Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-12-03
Evil DOING
IS LAID BARE
REPORT ON POSTAL INvEsTioA-
TON MADE PUBLIC BY GEN.
PAYNE.
THE PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON IT
PERRY s. HEATH,s NAME is INCL
DENTALLY MIXED JP IN THE
SCANDAL.
CORRUPT METHODS ARE EXPOSED
MOST OF THE CASES TOUCHED
ON HAVE ALREADY BEEN
MADE PUBLIC.

IL -
General Payne has made public a H.
000-word abstract Of the report of
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow on the investigation OF the
postofice scandals, which he has been
investigating since last March.
The report itself is ten times as
long. but the abstract gives in as few
words as possible the result OF the
work of the inspectors and 1t is ac-
companic1 by a memorandum" writ
ten by President Roosevelt, in which
he comments upon the facts set forth
In the report and delivers a denuncia-
ton of the corruption that has been
exposed.
One OF the most interesting parts or
the presidents memorandum is his in
direct reference to the indefinite
charges made against Perry s. Heath
who was first assistant postmaster
general in the Mckinley administra-
ton. President Roosevelt expresses
no opinion as to the guilt or innocence
of Mr.. Heath, and contenting himself
with calling attention to
The Fact Set Forth
in the Bristow report that Beavers, the
former chief Of the salaries and allow
ance division of the fourth assistant
postmaster generals Office, who is now
under indictment, made a direct
charge that in at least one instance he
was compelled to share bribe money
with Heath, a statement that. it is adj
mitted in the report. Heath denies, and
the evidence in support of 1t vas not
regarded by the district attorney as
sufficient to warrant his indictment.
The president expresses regret that
the statute of limitations expires at
the length Of three years from the
time of wrong-doing OF officials, and
he urges that the limit be extended to
at least five years, as recommended by
the attorney general
A surprise is the accusation OF Gen.
Tyner, who was summary removed
from Office of attorney for the posi-
office department and who, the public
has heretofore believed. was the hon
est victim of designing s~ubordinates
The president, however, says that
Tyner was knowingly and wilfully cor
rupt, He promises to use every en-
deavor to convict the indicted man,
and in closing his memorandum, uses
this phrase:
"The federation Of the wrong, not the
exposure of the wrong is the offense,"
The so-called Tulloch charges, re-
lating chiefly to the lax methods en-
ployed in the department when Heath
was first assistant postmaster general,
are not referred to in the report now
made public. They involve charges
against the accounting officers of the
treasury and postofice department, ac-
cused not of downright corruption, but
"complacency" in the methods of
Heath and other officials, and they are
o being investigated by Charles J.
Bonaparte and Holmes Conrad. the
speciai commission appointed for that
purpose by the president. The report
OF this commission will be dealt with
later.
There is a separate paragraph in the
Bristow abstract declaring that a
thorough investigation failed to sus-
tain charges against HI. H. Rand, form.
er confidential secretary Of the post
master general, who was accused OF
forcing worthless mining stock on en-
ployes OF the department and with be.
ing interested in the Parish Ice claim
lobby.
The greater part of the abstract Is
taken up by history of the scandals
In the salary and allowance division,
the administration of Supt. Beavers,
according TO Mr.. Bristow, having been
more demoralizing upon the integrity
OF the service than that of Supt.
Machen of the free delivery division"
With regard to the notorious "pro-
motion syndicate" which operated ex.
tensively in New York. the report
SAYS:
Otto r. Weiss, a clerk In the New
York postofice and an intimate friend
of Beavers. secured from $4,000 to
$4,000 from clerks upon the p~retense
that 1t was to be used in securing ia
vorabie legislation. Many CT the clerks
IL New York and New Jersey post,
Offices stated under oath that they had
contributed to Weiss legislative fund
under the promise of promotion.
Henry G. Hay, q clerk In the Jersey
City postofice. states that Weiss told
him that the money would be paid to
Beavers after the expenses for col.
lecting had been deducted"
The report says that the appropria.
ton fcs clerk hire in the third and
f~ourth-class Offices, averaging over q
million dollars q year. was distributed
by Beavers largely by personal favor.
As a result OF the investigation four
Officers and employees have resigned,
thirteen have been removed and forty
fov- indictments have been found In
voiving ~thirty-one persons, ten OF
whom have been connected with the
postal service.