The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-07-16
POSTOFFICE INSPECTORS PROB.
ING CHARGES MADE AGAINST
JOHN Nj, MASTEN.
EMPL0YE FILES AFFIDAVIT
ALLEGES THAT HE WAS ASKED
TO PAY FOR REINSTATEMENT
IN OLD POSITION.

Washington, July 15.-The postoffic ca
inspectors are Investigating charges
made against John M. Masten, now as
slstant superintendent of the railway
mail service and formerly chief clerk
OF the first assistant postmaster gen.
erals Office. A man named Terry,
now In the government service, has
made an affidavit before the inspectors
alleging that Masten while chief clerk
to the first assistant postmaster gen
eral, proposed that Terry pay him $50
down and IS or $40 a month to secure
reinstatement in former position in
Masten's bureau. Terry charges that
ne was originally a $500 employe in
the dead letter office, that he was re-
moved under an order of Masten and
put into the city postof1ice, that he pro-
tested and finally that Masten suggest
ed his getting an outside party, a close
friend OF Masten and former employe
OF the postal service, to help him. The
affidavit alleges that Masten gave Ter
ry assurance that if he paid the amount
mentioned he could get back, that he
went to Masters house about the mat
ter, but
Did Not Pay the Money.
Terry charges that subsequently he
made an affidavit, making these
charges and handed it to Nlasten to
present to First Assistant Postmaster
General Johnson and that the affidavit
did not reach Johnson. According to
the charges, Masten subsequently was
asked by Terry for the affidavit and
refused to return it and Terry there
upon placed the information before the
civil service commission, who took up
the matter with the president.
The federal grand jury in this city
is considering several important post
Office cases which are expected to
prove of widespread interest. Post
master General Payne said this after
noon that he expected there would be
some important news during his alb
sence on his trip along the coast and
he expected that the grand jury would
furnish some interesting developments.
There is no definite information avail
able as to the identity of the cases, but
the jury has been working on them for
some time.
An agreement has been reached be-
tween the postoffice department and
the civil service commission regarding
the transfer of employees from other
departments to the postoffice depart
ment.
DiscIoses Irregular Transfers.
The new regulations provide that in
such transfers it must be shown that
the person to be transferred will be
employed on work similar to that pre-
V1cusly performed by him and has
qualifications which will enable him
to perform such work better than a
person selected from the eligible reg
lister of the commission. The pending
investigation has disclosed a number
of irregular transfers.
The resignation of George A. c..
Chrlstiancy, who was given a leave of
absence as law clerk of the department
shortly after the sensational rifing of
the assistant attorney generals safe
by Mrs. Tyner, has been under investi-
cation at the department. but there
Will be no further action before Post
master General Payne's return to the
city.
Mr.. Payne will leave here TODAY and
will be aboard the revenue cutter
while it makes it's regular cruise.
which will extend as far as Boston
and possibly up to the Maine coast.
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