The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-11
COL0RED MAIL CARRIERS
AN EXPLANATION BY THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION.
Circumstances Attending the Appoint
ment of Negroes ON Rural Routes
in Tennessee.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON. May 10.-The investiga-
ton in the Postoffice Department has now
been in progress since early in March. 1t
has been accompanied by more sensational
reports and rumors than any like inquiry
in the history of the government. How
much there is in the allegations that the
postal service is honeycombed with fraud
and corruption will not. be disclosed until
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bris-
tow has submitted his report to Postmas-
ter General Payne. In view Of the fact that
no official has been removed as result Of
the investigation, it is assumed here that
nothing of a criminal corrupt nature has
been discovered. That defects in the ad-
ministration Of the service have been de-
veloped is generally admitted, but whether
they are serious enough to warrant the
postmaster general in dismissing any of his
subordinates remains to be seen.
The report of General Bristow covering
the investigation will be ready for the con-
sideration of President Roosevelt imme-
diately on his return early in June. 1t is
believed that if any changes in the per-
sonnet of the department are decided upon
they will be made at the beginning of the
fiscal year, July /. There is evidently a
strong desire in some quarters that some
one shall be sacrificed. but whether the
administration will yield to this demand
remains to be seen. The charges made
against several officials In the department
are so serious that criminal prosecution
will undoubtedly follow IL evidence of guilt
is found. The question is now asked, What
will the postmaster general do in case the
officials involved are cleared of wrong
doing? AS matter of justice. it is con-
tended, no official should be removed IL he
is given clean bill Of health after the
searching and thorough inv Investigation
which is now in progress. But whether
evidence Of guilt is discovered against any
one or not, the impression prevails that
some changes in the official force OF the
department must be made. 1t is an open
secr.c here that certain officials are so bit
terly antagonistic that they refuse to
transact even official business with one
another. The postmaster general must
either make some changes in the personnel
of his department or reclassify the duties
of his four assistants. Mr.. Payne has
very delicate task before him, but it is be-
lieved here that he will settle the matter,
as he has handled the whole case, to the
entire satisfaction of the administration.
ascnrt aiu }be truth 81 CHARGES of corrup.
ton in the award of contracts and extrava-
gance In the disbursement of public funds.
incidentally the fourth assistant has gone
this phase of the inquiry will not be given
full scope until after July l, when all first
class postoffices in the United States will
be thoroughly overhauled in an effort to
ascertain whether changes for the better
can be made in the administrative meth
DDS of those offices. 1t is the intention OF
the postmaster general to place the de-
partment upon a sound business basis.
He contemplated such step when he first
entered the department. but so far has been
deferred from putting his ideas into force
by the tremendous amount of work which
has fallen upon him a result of extern
sions Of various branches of the service.
AS early as last fall he decided to make
an extensive inquiry into the working of
the service in the field, with a view to
adopting radical reforms.
1t is believed that by the time Congress
convenes Postmaster General Payne will
be in position to make some important
recommendations which, when put into
practical effect, will place the postal sys-
TEN of the United States upon more busi-
nesslike basis than 1t has been In the his
tory Of the government.