Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-23
Mr.. HEDGES REMOVAL
Not Generally Known Until
This Morning.
HAD BEEN EXPECT
FALSIFIED HIS DIARY AND LOAN
ED TRAVELLING COMMISSION.
His Latest Statement In Regard to His
Per Diem Pay - Others
Expected to Go.
HAD BEEN EXPECTED

xcI OlCAA oy
Expected to Go.
The removal of Charles Hedges from the
position of superintendent of free delivery
was made by official order late yesterday
afternoon.
In the absence of Postmaster General
Payne who is In Boston, the order remov-
ing Mr.. Hedges from the postal service was
signed by Acting Postmaster General
Wynne. From almost the very beginning
of the investigation 1t was known that the
inspectors were devoting more than ordi-
nary attention to charges that had been
filed against Hedges.
To those who have watched the progress
of the investigation with care 1t was mat
ter of surprise that Mr.. Hedges removal
was not made long ago. Officials of the
Post Office Department did not hesitate,
when talking In private, to declare that
information was at hand that would war
rant his removal from the service
The Parsons Ice Claim.
Mr.. Hedges name has been connected
with the Parsons ice claim against the gov
eminent, which was acted upon favOrably
by Congress at the last session. The claim
involves the payment by the government of
an amount aggregatins $4,000
Hedges, it was said lobbied in the inter-
est of the bill. and by so doing violated
federal statute which forbids a person In
the employ of the government interesting
himself in matters before Congress In
justice to MIR. Hedges it should be under
stood that this matter was thoroughly in
vestigated by the inspectors and that he
was found to be innocent of that charge
His removal was due entirely to his having
falsified his. diary and loaned his travelling
commSs. on.
Mr.. Hedges at the Post Office De-
partment this forenoon closing up his af-
fairs. To an Evening Star reporter, who
asked him for further statement, he
called attention to the alleged fact that
when Perry s. Heath was first assistant
postmaster general he recommended to
Congress that the assistant Superintendent
of free delivery be granted per diem allow
ance of So
The Per Diem Allowance.
I'm discussing this matter, Mr.. Hedges
continued. Chairman Loud Of the House
committee on post offices and post roads
said that the per diem was really part of
the salary. and we figured 1t that way
consequently figuring that the per diem ap-
piled to every day in the year.
This per diem allowance made the sal
airy of the assistant superintendents higher
allowance was cut down to 81 a day.
But that reduction of per diem did not
alter the fact that the per diem was prac-
tically regarded as part of the salary and
consequently applied for every day in the
year. and the appropriations Were figured
on that basis
In rendering accounts had no
hard and fast instructions, was the
case in Mr.. Bristow'S office, and the mat
ter was left optional with each man. 1t
Is pretty hard now to have Bristow make
rules that are retroactive against persons
who were not in his bureau at the time
that these matters complained of occurred.
'Bristow lays down rule as to per
diem accounts that makes his employees
account for every hour In the twenty-four.
l admit l was in Mexico at the time Mr..
Bristow mentions. There were several
with me who were going to examine some
mining property, but one of them was
taken Ill and we went back without seeing
the property.
During the three years 1898. 1890 and
1900, when | was assistant superintendent
OF the free delivery service l never had
one day of official leave of absence and
so these side trips, day here and there.
were due me
II took them in lieu of the official leave
and from financial viewpoint the govern
ment for that reason really would be owing
me instead of my owing the government"
Why He Took No Leave.
officials OF the Post ONCE Department
declare that the reason Hedges did not
take a leave of absence when a vacation
was coming to him was that If he had done
he wouldn't have had an excuse for
charging up per diem allowance, and his
salary was all that would have been paid
him. AS il was. he took the side trips, re-
ceived Il regular salary, and charged up per
diem expenses
There said to be several others in the
service of the Post Office Department who
are slated TO go as the result of investiga-
lions made by the inspectors. One of these
is said TO be man who is stationed in
New York and who was frequent visitor
to Washington up to the time that August
W. Machen and George w. Beavers sew
cred their connection with the department.
1t is generally understood that this man.
while on visit to Washington last winter
became involved in troble that resulted in
his being shot. According to the story
which is being told about the Post Office
Department. he was taken TO a local hospi-
tai. and through the influence of Machen
and Beavers, the affair was kept from the
newspapers
A local surgeon. who was called to treat
the patient, is said to have rendered bill
TO the New Yorker, only to be turned
down" 1t is not denied that the surgeon
has made efforts to collect the bill through
the Post Office Department.
This employe OF the department Is said to
have been at the hospital for six weeks
and afterward made affidavit that he
actively engaged In service OF the depart
ment and received therefor a per diem al
lowanCe of 81, the same a. Hedges, while the
latter was in Mexico and in attendance at
the funeral of the late Senator Sherman.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
BristOw had number of mysterious con-
ferences with inspectors In his private Of
flee today. 1t is understood that the posi-
bility of the arrest of Beavers in Manhat-
tan was considered.
The Case of Beavers.
Advices from Brooklyn today are TO the
effect that nothing is being done by Dis
trict Attorney Youngs toward fetching
Beavers to the mark To an Evening Star
representative he said he was not worrying
over the case. and that the government
would get the indicted post office chief in
due time.
Certain newspapers are mislnformed,"
he said. when they say am afraid to sub
init the evidence against Beavers In court.
l am not. What ! do fear Is that | cannot
get my evidence before n United States
commissioner In Manhattan.
The trouble Is that the subpoenas OF a
commissioner In one district cannot be serv-
ed in another. or Father that they are of no
effect. 1t might give me some trouble to
get the persons | need to testify at a hear