davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-11-30

$500 prize would have been divided up
Until the winners would receive less
-han cents each. and this Upton
tailed to distribute. Re was arrested
for using the mails to deSraud. Assist
ant Attorney General Tyner protested
against the action of the postoffice in
spector in causing the arrest And upon
Barretts urgent appeal the Attorney
General, over the protest Of the district
attorney, directed that the case be as
missed.
L. NJ Cushman.-At the same time
that Upton was operating in Chicago.
i. N. Cushman, publisher of the Co
lumbar. Of Boston, Mass. was also
operating schemes Of exactly the same
character. and on July ], 1893. Barrett
declared his schemes fraudulent. stat
ing that the case should be presented to
the district attorie y with a view Of
his Indictment. Yet. a short time before
he had declared the prosecution Of Up
ton for exactly the same offense was
unwarrantcd
The Washington times., 1903-11-30
ENTERED
SERVICE AS CLERK

August ". Machen entered the postal
service as clerk in the Toledo, Ohio,
postoffice. and was appointed assistant
postmaster in 1887 by Postmaster George
E. Lorenz. On July 81, 1900. .LOrenz re-
tired from office In 1893 Machen came
to Washington in the hope Of securing
some kind OF Federal position under
President Cleveland's second Admins
tration on May g. 1893 he was appoint
ed assistant superintendent of free de
livery, and on September 16 following he
was made superintendent At that time
he was a bankrupt financially, with nu-
nlerous judgments recorded against him
When he left Toledo he borrowed sums
OF money from friends. promising TO re-
nav these loans out of the first salary
that he received. which he failed TO do
Various fraudulent representations were
made TO secure loans, and upon one oc-
casion he even resorted to forgery.
"A simple statement of facts VIII give
the clearost idea of dachen's methods.
Leather fo- Twine.
"On September 16. 1893. four days after
Machen became superintendent of free
delivery. he wrote the First Assistant
Postmaster General recommending thai
leather straps be subsututed for Irvine
used by letter carriers il tying up their
mail, stating that to equip the service
would not cost more than s1.750 a year
The recommendation was approved. and
Machen ordered several thousand straps
from George D. Lamb. OF New Haven
Conn. Up to the time Of Machen's re-
moval over 100000 straps had been pur.
chased. at a cost OF $l37 .217.39, or oveI
$4,000 year.
TtsIx 100 10 tina Ct ar al
Worcester. Mass, wrote the department
asking permission 80 buy carriers straps
from a local dealer, stating that he
could buy them for about half the price
the department was paying. Machen re-
fused this request. stating:
% The straps for this year were pur-
chased of George D. Lamb. in accord
ance with contract with this office.
This bold statement was made in the
face Of the fact that no contract had
ever been made, Machen buying the
straps from Lamb at a price fixed by q
verbal agreement between shem.
George d. Lamb is now dead. and
the business is conducted by George b
B. Lamb. his son. who advised the in.
spectOrs that he knew nothing of tht
details OF his fathers arrangement with
Machen, but that a man named W. 9
Long appeared at his fathers Office al
regular intervals and collected 25h cents
for every strap furnished. During tn,
nine years that these straps were used
Lamb paid Long contributions aggre,
eating about $50 600. part Of which has
been traced into Machen's hands.
Long. Machen. and Stern have beer
indicted by the Federal grand jury III
the District OF Columbia for conspiracy
TO defraTd in connection with These
transa ctiOns
The Washington times., 1903-11-30
STREET LETTER BOXES
IMPORTANT CONTRACT

one Of the most important contracts
for free delivery supplies is that for
street letter boxes. These contracts are
let periodically every four years. In
February, 1888. the contract was award
ed to Maybury & Ellis, OF Detroit. Mich
Mqch2n became superintendent of free
delivery N the following September. six
months after the contract had become
execE sea.
''Maybury states that not many
months after AIachen's appointment Eu-
gene d. Scheble. a dentist, OF Toledo.
Ohio. called on him and interested him
in patent he had acquired for a new
letter box. Maybury agreed to give
Scheble . per cent interest in the con-
tract which he then held. Maybury,
when asked why he gave SchebIe an in
terest In this contract, stated that he
thought there was merit in Scheble's
box, and that it might in the future be-
come a troublesome competitor.
1t is not reasonable to suppose that
a man Of affairs IKE Aiayhury. who had
at that time served two years in Con
gress and is at present mayor OF the
city Of Detroit. should voluntarily de-
liver to stranger from Toledo. Ohio.
one-fourth of his profits in so valuable
or three years hence that man might
become a dangerous competitor for an
other contract.
During the first year. that is. before
Scheble had interested himself in the
contract. there were 2740 boxes ordered.
for which the department paid S. 1Ss- 40
Maybury's profits. as near as can be
estimated, amounted TO s. ,425 on that
years business. During the second
year, after Scheble became interested,
1s.4 400 boxes were ordered. at a cost Of
$50, 526-25 The total profit of the second
years business was S20,500 of which
Maybury received -fourths, or SIS
80. and Schebie one-fourth. or S5,2l5.
IN 1897, when a new contract was 10
be made. the box which Maybury had
acquired from Scheble. known as the
Scheble box, was the one selected, and,
as a result, MaybUry &ssllis- tvcre re-
quired TO give him 90 per cent interest
in the new contract The evidence shows
that Scheble RENTED One-half of his
profits in this contract to Machen.
The Washington times., 1903-11-30
WOULD FURNISH BOXES
AT MUCH LOWER PRICES

zone Solomon c Wynn submitted a
proposal to furnish the various sized
boxes at S1.75, S2.25, and $2.75. as against
the Scheble box at 500, S3-25. and S5.25
each Wynn. therefore. became an en-
barrassing competitor But Machen was
equal 10 the occasion; he stated TO
Postmaster General Wilson that he had
a cousin, Arnold J. J. Machen. Of To-
Iedo, Ohio, who was interested with
Wynn in this box, and that he did not
think it proper for the contract, to be
awarded to 2 firm in which a relative
of the superintendent of free delivery
was financially interested. The POST
master General was evidently impress
ed by the uuselish devotion of Machen
70 the public interests for Wynn's bid
was discarded, though in so doing the
cost of letter boxes during the con-
tract period was increased S51, 50. The
profits on this contract 10 Maybury &
Ellis aggregated something over SIS. 900,
half of which was given to Scheble,
which the evidence indicates was divided
equally with Machen.
During the past four years 1900 let
ter boxes have been distributed on rural
routes They are unnecessary. since
every farmers letter box serves the
purpose Of both a deposit and a colIec-
ton box. POstmasters wrote frequently
stating that the boxes were OF no use,
that in many of them there was not a
letter deposited once a month. Never
theless Machen continued to have them
erected. and during the last four years
over $4,000 has been paid for letter
boxes on rural routes.
'.AIachen and Scheble were indicted by
the Federal grand jury in the District
of Columbia September S. 1903. for con-
spiracy and fraud.
The Washington times., 1903-11-30
SCHEME TO PURCHASE
MANIFOLD BOOKS

In September. 1901. George L. Morton.
representative Of the General Manifold
Company. OF Franklin. Pa. submitted a
proposition To furnish manifold books
made OF patented duplicating paper
for the registry system. w H Land
voigt was then superintendent OF the
system. After Morton submitted this
proposition. but before any books were
ordered, he proposed 10 Secure Land
voigt's son employment with the presi-
dent OF the General Manifold Company.
The proposition was accepted by Land
voigt. who considered II great per-
sonal favor.
1T was Landvoigts duty TO pass upon
the merits and quality OF the supplies
furnished by this company. and the
acceptance. therefore, OF a favor Of this
character was considered highly i'm
proper, and his resignation was request
ed aud accepted
THE law required the department 10
purchase manifold supplies from the
Public Pr alter. but the Public Printer
could not buy completed books. Morton
succeeded in having the law changed
so as 20 authorize the Public Printer 10
buy completed manifold books After
this the use Of books If the General
Manifold Company was extended so as
Try service.
''On June ], 1902. Louis Kempner be-
came superintendent Of the registry
system. and under his administration
books made BY the General Manifold
Company have been used in a lavish
manner. The original proposition was 70
furnish a book containing 500 receipts
for 221kcents each. This book. however,
was never used. but IN its stead a book
containing 1000 receipts which cost
$40.
Prior 10 Eempner's appointment as
superintendent Of the registry system
manifold books were not furnished TO
Offices whore less than 20o0 pieces OF
registered mail were handled per annum.
Kempner disregarded this rule and sent
these expensive manifold books 70 third
and fourth class offices The books are
made OF material requiring careful hand
ling yet they have been sent 10 hum
Greds Of Offices throughout the country
that are kept in small country stores
and farInhOuses, where not more than
The Washington times., 1903-11-30

The long delayed report Ct Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General Bristow
summarizing the results of the search
ing investigation which he has con
Quoted into the corrupt methods that
have obtained for years in the Post
Office Department. together with the
Presidents comment thereon. has been
given TO the public
Mr. Bristow was compelled TO boil
the report down to less than 1900
words. but the story is none the less
interesting It reads like a catalogue
OF crime.
He discusses fully every phase Of the
scandal that. according to the results
OF his investigation, permeated many
of the divisions OF the department. The
abstract Of the report is as follows;
"on April II. 1897. Michael W Louis.
of Cincinnati. was appointed cashier in
the Kansas City, No, postot1ce ana
was detailed to the department as acting
superintendent of the supply division.
The Civil Service Commission was asked
TO except the position from the classi-
fed service. This the Commission de-
cIined but In July following it did give
a special examination, allowing Louis q
rating of 50 points for experience &C
quired durir & the three months he had
been in charge Of the division. As re-
suit of this rating Louis passed a sue
cessful examination. and was appointed
Contract for canceIing ink.-Shortly
after Louis was placed In charge of
postofice supplies the contract for can
1e1 IN rrTr 4 -
borg Company. Of Cincinnati Ohio at
d cents per pound, 4 cents higher than
other bids. Much OF the ink furnished
by the new contractors was of an infe-
rior quality. but instead of being return
ed to the company, IL was paid for and
burned or thrown away on the city
dump. During the fiscal year 5I,G1
pounds OF canceling ink We're bought
from the Auft * Wiborg Company. cost
ing f3s7.52 while curing the previous
year but 20slD pounds had been used, at
a cost of - 2o2-G5.
FOR the fiscal year 1ssS-1S99 no con-
tract was awarded for canceling ink.
and from March. 1899, until the begin
ming Of the fiscal year 1912-1913. Louis
bought canceling ink from the Ault &
Niborg Company at so cents per pound.
6 cents higher than the last competitive
bid. 10 cents higher than was paid be
fore Louis became superintendent. and
from u cents higher than present
cos.
linking Pads.-For the first fiscal year
beginning July !. 1898. upon false state
ments OF Lofts. the contract for hiking
pads was awarded 10 W. c. Long. at
u cents each. in preference TO 14-cent
pads offered by Herman Baumgarten.
Long was not a manufacture, so he
bought an inferior pad from BaUngar-
ten at 121k cents each Long received a
net 'rake-off OF 81, 625 on the years bust
ness.
For the fiscal year 1900-190l. NJ. d.
Helm had the contract for Irvine at
Sl0s5 per hundred pounds; for the fol-
lowing fiscal yesr the Price dropped to
S7.45. During the closing months Of the
year 1901. when the price Of Irvine was
sl0e5. and aEer the contract had been
given for the succeeding year at s.. IS.
Louis bought large quantities of the
Irvine ar S10e5. which was carried over
into the next fiscal year
He was removed October q, 1893.
The Washington times., 1903-11-30
SOUTHERN MUTUAL
BEST TELLS STORY

Southern Mutual Company.-The
Southern Mutual case. Of Lexington.
Ky, probably more clearly illustrates
the scheme Of Barrett, Tyner. and
helms than any other NeIns was the
attorney for the company. A fraud or
der had been issued against II by As
sistant Attorney General Thomas on
January p, 1897 but afterward revoked
/ by Barrett
ON the 1st of December. 1900. NeInns
/ secured the approval IF Tyner Of a plan
I which enabled it to operate its business
! according to the old plan. which Bar
/ rett in his opinion had declared fraudu-
( lent. And on January following Nelr1s
! wrote Bowman, secretary OF the COM
pany:
! wish you would state to your
board OF directors just what I stated 10
you and Mr.. Bronston 5Then you and he
agreed 70 pay me 1900 fee to get Cen
eral Tyner TO say he would approve the
! contracts submitted to him
The issuing Of this opinion of Bar
! rett caused panic among bond-fn-
vestmeat concerns. K. c. PuIliam. OF
/ the American Investment Company. had
employed ex-Secretary Carlisle as at
4 torney 20 represent him in his efforts 10
! n
Pulliam in statement says that Mr..
/ Carlisle advised him:
There are only two ways of ac-
comprising this: First. to take the
matter into the Federal courts at a
likely expense OF So. 900: the second. 10
employ Messrs. Barrett & Nelns a
/ newly organized law firm. who stood
close to the Tyner crowd. but if II was
4 10 be done this way he would have
nothing TO do with H..
Pulllam- however. was not so sensj-
( tive He employed Barrett < helms.
and contracted 10 pay them $1,000 as n
retainer and further compensation of
ScO0 per annum in monthly INSTALL
Tnents
THE books Of Barrett & helms show
/ mat during the first hfty-fve days OF
their partnership they received So Goa
from these bond-fnvestment concerns
/ The Physicians Institute OF Chlca ea
/ advertised a magnetic belt free To
I anyone answering this advertisement a
symptom blank was sent to be filled
I out and returned. In every case this
, concern claimed that the symptom,
( sheet showed such a complication Of
I diseases that the belt alone would rem
! der no service; and a package of spA-
eial medicine was forwarded in con
nection with the belt. by express. G
/ o. D.. $3.50.
When an investigation was ordered
| the company engaged the services ot
Barrett and paid him a fee Of S. 600 Ia
Z represent them before Tyner. On No
/ vember 10. 1901, Barrett prepared a let.
/ ter and sent il to Tyner's home ad-
dress. inciosing a note indicating tn,
kind OF a decision he would like a
few days afterward the case was dis
posed Of as suggested by Barrett in
F.. this note
The Washington times., 1903-11-30

tration certain favored frauds and lot
teries were given free use of the mails
Barrett's scheme to resign and practice
before the Office, and Tyner's part in
that scheme, as set forth in the body
of this report. was the climax OF Of
fetal perfidy, more evil in its results
and more demoralizing to the public
conscience than outright endorsement
or open theft.
"Tyner and Barrett were indicted on
October by the grand jury for the Dis
trict OF Columbia for conspiracy to de-
| fraud.
The Washington times., 1903-11-30
FRAUDS BEGAN UNDER
BlSSELL'S ADMINISTRATION

Charles ]. Keller. OF Philadelphia,
who furnishes badges for rural carriers.
receiving so cents each, was required TO
give Machen 10 per cent on the gross
sales. amounting 10 S757.55 in three
years.
The Heller case completes the record
for the free delivery division wherein
the investigation has resulted in Grim
inal proceedings. Many OF the frauds
The Washington times., 1903-11-30

Startling Revelations Made by the General
Detailed Result the the Heath
Severely Aagned for His Loss Probably Foots
Into the Misunderstanding Show How Uncle Was Cheated
Opinion Expressed That Offenders Must Be Brought Ta
dent Determined That Not a Guilty One Shall Escape
The Washington times., 1903-11-30
SATCHELS UNDER
F0UR-YEAR CONTRACT

Carriers satchels axe purchased un-
der fOur-year contracts.
Boyle contraction June %, 1884,, a
contract was executed with John Boyle
The evening world., 1903-04-27

bill be changed every night. Just TO
thai she aid not depend upon her
physical charms for her successi
At NibIo's Garden.
In Nl5lo's Garden the o%pera-and,
mind you, the o~pera-of "Lucretia
l3orGla' was OF, and the advertise
ments OF the day did not think enough
OF the cast to mention who had the
bottle of cyanide of mercury with which
the accomplished female DR.. Buchanan
of several centuries ago put away those
who stood in the way Of her ambitions.
At the st. Charles there was THE
Lost one OF skio' advertised as a farce.
Whether he has been found in the last
nifty years Is a question. He probably
has done duty in modern comedies for
more than one OF the present day dram
atists.
In addition to this great offering for
the public there was B%urton's Theatre,
In Chambers street. which advertised
civilization" and Barnum's Museum,
which had as Its attraction The VIII
low Copse." In 1t Couldock was the
were spirit rappings at a hall on Broad
way, and Woods Minstrels held forth
in a hall at No. IA Broadway.
Fifty years ago this week the above
were all the attractions In the theatrical
line advertised in the daily papers.
Compare 1t with the list OF to-day, and
then when persons talk Of the good old
chances then and now to enjoy your
self.
The evening world., 1903-04-27
[OTTA FAUST ON
WASHERS WAYS
Fretty Sammy Song Singer
Of aThe Wizard Of OF" Tells
OF Some Sad Cases Of Infatu-
alton she Has Dealt With.

Miss Lolita Faust. she OF the svelte
thaps md the signing soprano who
tings the Sammy song In 1.-THE
Wizard Of o." modestly estimates that
chrinE the nine weeks she has been ex-
ting her powers of fascination on the
occupants OF the rlght-hand upper box
the has had thrown at her about $3.50
forth OF bouquets.
tive had as high as SIS worth given
ne In a single night" she said. thought
1nlly pulling the petals from a dollar
rose. AZ she stood in the wings OF the
Majestic Theatre.
Flowers for Stage Doormnn.
%'-There were punches of v%iolets, clus-
fers OF American Beauties, and other
fiowers. OF course. It's not always that
way.
"But / should say that the value of
the flowers. on an average. was $25."
''Do you give the flowers to the poor
and sick?" asked the admiring visitor,
lightly s~ide-stepping a detachment of
high-heeled villagers on their march
to the stage.
@"i don't visit the hospitals or the
nlmhouses," earnestly answered Sam
my but do try to bring a little light
n gladness into the sad and empty
lives of some of the poor chorus girls.
And I have given flowers to the old
stage doorman-b1ess him!-who has a
daughter, or a dog. or somebody who
u sick"
Holding fast to a piece of suburban
scenery, the citizen in plain clothes
asked Miss Faust what manner OF
chaps the magnificent floral tributes
came from, and II she ever found any
Kracefully-worded missives mingled
With the foliage n blossoms.
Loads OF Mash Notes.
.oh, yes she replied, seizing the tail
nash-notes. Really" and her voice
pAnk to a confidential whisper. some
af<Ahem would make you sick! They
fpfead 1t IN 90 thick TINT you could cut
L with a knife. They tell me how /
lQok and sound to them. md wind up
by begging me to go out after the show
and have n bite to eat. I've just put
my foot down''-it's a very pretty foot
Ton q mere boy who lives IN crook
I'm. His was a chronic case.
sHe used TO come to every performance
simply demanded that 1 meet him.
He would try to intercept me at the
Btage-door. and when / avoided him
there, he found out where / lived and
called. I wrote him a note. telling him
e mustn't bother me any more, that l
Richie Ling. who is In The Jewel OF
Asia you know Even that didn't dis
he said he didn't care If I was mar
The evening world., 1903-04-27

Buffers Borax Soap, the d.
best made, 7 cakes.......... ZOC
Nickel Soap, 1907. bars, fine 0E.
laundry soap, 5 ior...,.... wv
Violet Ammonia, bottle...... lOc
Chloride Of Lime, A-lb. box. SC
Borax, powdered, H-lb. pkge.... SC
washing Fluid, Xler brand, =
fakes out the dirt, bottle. ..... IC
kirkman's Soap Powder, pkge.. SC
HANDY Ironing Wax, 4 tor....... Sc
Washing soda, 3 lbs. ........ &c
Clothes PINS. hardwood, too...... &C
Azure Blue. 4-lb. boX.......... &c
Buffers Potash, can........... &c
Parlor Matches, box OF 1000. .. Sc
Parlcr Matches, dozen boxes. ..I0c
The evening world., 1903-04-27
EVOLUTION Of
THE PLAYHOUSE.
Remarkable Difference Between
the Attractions Offered New
Workers To-Day and Those Of
Fifty Years Ago This Week.

After reading this-for the story is
mot one that comes from the versatile
press agent-glance at the amusement
columns and note the difference in the
haracter OF the amusements offered to
he New Yorker Of to-day and to those
N no made Manhattan Island their home
fly years ago this week.
The theatrical business OF the city q,
Nat time did not extend beyond Hous-
In street and the Offering was limited
Nearly every theatre had n stock com
pany. and the Oil was changed nigntly,
Glless the play was new and the public
6Smand for a run. Shakespeare was
a. his prime. He was dead, but still
D., lived in the eye OF the theatregoer,
eld the tragedian got the money that
is now pouring into the box office Of the
Broadway successes, where the best is
chan and the best chaff is that which
brings a laugh.
The mummers of the present day, with
the exception OF the old-timers travel
ling along the Rialto, with a constant
lament OF the decline OF the legitimate.
would have been crying Cash. or
selling goods on the road.
Attractions of Fifty Years Ago.
Fifty years ago this week the great
Forrest was treadlng the boards, and
in the Broadway Theatre, then below
Houston street, was drawing the magic
circle of ''Richelieu."
The magic circle has moved UP Broad
way. until the last time 1t was drawn
about any one in New York 1t was by
Walker Whiteside, some nine years ago,
in the Herald Square Theatre. 1t Is
still being drawn by some ambitious
persons in the %one-night stands, but the
red robe Of the cardinal. has long since
ceased to do business on Broadway.
AT Wallack's Theatre-not the pres
ent one-the now moth-eaten and the
then very much shop-worn Lady of
Lyons was being ~patronized. MI.
Lester was playing Claude and Miss
Laura Keene, the beauty Of the stage
In her day, vas Pauline.
OF Miss Keene it Is said she insisted
that every night the bill should be
changed, that she might prove to the
public she did not depend upon her
beauty for her success. IN of the
most beautiful women hat ever played,
she was an autocrat. but was welded to
her ART.
Think of Lillian Russell insisting the
The evening world., 1903-04-27

ried-he loved me just the same, and
couldn't sleep for thinking o me.
Brought Sister to See Me.
FINALLY. he brought his sister to SEQ
me. She pleaded with me to do some
thing to bring her brotner to his senses
/ gave the boy n good talking to. incl
dentally telling him how big and strong
and jealous my husband was. That had
the desired effect"
Having cd the sad story OF the
Brooklyn boy, Miss Faust went on to
relate she mad received flowers from
Harry Lehr and other members OF the
1853 1-2.
Sammy box seem to like me to sing
to them, but Richard Harding Davis
was an exception. The night he wac
In the box he stood 1t as long as he
could. then, with an awfully red face
you know, his face Is red. an~yway-he
got up and bolted. He sent word by
one OF the other girls he knew that he
didn't mean any offense, but that he
was so embarrassed he couldn't sit
there any longer. ] told the CIR. to tell
him that n man who had the nerve TO
write a play ought to have courage