now implicated
More than forty inspectors have been employed
upon this work. some Of them continuously every
dav since the investigation began. The records Of
one thousand postofices have been examined, and
the files Of many divisions Of the department, COW
ering period of from six years. scrutinized
The system of organized corruption that has
been disclosed began in 1898 and continued until
stopped by this investigation The amount OF money
ates is small as compared 10 me totaI loss 20 the
that Louis received any olIl 1S
Wiborg, vet during the first year OF ms admins
traon the expenditures for cancellng ink increased
II does not appear that Kempner received money
f6 6d {e NAMES ncraased more Than $4,000 u year
IoI iyad bIt s. 000 from Arnold vet that
company defrauded the people out Of over s. 100000
Machen probably did not receive more than
ent has paid approximately Sl3Ooo5 for that de-
vice, which represents net loss since the depart
letter boxes. to pay for the original fasteners
Beavers and his associates received less than
s2j.@0 from the auiem3tlc CASPER let Ihe De
partment expended S74.275 for this wholly unneces-
The total amount that the perpetrators OF these
frauds themselves received cannot be deflnltely
learned but it will aggregate between 10000 and
$1,000 Wlie IN 20 sunnlies that have been
purchased and the inferior quality OF those fur
risbad nv fraudulent contractors. cannot be esti-
mated with any degree Of accuracy.
AS the gross abuses have been brought to light
thev have been promptly corrected by the proper
departmental officers. Contracts where fraud has
been discovered have been annulled
As a result Of the investigation four officers
and employees of the department have resigned
and thirteen have been removed. Forty-four in
dictmeutS have been found. involving thirty-one
persons ten OF whom have been connected with the
rostaf service. Attached this a list
~ those who have been separated from the service
nv resignation and removal. also complete list
OF the Indictments and the persons involved
I cannot speak in too high praise of the industry
and Intelligence Of the inspectors and their loyalty
to the interests Of the service The Of the
Investigation is largely due 10 them They have
sourhr the truth with eagerness and skill No
accounts have been too intricate Tor them 70 un-
navel no labor burdensome to undertake Tn
7ar the irrn a1iate charge Of Chief Inspector Will
lam r Cochran they have worked in perfect
cord 4 list 81 those who have been employed on
the investigation is attached 10 this report.
results the investigation demonstrate
that all travelling agents Of the department-such
ae assistant stIperintendeuts of salaries and al
ov-arree Of the free delivery service the Railway
spectors-ShOuld be placed under one organization.
rT.rnbe~ Of changes should be made in the
organization Of the department in order 10 pro-
vide q more perfect check on the operations OF
arforrs divisions and restrictive Legislation.
affacf nc the divisions OF salaries and allowances
~ rural free delivery and possibly others may
ever is honest intelligent and vigorous admins
+~o+for The corruption disclosed is not due to
fav laws but 70 the dishonesty Of those who have
hear charged with the responsibility Of admins
In closing permit me to express my most sincere
appreciation Of the cordial support have received
from YOU during the progress OF tho investigation.
The hearty cooperation of First Assistant Post
rnas+e- General WINNIE whose bureau has been
eo LARGELY involved. and Of Assistant Attorney
General Robb has been Of great value.