The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-09-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The latest developments in the case of
Miss Todd, who was removed from Office
TO oblige Senator Alice of Delaware,
have made the affair more than ever one
of national interest. AS a result of her
dismissal it has been discovered that
fourth class postmasters have been in
cluded within the protection of the civil
service laws. This was effected, unknown
to the public and the press, by rule
signed by the President on March 20 and
which went into effect on April IS. This
regulation does not extend to fourth class
postmasters what is known as the "merit
SYSTEM" that is, no examination is re-
quired of them and the President is still
at liberty to appoint whom he chooses to
a fourth class Offices or to remove such
employe for any reason save two. He
cannot remove them because of their
political or religious affiliations. That is
positively forbidden by civil service rule.
The rule applies to the case of Miss Todd
and it will be impossible to justify her
removal under the law unless the Presi-
dent sees fit to repeal his last civil service
regulation.
~
1t is now claimed by the spoilsmen that
the extension of the civil service regula-
tons to include fourth class postmasters
was an error and made inadvertently but
there is no ground for the claiu. The
law was clearly framed by the civil SER
vice commissioners and signed by the
President with that end in view. Nor is
there the slightest reason to believe that
the President will repeal the regulation.
~
Three more indictments have been re-
turned by the District Of Columbia grand
jury, two against George w. Beavers,
formerly superintendent of salaries and al
lowances, and the other is believed to be
against prominent New York politician,
man who is reputed to be a close friend
of the President. Another announcement
which will doubtless prove relief to the
public is to the effect that the Postoffice
investigation will be practically concluded
by October S and that Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow's report will
| be placed in the hands of the President
during October. The only reason for
using the word practically" is that there
will always remain a possibility of run
ming across some new clue which may
require following up, and that the pros
pective trials may develop new evidence
of official wrong doing in the Postoffice
Department. Although the cunning with
which Beavers managed to cover his tracks
for time baffled the postal inspectors,
they have now gained an insight 10 his
corrupt practices and it is believed that
before they complete their work evidence
will have been produced which will reveal
| the fact that his malfeasance has cost the
government nearly as much as has that
of August w. Machen. $3.50, 900. Roughly
| speaking these two will be found to have
nulcted the government of $500, 900. The
maladministration of the legal division oil
the Postoffice Department did not, as a
rule, entail direct loss to the Department,
the sufferers being that portion of the
deluded public which permitted itself to
be defrauded by the fraudulent concerns
which, in violation of all law, were allow
ed undisputed use of the mails.