The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-12-18
sRIsToW TELLs q FRAU0s.
Astounding Revelations Of Lons-Exist-
ing Corruption


ing Corruption
The report OF Fourth Assistant Post
master-GeneraI J. i BristOw on the
postal investigation is substantially as
follows-
He first takes up the case OF Michael
W Louis OF Cincinnati. appointed in 1887
Acting Superintendent Of the Supply Di-
vision His pecuIatfons amounted 10
many thousands OF dollars He was re-
moved in October. 1893
The administrative methods Of Tyuer
and Barrett are clearly illustrated in a
number OF cases which were passed upon
by them
AIr Bristov shows how many fraudu-
lent schemes were accorded protection BY
Barrett and allowed use Of the mails
These include many small swindles in
the shape Of lottery Inducements, land
Investment schemes. etc
OF yhe turf Investment swindles Mr.
B-istOE says
E J. Arnold & Co. Of St. Louis. No.
were conducting what IS known as
turf investment scheme. On Novem-
Der %. 1902. the inspectors having 1nNes-
tigated the company commended that
a fraud order be issued against IL In
the meantime the company had employed
Barrett as its attorney and paid him
fee Of 5000. And instead Of issuing a
fraud order Tyner gave the company a
letter Of commends ton Two days after
Tyner wrote this letter Barrett received
a check OF $1,000 as an additional fee
The company failed in February. 1903
assets. $4,000. Liabilities. &S.l2O,1f6-
j. J. Ryan & Col J. Ryan & Co. Of
St Louis. was a kindred institution 20
Arnold & Co In October, 1902 the in
spectors recommended a fraud order
against this company The company was
given q hearing by the Assistant-AttOr-
ney Generals Once and another fnvesti-
cation by the inspectors was requested
In the meantime j. NJ Johns. an attOr-
ney at Rockville Ind. made proposition
70 Ryan that for fee Of $1,000 he could
help him. through his friend D. Y. Mil
Ter. Of the Assistant Attorney Generals
Office After some negotiations il was
agreed that $500 would be paid 10 Johns
by Ryan IL he would give him a clean
biII' before the POst-Ofice department
This Johns agreed TO do. and Miller Sc
cured favorable ruling for Ryan & Co.
which he sent 10 Johns As a result Of
this transaction Miller and Johns were
indicted
Riffng Of the safe.-On April q. 1908
while the investigation Of the Assistant
Attorney Generals Office was in prog
ress. Mrs J ~ Tyner. in a clandestine
manner. admitted Ms Barrett and Mr..
Hammer. safe expert. into private
room OF the Assistant Attorney Generals
Office, where he unlocked the safe and
took out all Of the contents. which Mrs
| Tyner carried on What was in the safe
no one knows but the Tyners- Mrs.
L y
and secured the contents Of the safe un-
/ der the direction OF her husband. which
] statement ne confirmed As a result Of
I this episode TyneT was summarily re-
moved from the ONCE OF Assistant Attor-
/ ney-GeneraI and Chrisriancy resigned
! For six years under Tyner's admins
I tration certain favored frauds and lotter-
les were given free use Of the mails
I Barretts scheme 10 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 official per
| fidy. more evil in its results and more
l demoralizing 70 the public conscience
I than outright embezzlement or open
/ theft
/ Tyner and Barrett were indicted on
/ October > by Jhe grand jury for the Dis
/ trict OF Columbia for conspiracy to de
4 fraud
! The frauds in money-order forms. in
/ which James T. Metcalf- superintendent
/ Of the money-Order system. is involved,
| and for which he was removed from
l Office. are next taken up
] A long list Of swindies carried out by
/ August W. BIachen OF Ohio IS enumerat-
/ ed. and the charge is made that he has
| been guilty OF forgery The schemes BY
I which the government was defrauded in
Y clude carriers satcheis. the GrOf fasten-
! ers for letter boxes painting OF street
/ letter boxes. carriers leather cases. the
/ contract for street letter boxes. package
/ boxes. the Montague indicator. a device
the hours Of collection. and rural carriers
| badges
The report continues
In August. 1897. George ". Beavers
| was appointed chief Of the salary and al
| lOwauce division Beavers methods have
| been reckless and without rule or regu-
| larity- Increases OF allowances for clerk
I hire in post-offices were made as mat
/ tiers Of favor regardless Of the necessities
Of the service Promotions were IRE
the merits Of the clerk promoted Long
| time leases for pOst-office premises were
Cancelled and the rent increased upon the
I recommendation OF prominent. political
/ leaders sometimes without regard to the
/ rental value Of the premises"
In the list OF Beavers misdeeds are
/ included the sale OF promotions. and the
/ padding Of pay rolls for clerk hire. oper-
atoms which netted Beavers many thou
sands Of dollars
The report shows that the government
has been swindled out Of a vast amount
OF money by fraudulent leases. Twenty
/ cases are cited. in all Of which Beavers
I was implicated. and which have been
l fully proved. The revelations in this
connection. and in the case OF the pur-
chasing OF large amounts OF Brandt
[ Automatic Cashiers. are astounding.
[ Mr.. BristoW says
Eliminating from consideration all in
| diCatiOns Of fraud and passing upon the
/ case wholly as question Of admfnistra-
| tive judgment. 1t appears TO me that this
/ transact would have JUSTIFIED the sum
| mary removal from ofice Of First Assist
I ant POstmaster-General Heath and
George W. Beavers
But the element OF fraud can not be
eliminated Men OF ordinary inteIlizence
rarely waste the public revenues in such
I a manner without a personal motive A
brfbe Of S12.5O0 was paid Congressman
I Edmund n briggs 20 secure the order
for go machines A part OF this money
=
] Beavers