The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-23
MORE INDICTMENTS.

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE.)
that bill, and that the Croft Brothers, hay
ing thereafter and on Sept. % of that year
received from the United States $500 in
payment of the BILL" Diller B. Croft, on
Oct 20 of the same year, paid 5000 to
George E. and Martha j. Lorenz.
The testimony upon which the indictment
was found was given by Postoffice Inspec-
tors Walter S. Mayer, Paul E. Williams and
Joseph F. Farrell and Theodore w. Warner
and William r. Lewis, the two latter be-
ing bank men.
The Croft Brothers and their counsel and
the counsel for Machen were in court when
the Indictment was returned. Machen was
not present 1t was announced that neither
Machen nor the Groffs would be rearrested;
that they would not be required to give a
new bond
SIBLEY'S MONOPOLY.
The investigation in the office of the
third assistant postmaster general is not
based upon any formal charges of crooked
ness 1t is reported that the carbon paper
used in drawing money orders is manu-
featured under specifications prepared in
the office of the third assistant, and that
there is only one mill in the United States
that can make the paper, which is patented.
Representative Joseph NJ Sibley, of Penn
sylvana, who is an aspirant for the chair
manship of the House committee on post
offices, is said to be the principal member
of the firm, which is known as the General
Manifold Company. A vigorous protest
was filed at the department by the FEEDER
alton of Labor against the company, al
leging that child labor is employed by it in
the manufacture of its articles. The feder-
alton urges that for this reason the gov
eminent should either annul its present
contract or refuse to renew 1t. Mr.. Mad
den, the third assistant, does not fear in
vestigations that may be made, feeling as
sured that it is not possible for anyone in
his Office to enter into collision in connec-
ton with the purchase of supplies for that
section of the department.
1t is expected by Postmaster General
Payne that within few weeks the inspect
ors will have completed their labors so far
as it relates to running down trails sup
posed to lead to criminal transactions. The
investigation will continue for several
weeks, but the better part of that time will
be devoted by Fourth Assistant Bristow
and his aids in efforts to ascertain just how
bad the present system is, and how it may
be remedied The task of establishing a
new system will be tremendous one. No
attention has been paid to this phase of the
matter. the postmaster general and his as
sistants being too busy attending to the
multitudinous details of the investigation
proper.
Third Assistant Postmaster General Mad
den made the statement this morning that
probably within the next fiscal year the
Postal Department will be entirely self-sus-
tanning and that the present annual deficit
of about 100000 will be wiped out Mr.
Madden bases his prediction largely upon
an anticipated increase in the revenues
| from second-class matter.
The rumor factory started to work again
| to-day. One of them is to the effect that a
prominent man, formerly a member of Con-
| gress from California, is the Washington
agent of firm which manufactures au-
| tomato device used to indicate the arrival
| and departure of letter carriers. 1t is alleged
| that the firm sells thousands of dollars
worth of these devices 10 the department
every year and that an eXtravagant price is
| paid for them.
Another scandal" said to have been
| started by Machem and his friends, Is aimed
| at General Bristow and some Of the in
| spectors engaged in the work of investi-
| CATION. This one must be given a high place
| in the list of reports whispered I'm the
| corridors of the department. II is charged
| that certain inspectors some time ago
| formed a gold mining company and that
| two three of them were detailed to travel
| whomsoever would buy. The story is very
plausible and interesting and probably is q
| forerunner of the dull season.
JOHN z. MONK.