The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-30
PRESIDENT ON
POSTAL GRAFT
General Bristow's Report Is Made
the Subject Of a Caustic
Memorandum.
Mr.. Roosevelt Does Not Mince Mat
tiers, but Is 0utspoken in
Condemnation.
Documents Reveal an Astounding
Documents Reveal an Astounding
Story of Official Rascality
and Corruption. ",>

n,
flee investigation and it's results were
formally given to the public to-day.
A complete summary of Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General BristoW's
Investigations is made public together
with a vigorous memorandum from
President Roosevelt, severely repro
batting corruption in public oHlce ana
demanding punishment for the OF
tenders. The presidents memoran-
dunn is in full as follows:
White House. Nov. "a, 1903.-Memoran-
dunn upon the various papers SUBMITTED
from the department OF justice ana the
postoffice Department. concerning the lnVesT
tigation into the corrupt practices obtain
ing in the postoffice department, notably
in the office Of the first assistant post
master general and in the office of the
assistant attorney general Tor that de-
partment All the documents In the case
are herewith forwarded to the postoftlce
department., and will be held ready for
submission to the congress whenever 1t
may choose to ask for them. '-.'- O..
It appears that In December, 1902, Post
master General Payne and Congressman
z. F. Loud, chairman of the committee
on the postoffice and postroads held va
rious consultations regarding the postal
service, and as result or these inter-
views 1t was determined that as soon as
possible after the necessary appropriations
could be made by the congress an inVesti-
cation should be made of the service both
Messrs. Payne and Loud agreeing as TO
the need for the investigation and the
time when it should take place. Accord
tugIy, an increase of SIS, 900 in the appro-
priation bill reported in January was made
for the express purpose Of carrying on the
Investigation In question, The reasons
for the increase In the appropriation were
known only ITO the postmaster general,
to Congressman Loud and to Congressman
Bromwell. 8 '..s -..
Subsequently, some time in January, in
formation was laid before me by Mr..
Seckendorff tending to show improper con-
duct by Beavers, general superintendent
of the division Of salaries and allowances,
and Machen. general superintendent OF the
free delivery system, and by William Allen
White tending to show corruption by or
under Tyner, assistant attorney general
for the postoffice department. First AS
sistant Postmaster General Wynne also
Informed me that he had become sus-
piciouS Of the integrity of both Machen
and Beavers. After full consultation with
Mr.. rayne 1t was decided that Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General Bristow should
+, make a thoro and exhaustive investigation
of tho charges In question and or all
matters that might be developed IN con-
nection with them. Mr.. Bristow's report
is a record Of as thoro a bit OF investigat-
the government. After this investigation
had been In progress for abouttwo months
1t became evident that legal proceed -lgs
would have to be undertaken against some
of the Offenders. Owing to the Importance
of the case it was deemed advisable that
special counsel should be employed. and
Messrs Charles J. 'Bonaparte and Holmes
Conrad were chosen for this purpose.
Messrs. Bonaparte and Conrad. In their
review Of the report of Mr.. Bristow, speak
as follows: 1--WE consider the report an
exceptionally able, candid and impartial
review Of it's subject matter, and that it
shows clearly reprehensible misconduct.
amounting In many cases to crime, on the
part of number of public officials. 1t
Is voliminous document, tkt this arises,
not from prolixity, but from the nature
of the matters discussed. We
heartily commend the report and deem lis
conclusions fully justified by the facts 1t
sets forth; and while regretting IN com
mon with all patriotic citizens that the
grave abuses Of long standing which it
reveals should have grown up In the
postoffice department. we consider the ex-
posture of these abuses and the attempts
made to punish those responsible for them
quickly and ably performed In all that
is thus said of the report OF Mr.. Bristow,
cordially agree.
gross SoTfupIlons
+ The investigation made by Mr.. Bristo"
discloses a condition of gross corruption
In the office Of the first assistant post
master general and in that Of the assistant
attorney general for the postoffice depart
ment. In the case Of the superintendent
of free, delivery, Machen, the evidence
shows that his misconduct beIEn imrne-
diately after his appointment in Septem-
Der, 1893. In the case of the genera
Beavers, 1t began soon after he was ap'
pointed to that place in 1897. In the case
of Assistant Attorney General Tyner Il
has gone on for a number OF years, but Il
is impossible to say exactly when 1t be
gan. A melancholy feature Of the case
is that with one exception, all the offend
have been for number or years II
the government service The following
is a: list of the fourteen postoffice en-
ployes In the service at the time this in
vestigation was begun who are apparent!
most seriously implicated in the wrong
doing, together with an account OF tn
steps that have been taken by the govern
date of original appointment Of each mai
in the service:
(The case of First Assistant Postmaste
General Heath who had left the service over thre
years before this investigation was begun, Is Sc
forth in the report of Mr. Bristow.)
James N. Tyne. assistant attorney general 70
for postoffce department March Z, 1861; wit
intervals Of few years has been In the servic
since, and was postmaster general unde
President Grant for several months he was re
moved April 22. 1903: he has since been ndicte
three times.
A. W. Machen, general superintendent free dc
livery system; appointed clerk in postoffce at TC
1cdo. Ohio, March 1, 1887: continuously in ser
vice ever since for three years; remove
May 81. 1903; has since been indicted -four
teen times.
George W. Beavers, general superintendent O
salaries and allowances; appointed to clerkshi
in New York postofnce January. 1887 eontinu
Gus service ever since: resignation accepted t
take effect March 81, 1903; has since been indtc
ed eight times
James T. Metcalf, superintendent money orde
system; appointed postoffce inspector Feb.
1882; has been In postal service ever since re
moved June IT. 1903: has been indicted once.
Daniel ". Miller. assistant attorney. postofhc
department; appointed July 1, 1902; remove
May %. 1908: Indicted once; after one mistris
was retired and acquitted.
Louis Kempner, superintendent registry sys
tenn appointed clerk in New York postoffc
August, 1896; removed Oct. 21, 1908.
Charles Hedges, superintendent city free dc
livery service; appointed assistant superintendent