The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-25
Hasty Publication of His Letter and
His Insinuations Concerning Wynne
and Bristow Commented On.
AID FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT To
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Special Counsel to Assist I'm Pushing
the Postofhce Scandal Cases-A. w.
Machen Now Threatening.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, June 24-The indictment
of Edmund III. briggs. the former Brook
lyn Congressman. for accepting money to
procure a contract for automatic cash reg
listers. will cause uneasiness among others
who have accepted money TO influence off,
cials of the Postoffice Department The
Driggs indictment was the chief develop
ment to-day in the scandal.
The postal authorities are very vigorous
in denunciation of Third Assistant secre-
tary Madden for the publication of his
hysterical utterance demanding an inves-
tigation of reports that contracts for car
bon registry books looked questionable and
intimating that his colleague. First Assist
ant Secretary Wynne or Fourth Assistant
Bristow might possibly have made public In
formation on the subject. Interest In the
general investigation Jagged to-day, atten-
ton being diverted TO the strong language
used by Mr.. Madden in his telegram to the
Postmaster General. 1t is probable that Mr..
Madden will be severely reprimandl for
mis- discourtesy to his associates and~that
he will be accommodated in his request for
an investigation as to all the circumstances
surrounding the granting of contract for
carbon paper I'm question is certain. The
opinion is expressed at the department that
Mr.. Madden rushed into print without due
consideration and that he let forth a cry
before ne was struck. No charges have
been filed against him so far as can be
learned, and it is certain that no Official of
the department made any public announce
ment that the third assistant secretary was
or in m
with the award of the contract.
ASSUMED TOO MUCH.
1t appears that the General Manifold
Company has a practical monopoly in fur
nishing these supplies to the government
and when this fact became public II was
intimated that an investigation might dis
close sharp practices. Such was the tenor
of the reports printed on the subject. The
third assistant secretary, according TO the
officials, evidently assumed that fight
was about to be made upon him and be-
ing of an excitable disposition, Immediately
Jumped into the breach. The indirect sug-
gestion of Mr.. Madden that either the first
assistant or the fourth assistant might
possibly have put IN circulation the
reports concerning his connection with
the transaction has created a good
deal of feeling In the department,
and is certain to intensity the strained re-
lations that already exist among the four
assistants to the postmaster general.
good deal Of interest is manifested In
the investigation about to be inaugurated to
determine what means were used In secur-
ing the General Manifold Company a
monopoly of the contract for supplying car
-. .>ox.o. a., .ha d,rart,,ant Came ~ fho
officials assert that this carbon paper can
be obtained only from the Pennsylvania
Company, of which Representative Joseph
NJ. Sbley is the principal owner. II is
further asserted that the attention OF the
department was first directed to the mater
ial by former Representative Eugene r.
Loud of California. Some of the depart
ment officials assert that IL is almost i'm
possible to do without the carbon paper
furnished by the General Manifold Com
pany. while others openly say that they
are unable to see wherein it is superior to
other carbon papers now on the market.
The whole matter will be probed to the
bottom.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT.
The President has sent the following set-
ter to the attorney general:
"Sir-As you know, the charges in connec-
ton with the Postoffice Department are now
being investigated by Fourth Assistant
placed at his disposal by the postmaster
general every resource OF the department.
Including the services OF Mr.. Robb. whom
YOU detailed from the Department OF Jus
tice to the Postoffice Department fmme-
diately after the removal OF Mr.. Tyner. AS
a result of this investigation, number OF
indictments have already been filed and IL
Is probabe other indictments will here
after be asked for. There can be no
greater offense against the government
than a breach of trust on the part OF a
public official or the dishonest manage
inent of the office and of course every ef-
fort must be exerted to bring such Of
tenders to punishment by the utmost rigor
of the law.
.srhe district attorney of the District Of
Columbia has faithfully seconded the ef-
forts Of the Postofiice Department In this
matter, but the amount or work In the Of
flee is such as 10 make IL difficult without
neglecting other important public duties to
devote all the time necessary TO the pros
ecution of these cases i suggest. there
fore that IL you cannot detail some OF
your present staff. you appoint special as
sistants in these postoffice cases, not only
to take up the cases In which indictments
have been found or hereafter may be
found but TO examine into all charges that
have been made against officials in the post
al service with view TO the removal and
and the prosecution OF the guilty men
whether in the service or not. where the
cases are not barred by the statute OF lin
itation.
Carving out the Presidents suggestion.
Attorney General Knox has appointed
Charles j. Bonaparte. of Baltimore, special
attorney TO assist In these prosecutions and
upon his return here this afternoon. Holmes
conrad. former solicitor general. will be
rendered like appointment.
MAcHEN THREATENS.
a. w. Machen, who has been indicted
by the federal grand jury. Is maintain
ing a bold front in the presence OF his
friends and roundly asserts that he win
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