The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-18
METCALF IS
 DISMISSED Payne Issues Order Of
 Removal. HE WAS VERY INDISCREET Sought to Prevent Award of a
 Contract. Firm Employing His Son Bid for Printing of Money Order Forms and Metcalf Wanted It to
 Have the Work.
HE WAS VERY NDISCREEI

Washington, June 17.-As a result of al legged indiscretion in matters pertaining to the award of contracts for printing the money order forms of the government James T. Metcalf. for many years super intendent of the money order system oi the Postoffice Department. today was re moved from office by the Postmaster Gen eral. A full investigation of the case will be made later.
 The dismissal Is the result of acts oi MT. Metcalf in opposition to the bid oi Paul Herman of Rutherford, N. J., tho lowest bidder by $45,00o. and in favor oi the next highest bidder, the Wynkoop Hallenbeck, Crawford Company of New York. of which Mir. Metcalf's son Is ar employe. The story is briefly told in the following letter of dismissal signed by Postmaster General Payne at s o'clock this afternoon:
 Washington. June II, 1908. Mir. James T. Metcalf, Superintendent oi
 Money Order System, Postoffice De-
 partment:
 sir-You are hereby removed from the position of Superintendent of the Money Order System.
 Contract for Forms.
 The charges upon which your removal is based relate to your actions in the matter of the letting of the contract for money order forms. These charges were made known to you this morning by Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow, and Assistant Attorney General Robb of the Postofflce Department and transcript of your answer thereto Is en- closed herewith.
 It appears from your answer that when the proposals of the different competitors for the contract of supplying money order forms were opened, Paul Herman of Rutherford. N. J., formerly employed as foreman by the wynkoop, Hallenbeck, Crawford Company of New York by which company 1t seems your son is also employed) was found to be the lowest bid der, his proposal being s45.00o below that of the next higher bidder. namely. the wynkop Hailenbeck, Crawford Company; that the bid of Herman as submitted was regular In form and that he had deposited 6 certified check for $5,000 as a forfeit. It further appears that within day or two the Wynkoop Hallenbeck, Crawford Com pany filed a protest against awarding the contract to Herman, alleging that he was not financially responsible; that short time thereafter MT. Herman called at your office and you advised him to with draw his bid. and re-enter the employ mont of the Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, Craw- ford Company understanding at the time that such withdrawal would result in the contracts being awarded to said company and consequently in a loss to the gov ernment.
 Looked Out for Herman.
 You offered to write, and did write a letter to said company, appraising 1t of your interview with Herman and using your good offices Tn his behalf that you advised Herman that his 5000 deposited woulG probably be returned to him If he adopted your suggestion.
 It further appears that you regarded MT. Herman as possessing the mechanical qualifications requisite to the performance part of your duty to pass on the question of his responsibility, financial or other wise. It also apears that you did not ac- quaint your superior, First Assistant Postmaster General Wynne, with the fact that you had endeavored to have MT. Herman withdraw his bid. It further appears that a hearing has been had be- fore General Wynne on the question of the financial responsibility of Mir. Her man, although 1t has deevloped since the submission of your answer this morning, that you discouraged the granting of such a hearing and manifested a desire that the contract be awarded to the Wynkoop. Hallenbeck, Crawford Company.
 Very respectfully,
 H. c. Payne,
 Postmaster General.
 Violated No Law.
 Postmaster General Payne, in announc- ing his action, said that there was no charge that Mir. Metcalf had done any thing that was amenable to the law. but said that his conduct was a serious in- discretion that could not be overlooked. MT Metcalf, he said, always had been considered a faithful efficient, pains taking and honest employe.
 The Postmaster General, on his arrival at the department today, sent for Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General Bristow and Assistant Attorney General Robb and instructed them to send for Mir. Met calf. and immediately to investigate the case. Bristow and Robb, with Inspec- tor Fosnes. examined Metcalf closely for two hours. and he. 1t Is said. corrob- orated the facts given in the letter of dismissal. The Postmaster General later conferred with President Roosevelt re- garding the case. and the order of dis missal followed.
 MT. Payne. in reply to questions, said that no consideration has been given yet as to the appointment of a successor, but that the duties of superintendent for the present would devolve on Mir. Met cdlT aSSlStant- f1e IS EuWaFQ F. Kim ball of Massachusetts, who has been in the service seventeen years.
 Mir. Metcalf originally was appointed from Iowa and has been in the postal service since 1882. During his admins: tration of the office. the money order ser vice has been widely extended by mutual arrangements with large number of foreign governments.
 Herman Offered Bond
 A hearing was held Monday last when Herman offered to furnish bonds in any amount that he would fulfill the contract. No decison was reached at the hearing, both sides being granted permission to file briefs with Assistant Attorney General Robb.
 MT MetcaR when seen tonight said that he had done nothing wrong and had nothing to conceal; that his sons em- ployment in the bidding firm could have no effect on the award; that he suggest ed Hermans return, to his old company to handle the government work there be cause he CNSr. Metcalf knew that Her mans means were limited and that a stoppage of supplies in the midst of a