New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-30
THE BRISTOW REPORT.

The report of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow on the postofice scandals must
carry conviction TO every reader OF the thor
oughnesS OF the work done. 1t is an aDie ana
impartial review of the whole series OF dis
honest transactions which have been going on
in the Postofiice Department ever since 1873
Machen began his career of misconduct as soon
as be came into Office as superintendent OF free
delivery under President Cleveland, and con-
tinued it steadily until the present investigation
broke down his carefully built fences He was
q resourceful CRATER" and there is humor-
Gus suggestion in Mr. Bristow's account of how
Machen secured from Postmaster General Will
son letter box contract for a pet concern, that
gave him share of its profits, by representing
that he had a cousin interested in the rival box
offered at lower price, and that he did not
think il proper for the contract to be awarded
TO a firm in which a relative Of his was inter
ested Mr.. Wilson was, of course deeply I'M
pressed with Machen's virtue, as doubtless were
subsequent PoStmasters General, and so he mad
a free hand.
The scandals In the Postoffice Department
were first brought to the attention of the Presi-
dent by Mr. NJ. g. Seckendorf, who in January
last laid before him information of the improper
conduct of Beavers, the general superintendent
Of salaries and allowances, Subsequently Mr..
W A. White brought to his attention the con-
duct of Tyner the Assistant Attorney General
for the Postofice Department who was allow
ING various concerns to defraud the public
through the mails. First Assistant Postmas-
ter General Wynne also became suspicious OF
Machen and Beavers, and as result OF con-
ferences between the President and Postmaster
General Payne Mr.. Bristow was set to make
the thorough investigation on which forty In
spectors have been employed. The records OF
a thousand posiolfices have been examined ana
a long list of indictments secured. So far as
now appears, the examination is completed ana
only the work of prosecution remains. but Mr..
Bristow suggests that preparation of the cases
for trial may involve persons not now imph-
Gated.
Mr. Rristow is exceedingly severe In his COM
ments on Perry W. Heath, who seems consist
emily to have aided Machen and Beavers in
their operations; but not enough evidence was
found to indict him. and most Of the ransac-
tons in which he was perhaps involved &C.
CURED over three years before the investigation
was begun, and so prosecution was barred by
the statute of limitations. The account OF the
transactions Of State Senator George E. Green
is likewise of a most damaging character. II
is evident that Mr.. Bristow has not been turned
aside from his duty by any personal or polit-
zeal consideration, but has carried out the Presi
bilt 1t must Of course, be a great sorrow 10
Republicans to find that such gross corruption
was able to exist under their administration,
even though it was started under others. Butt
is also to their credit that the instant the admin
istration had an inkling Of the situation 1t pro-
ceeded theoretically to secure reform and pun
ishment of the guilty, and has spared nobody
because of friendship or pulls"
In his memorandum fled with the Bristow
report President Roosevelt suggests the desira-
bility of q measure which we have already ad-
vocated to deprive official misconduct of the
comparative immunity which IL enjoys owing to
the facility which those in office have for hiding
their acts for a considerable time. He rec
ommends the extension of the period Of prose
cution for offences of government servants 10
at least five years. Perhaps it might wisely
be extended TO FIVE years after their retirement
from Office. Certainly some amendment should
be made TO the law, for now clever officials
can manage TO cover up their wrOngdoing till
prosecution is barred, and some OF them have
apparently done so in the Postofice Depart
ment-