The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-30

their desirability At that time Winfield
S. Strawn, of Canton, Ohio, was the
superintendent of agencies, and George
F'.Miller, also of Canton, was the Wash
ington agent.
Judge George E. Baldwin, of Canton,
Ohio, father-in-law of Miller, the Wash
ington agent was active in his efforts
chine by the department. The methods
employed to accomplish this result are
clearly set forth by the correspondence
between Brandt, president of the com
pany and Strawn and Miller, his agents.
On February 90 1899, Miller wrote
Brandt, stating:
| I am satisfied that we have the assur-
ance and friendship of both parties-Gen-
Heath and Mr.. Beavers-and all that is
necessary is to cultivate that friendship,
4 if not by kinds words, by dollars and
most positive; however, the lines we have
out now will result in a change Of pro-
gramme, which means our ultimate sue
cess.
Six weeks later Strawn wrote Brandt
from New York that Miller had left
that day for Washington, having sue
ceeded in a plan to effectively reach Mr..
Beavers through Brooklyn congress-
man."
On April 6, after conference with
Baldwin, his father-in-law, in Canton,
Ohio, Miller wrote Strawn as follows:
Mr.. Baldwin says to find out II
/ DOSSiDie exactly what TINS man beavers
wants to insure our success in that de-
partment in the way of dollars and cents,
but not to give it to him unless forced to
do so: and when we do, if at all, he de-
sires to be present in person himself and
plan the agreement.
On May 1. Strawn wrote Baldwin,
stating that Brandt would like for him
to come to Washington for consultation.
In response to this invitation Baldwin
came to Washington and held a confer
ence with the parties interested, and
as a result on May 9, 1899, an order was
given by First Assistant Postmaster
! General Heath for $50 machines, at $50
each. The machines were exactly the
same as those that were selling in the
open market for SIPS, with the excep-
ton of a slight change in the base. After
the $50 machines had been disposed of
additional orders were given, until sci
machines had been purchased, 217 of
which were shipped to postmasters
without reGuisition.
The postmaster at Chicago. on May
81, 1899 stated that he could use but
one in his office, yet on July 25, less
| than two months later, 9 of these ma
chimes were sent to him and he was Or
dered to pay $3.50 each for them. The
postmaster at Keokuk, Iowa, advised
the department that the machine was
not practicable and of no value to his
office. On June Is, 1900, Beavers wrote
him as follows:
Relative to automatic cashier in your Of
| into active use, as it is the desire of the
| department to have a uniform system IN
the matter of handling cash in the larger
postoffices-
! 1t is difficult to understand what in
terest the department could have in a
systematic method of making change
in the larger offices.
Nine of these machines were sent to
Baltimore, and only of them are in
use; 20 were shipped to Boston, of which
only are now in use, the other IS being
stored in the basement of the postoffice;
20 were sent to New York, only 1 of
which is used, the others being an in
cumbrance to the office.
| OF the 527 machines purchased, 173 are
idle; many of them have never been ia
ken from the case in which they were
shipped. The aggregate amount of
money paid to the fraudulent COM
pany for these useless cashiers was STA
275.
Eliminating from consideration all in
elections of fraud and passing upon the
case wholly as a question of admins
trative judgment, it appears to me that
this transaction would have justified
the summary removal from office OF
First Assistant Postmaster General
Heath and George w. Beavers.
But the element of fraud can not be
eliminated. Men of ordinary intelligence
rarely waste the public revenues in such
manner without a personal motive
A bribe of $12, 800 was paid Congress
man EuInunQ II. DElS5S " ScCOAC liz
order for $50 machines. A part of this
money has been traced to the bank &C
count of Beavers.
briggs, Beavers, and Miller have been
indicted by the federal grand jury in
the city of Brooklyn, N. Y.
During the investigation Of this case
Inspectors Little and Oldfe1d secured
evidence Indicating that Ernest E. Bald
win, assistant United States district at
torney for the southern district of New
York, had knowledge of the transactions
between this company and officers of
the department. He was the attorney
for the company in a suit then pending
in the southern district of New York
and had in his possession the original
$12. 500 note.
The inspectors were given a written
order by the president and treasurer of
the company, directing the firm of
Boothby & Baldwin, of which Ernest E.
Baldwin is member, to give them ac-
cess to any papers in their possession
bearing upon the subject. When the in
spectors presented this order to Bald
win he refused to recognize it, became
very angry, and with violent and pro-
fame language ordered them from his
office.
There is reason to believe that Judge
--.-.---.@--=