Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-10-28
w. q. Landveight, Chief of Classifi-
cation Division, Resigns by Re-
quest of Postmaster General.
HAS son EMPLOYED With firm
HOLDING GOVERNMENT CONTRACT
No Other Charge Made-Dismi ssal
Necessary to Uphold Principle In
vOlved-Three other Officials Re-
moved for Various Causes as Re-
suit of BristOw Report.


vision of the post office department,
Wednesday presented his resignation to
Postmaster General Payne. The res
ignation was requested by Mr.. Payne as
a result of the investigation by the in
spectors of the charges growing out OF
the employment of Mr.. Landvoight's son
in the General Manifolding company, of
Franklin, Pa, which had contract for
supplying patented registry books to the
department. Mr.. Landvoight was chief
of the registry division of the depart
ment prior to his comparatively recent
transfer to take charge of the classical
ton work of the department.
Mr.. Landvoight presented his resigna-
ton to the postmaster general in per-
son. 1t was brief and merely called at
tention to the fact that the only criti-
cism of him was the employment of his
son Arnold with the company. 1t was
made to take effect at the pleasure of
the postmaster general. Mr.. Payne ex-
pressed his regret at the necessity Of
the action, but stated that the employ
ment of the son with the company in
volved a principle which must be en-
forced. Mr.. Landvoight has been in the
postal service about 20 years. He be-
gan as clerk and worked his way up.
Under detail of the third assistant post
master general he went to New York
some years ago and reorganized the
registry service of that city. Mr.. Land
voight said that the request for his
resignation carried no intimation of any
wrongdoing whatever and that the only
question was the principle involved in
his sons employment.
Other Removals.
Postmaster General Payne has also re-
moved from office Michael w. Louis, SUI
perintendent of supplies of the post Of
flee department.; Louis Kempner, chief
of the registry division of the third as
sistant postmaster generals office, and
c. B. Terry, 5000 clerk in the post Office
department, and directed the postmaster
at New York to remove Otto Weis, a
clerk. These removals are the first re-
suit of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow's report on the irregu-
larities in the post Office department.
The postmaster general made an official
announcement of his action as follows:
The Causes.
Michael w. Louis has been re-
moved from the office of superintend-
ent of the division Of supplies because
the recent investigation shows that he
Influenced the awarding Of contracts
for supplies to favored bidders, that
he has been extravagant and wasteful
in the administration of his office, and
that he has paid excessive prices fer
supplies to favored contractors.
Louis Kempner, superintendent
registry system, has been removed for
incompetent and negligent admins
tration, for wasteful and reckless ex-
travagance in sending expensive man
ifold registration books to a large
number of fourth class post Offices,
and for violating the revenue laws by
a system of petty smuggling.
&c. B. Terry clerk in the division
of supplies, has been removed for
making false affidavit, attempting t.
obtain money from clerks under the
guise that he could influence their pro-
motion, and general inefficiency."
Due to Bristow's Report.
In reply to questions, Mr. Payne
said the discharges were the result of
disclosures made by the Bristow re.
port Il have read the report" he
said, "and am free to say that my &C.
ton to-day was the result of it's pe
, rusal." He declined to say whether
there would be other removals as a re.
suit of the report, but it is understood
that while few others may follow
there will not be any wholesale dis.
missals. It is stated that there are
three or four other employees upon
whose conduct there is some refec
ton and whose cases hang in the bal
ance. They were not implicated Sc
much as those whose cases were acted
upon Wednesday and some of them
may remain permanently in the pos
tai service, though possibly not in
their present positions
C0s