The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-30
George H. Huntington:


George E. Lorenz, formerly postmaster
at Toledo, Ohio. from August 8, 1886, to
July g. 1890;
Martha ]. Lorenz;
John T. Cupper;
H c. Hallenbeck;
w. D. Doremus;
Eugene D.. Scheble;
William G. Crawford, deputy auditor
, postoffice department from June II, 1893,
to September Is, 1897:
Maurice Runkle;
Norman R. Metcalf;
Leopold j. Stern;
Edmund H. briggs;
George F. Miller;
Jos M. Johns:
Several of the above have been IN
dicted two, three. or five times each
The three chief offenders in the gov
ernment service were Tyner, Machen,
and Beavers The friends OF Iyner nave
advanced the theory that in his case
the chief offender was really his
nephew by marriage, Barrett, who was
his assistant in the Office for part OF
the time. and that Tyner's ofenses are
due to his failing bodily and mental
powers. The facts set forth in Mr.
Bristow's report do not tend to sub
stantiate the validity of these excuses
for Tyner, while they show literally
astounding misconduct in Barrett For
Machen and Beavers no excuse of any
kind has been alleged. In the case OF
Metcalf. the superintendent OF the
money order system, the most vigorous
protests were at first made on his De
half by a large number of reputable
citizens, and also by others who were
at the time deemed reputable, but VINO
it has since been discovered were
profiting by Metcalf's misconduct. One
of them has been indicted in connec-
ton with him. When these investiga-
tions were begun, some nine months
ago, many of the chief offenders who
have been indicted or dismissed, or
both as above enumerated, were con-
sidered to have excellent regulations.
A number of the most respectable peo-
pie in the land offered voluntary testi-
mony on behalf of Mr.. Tyner. So high
ly were Messrs. Beavers and Machen
thought of by those who had been
brought into close connection with
them that the congress actually pro
vide1 at it's last session for raising the
salaries of both, the salary in each case
beinO increased $780, to take effect at
the beginning of the fiscal year on
July 1 last. By that date they were
both out of office and the department
of justice was taking steps to have
them indicted. During Machen's term
of service he was twice investigated by
the congress, once by committee of
the senate and once by a committee of
the house, but cleared on each occa-
sion. Yet at that very period, as has
been shown in the present inVestiga-
tion, he was engaged in the corrupt
business for which he has now been
removed and indicted. This is no re-
f1ection upon the committees who con-
Quoted the investigation; for so skill
fully had Machen concealed his wrong
doing that it was only revealed after
months of laborious and exhaustive
work by trained inspectors.
The details of the corruption are set
forth in full in Mr.. Bristow's report and
need not be recap apitulated by me. AS
regards Messrs. Beavers and Machen
the corruption took the form of
bribery and biackmail in connection
with the purchase of government sup
plies In the office of the assistant at
torney general for the postoffice de-
partnent, under Tyner and Barrett,
far greater wrong was inflicted upon
the public than could be measured by
a pecuniary standard for in this office
the corruption of the government Off
cials took the form of favoring get
rich-quick concerns and similar swind-
ling schemes. in other words, the GRIM
inals whom it was the sworn duty of
these government officials to prosecute.
paid Them for permission to fleece the
public unncleste6.
1 heartily approve of the recommen-
dation of Messrs. Conrad and Bona
parta that the statute of limitations be
extended in the case of government
servants to a period of at least five
years; for the persons who in such DO
sitions of trust engage in corrupt prac-
tees can ordinarily conceal their guilt
for 4 longer time than is covered by
the present short statute of limitations.
(Csantin,,e5 ~, pace Tsxn<