The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-30

and as partially indicated by the ac-
lions in the several cases, these cases
show widely varying degrees OF Gull
pability
Others Not in the Department..
Among outsiders indictments have
also been found against-H. ], Barrett.
formerly in the Postoffice Department
from May IL. 1889. to Sept. 20, 1898,
and from June l, 1897. to Dec. 81, 1900.
George E. Green.
Diller B. and Samuel A. Croft.
William c. Long. formerly in the
Postofiice Department from April II,
1890, to Aug. Is, 1898.
Isaac S. Mcclellan.
George H. Huntington.
George E. Lorenz. formerly post
master at Toledo, O., from Aug. 8,
1886, to July 9, 1890.
Martha ]. Lorenz.
John T. Cupper.
H. c. Hallenbeck.
w. d. Doremus.
Eugene D. Scheble.
William G. Crawford, deputy auditor
Postoff1ce Department from June u,
1898, to Sept. Is, 1897.
Maurice Runkle.
Norman R. Metcalf.
Leopold ]. Stern.
Edmund H. briggs.
George F. Miller.
Joseph M. Johns.
Several of the above have been in
dicted two, three or five times each.
The Three Leading Lights.
The three chief offenders in the gov
eminent service were Tyner, Machen
and Beavers. The friends of Tyner
have advanced the theory that in his
case the chief offender was really his
nephew by marriage, Barrett, who was
his assistant in the office for a part
of the time, and that Tyner's offenses
are due to his failing bodily and men,
tai powers. The facts set forth in Mr.
Bristows report do not tend to sub
stantiate the validity of these excuses
for Tyner, while they show literally
astounding misconduct in Barrett. For
Machen and Beavers no excuse of any
kind has been alleged. In the case of
Metcalf, the superintendent of the
money-order system the most vigor-
Gus protests were at first made on his
behalf by a large number of reputable
citizens, and also by others who were
at the time deemed reputable, but who
it has since been discovered were
profiting by Metcalf's misconduct. One
of them has been indicted in connec-
ton with him. When these investiga-
lions were begun, some nine months
ago, many of the chief offenders who
have been indicted or dismissed, or
both, as above enumerated, were con-
sidered to have excellent regulations.
A number of the most respectable peo-
pie in the land offered voluntary testi-
mony on behalf of Mr.. Tyner. So high
ly were Messrs. Beavers and Machen
thought of by those who had been
brought into close connection with
them that the Congress actually pro-
vided at its last session for raising
the salaries of both, the salary in each
case being increased $500, to take effect
at the beginning of the fiscal year on
July 1 last. By that date they were
both out of office, and the Department
of Justice was taking steps to have
them indicted. During Machen's term
of service he was twice investigated
by the Congress, once by committee
of the Senate and once by committee
of the House, but cleared on each &C.
caSion. Yet at that period, as has
been shown in the present investiga-
ton, he was engaged in the corrupt
business for which he has now been
removed and indicted. This is no re-
Election upon the committees who con-
Quoted the investigation; for so skill
fully had Machen concealed his wrong
doing that it was only revealed after
months Oh ldDOFlOuS anu eALduStlV6
work by trained inspectors.
BristOw Gives Details.
The details of the corruption are
set forth in full in Mr.. Bristow's re-
port and need not be recapitulated by
me. AS regards Messrs. Beavers and
Machen the corruption took the form
of bribery and blackmai1 in connec-
ton with the purchase of government
supplies. In the office of the assistant
attorney general for the Postoffice
Department, under Tyner and Barrett,
far greater wrong was inflicted upon
the public than could be measured
by a pecuniary standard, for in this
office the corruption Of the government
officials took the form of favoring get
rich-quick concerns and similar swind-
ling schemes; in other words. the
whom it was the sworn duty
of these government officials to prose-
cute, paid them for permission to |
fleece the public unmolested.
heartily approve of the rec |
of Messrs, Conrad |
and Bonaparte that the stat
ute of limitations be extend |
ed in the case of government serv- |
ants to a period of at least five years: |
for the persons who in such positions |
of trust engage in corrupt practices |
can ordinarily conceal their guilt for |
q longer time than is covered by the |
present short statute of limitations. |
This recommendation has been laid be- |
fore the Congress in the report of the |
A Attorney General, and 1t is earnestly |
hoped that it will be acted upon favor |
a bly,. Moreover, our experience shows |
that outsiders claiming political in |
fIuence sometimes sell their influence |
to candidates for Office, or in other |