The evening world., 1903-10-27
Postmaster Surprised by Presi-
dent RooseveIt's Appointment
of Commission to Probe New
York Post-0ffice.
PROMOTION SYNDICATE HERE
Report Of Bristow Full Of References
to Incompetence and ExtraVa-
gance Follows Discovery that Van
Colt Knew Little Of Office Secrets.

SolA AT wv wa"
angry to-day when informed that Presi-
dent Roosevelt had appointed a COM
mission to specially investigate the
New York Post-omce. He would moi
discuss the matter except to say that
he had not been officially notified OF the
Presidents order.
The investigation was ordered lust as
soon as President Roosevelt a read
the report of Fourth Assistant Post
niaster-G General Bristow on the scandals
attaching to the New York office.
One OF the unpleasant Developments
of the general inquiry into the post
ONCE scandals in Washington was the
revelation of the promotion syndi-
cnte,' in which 1t was discovered that
the principal source of revenue was
from the New York office.
Mr.. Brlstow. with Attorneys Holmes
NJ. Conrad and Charles ]. B%onaparte,
especially appointed by the President.
called Postmaster Van Colt TO Wash
fngton to question him about the reve-
lations.
m Colt Ignorant.
They were surprised to learn that the
New York Postmaster knew compare
lively little of the interior workings OF
his office. He was also unable to salts
factorily explain how he interpreted the
Civil Service laws to permit him to adj
vance his son high In position and sal
airy over Mr.. White. a civil war veteran.
who has been in the service thirty
years.
In MI. Bristow's report. which has
been read by the President, there are a
prevalence sof such terms rs wild ex-
t~ravagance.' incompetent direction"
'senseless expenditures and the like.
One OF the principal matters to he in
ouired Into In the New York Office Is
the rental of the various buildings for
branch Offices. In looking over these
leases the investigators are said to have
found that the amounts paid for the
various branch Offices are prohihitive,
They are said to have investigated fur
thor and to have found that stores
alongside many OF the ranch offices
are renting for one-halt and %one-quar-
ter what the Government is paying for
The branch post-ofiices.
Expenditures for lighting and heating
in the main Office and In the branches
will also attract the attention of the In
v~estigators. These are said &c have
been excessive for many years.
Alter Promotion Syndicate.
Probably the longest time will be de-
voted to the salary rolls. with the expec-
tation of discovering all promotions ana
advances In salary which were pur-
chased by the employees through the
notorious promotion syndicate" 1t has
already been found. according to Mr..
Bristow's preliminary report. that Mr..
Van Colt Endorsed over three thousand
promotions. and that among these have
been found many that were said TO
have been purchased. OF course, Mr..
Van Colt may not have known that the
promotions were purchased and that
officials under him who were in the
syndicate" we're using him as an inno-
cent party to further their ends. How
ever. the Department blames him for
not being cogniEant of these things.
In Washington 1t Is not denied that II
certain statements now before the Post
once Department are verified whole
sale changes in the personnel OF the
New York office will follow.
president Roosevelt has already ap-
pointed the members of the Special In
vestigation Committee, although the
names have not yet oeen
Mr.. Bristow will have charge of II,
and 1t is said he will be- assisted by, At
torneys Conrad and Bonaparte. There
are two other members OF the commit
tee. The committee Is to start work al
once. probably this week.