Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-08-07
WASHINGTON LETTER

" l
tFrom our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. c. Aug. 3-Whilet
he present republican administration
q seeking to make a record for inves-
,igation and reform, the most strenu
ms efforts. efforts little short of scan
}alous. are being made to save from
The consequences of his own acts the
man who President Roosevelt has de-
.crlbed an my dearest friend and
closest political ADVISER Lncius N.
representative from New
York. The evidence in the bankruptcy
case of ore E. X. Lyon disclosed the
fact that Lyon entered into a partner
shin with Littauer, that Littauer pro-
cured for the partnership so formed
contract to sell to the War Depart
ment, for the use of the soldiers, 49,
600 pairs of gauntlets and that Lit
tauer's share of the profits on the sale
of SO. O61 pairs of these gloves amount
ed to $1,7O0, all this being set forth in
Iittauer's own handwriting, in state
meat written on the stationary of the
II ouse committee on Manufacturers,
and in express violation OF the statue
which expressly says, mo member of
Congress shall directly or indirectly |
hold or enjoy, in whole or in part, any |
contract made or entered into in be |
half of the United States or by any Of
ficer or person authorized to make
contracts on the part OF the United
States"
The evidence, being Littauer's own
statement, made in his own handWrit-
in<. must be regarded as unimpeacha-
BILE and it proves that Littauer has
been guilty of the same violation OF
the United States statue for which ex-
Congressman Edmund H. briggs has
been indicted by the Brooklyn grand
iupv, When the facts Ia this case WeT Q
made public Secretary Root ordered an
investigation but in issuing instruc
tiOns to the officer charged with the
investigation, Mr.. Root merely in
structed him to ascertain it the con-
tract was awarded to the lowest bid.
der. The President promised "full
and fair investigation of this case and
Colonel Darlington has made an inves-
tipatiOn believed to be anything but
stfuJl and fair,' not of his own vOli
tion but because his powers were limit
ed by Secretary Root, bis superior.
| ,awvers have appeared before the Sec
ratary to Mead leniency for Littauer
and it ia feared that their clients close
association with the President will az
feet the Secretary's decision. The pub
llic is awaiting Mr.. Roots decision with
interest. but it cannot avoid rejecting
that in the case of briggs the inves:l
cation was conducted by the grand
iury and that Mr.. briggs, on less posi-
tive evidence, will be compelled to
| 4 = -, of InsfiaQ
A development in the Postoffice in
svestigatiOn regarded by the ofllclais AZ
the most sensational they have as yet
unearthed has just come TO !lght
Through the Indictment by the District
of Columbi grand jury, OF August w =.
Machen, former superintendent OF free
delivery, on several new counts ana
the simultaneous Indictment OF seven
of his confederates, the evidence pres
ented to the jury showing that Machen
and his partners in crime had entered
into four contracts whereby the gov
, eminent was swindled out OF sum
estimated at SIS, 900. In two instances
Machen awarded contracts for carriers
satchels, or bags. The specifications
called for shoulder straps and the price
J was made to include them. Maohen
then purchased the shoulder straps
from another source, paid for them
with government funds and furnished
them to the manufacturers OF the
, satchels. securing from the latter the
amount thus saved them, approximate
lly 25 cents per strap; which he and bis
confederates divided between them
selves. In another instance. Macher
placed a contract for small leather
cases used by carriers, without asking
for bids, and caused the government
to nav 80 cents each for the cases bul
secured refund to himself and biz
pals of go cents on each case. In the
last instance, Machen awarded to the
Mayor of Lookhaven, Pa, a CONTRACT
for painting mail boxes which thu
manufacturers were required to paint
In this instance be and his associates
divided profits of $4,000. In addition
j, to officials and others who had already
been indicted the grand jury returned
true bills against William 9. Lang. 9
Washingtonian who comes from Ohit
and who claims to he protege Of
Senator Hanna, Maurice Runkle, O
New Y ork, John T. Cupper, mayor Of
Lookhaven, Pa, and William Gordor
|, Crawford, manager OF the Postal DE
vice and Lock Company of New York
Crawford having been at one time dep
uty auditor for the POstoffice Depart
ment and being at this time member
of the most exclusive club in Washing
ton.
It ia generally believed that this prac
tically ends the present crop OF lndlct
ments growing out of the current In
| vestigation, although the grand jury
is still at work and will probably re
indict on new counts, George ". Beav
ers and other officials already Indicted
1t is also expected that there will be
number of dismissals in the near fu.
lture. Postmaster G eneral Payne, VINO
has been for Il number of weeks cruls-
ing about the Atlantic coast on reve-
nue. cutter. has returned to Washing
ton, having stopped at Oyster Bay On
his way to Washington. 1t is under
stood that the President pointed out
to the Postmaster General the neces.
sity of getting rid Of his confidential.
II. "a. Rand, who has been intimately
associated with Machen and most OF
his pals.
Enworfh 1 eauue Conference