Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-12-05
On Postal Frauds Reviewed BY Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
GROSS CORRUPTION IS DISCLOSED.
Questions Of party Policy Hast Sink
into Insixnif canoe Beside Duly OF
Prosecuting and Pun shlng Guilty.


from the Department Of Justice and
the Postonice Department concerning
the investigation into the corrupt prae-
ices obtaining IN the Postonice De
partmeut. notably in the Office OF the
First Assistant Postmaster General and
In the office OF the Assistant Attorney
General for that Department has been
given to the press. He says:
IL appears that IN December. 1902.
Postmaster General Payne aud Con-
gresham f. F. Loud. chairman of the
committee Gu the postoTice and post
roads. held various consultations re-
garding the postal service. and. as a
result OF these interviews. It was de-
termined that. as soon as possible after !
the necessary appropriations could be
made by the Congress. an investigation
should be made OF the service. both
Messrs. Payne and Loud agreeing as
70 the need for the investigation and
the time when IL should take place. Ac-
cOrdingiy. an increase OF $1,000 in the
appropriation bill reported in January
vas made for the express purpose OF
ton. The reasons for the increase n
the appropriations we're known only to
the Postmaster General. TO CongI ess-
uan Loud and 10 Congressman Brom-
we'll
Subsequently. sometime in January.
information was laid before me BY MI
Seckendor1 tending TO show improper
conduct by Beavers. general superin-
tendent OF he division OF salaries and
allowances. and Machen. general SUI
5 perintentent OF the free delivery sys-
TEN. and by Mr.. William Allen White.
3 tending TO show corruption by or under
e Tyner. Assistant Attorney General for
o the Postonice Department First As
? sistant Postmaster General Wynne also
informed ne that he had become sus-
= picious OF the integrity OF both Machen
z and Beavers. Assistant Postmaster
I. General Bristow should make a thor
!. ough and exhaustive investigation OF
o the charges in question and OF all mat
L tiers that might be developed IL con-
: rection with them Mr. BristOw's re-
4 port is a record OF as thorough a bit OF
% investigating work IS has ever been
y done under the government Owing %
= the Importance OF the case. il was
n deemed advisable that special counsel
i should be employed. and Mess.s
n Charles J. BOnapartc and Holmes Con
Il rad were chosen for this purpose
I, Messrs. BBnaparte and Conrad. in thei'
=, NessTs Bonaparte and Conrad. in thei'
review OF the report OF Mr.. Brlstow
~ speak as follows:
We heartily commend the repor
and deem its conclusions fully justin
ed by the facts IL sets forth. and. Will
regretting. in common with all patti
}. otto. citizens that the grave abuses O
NJ lung-standing which II reveals shout
"A have grown up in the POstofiice Dc
partment. we consider the exposure G
ie' these abuses and the attempts made {
r. punish those responsible for them
OF wo-k OF the highest public utll {,
~ quickly aud ably performed" In a
i, that Is thus said OF the report OF u
e. Bristow. / cordially agree
az The invetigat!on OF Mr. Bristow al.
RI closes a condition OF gross corrupt o
ted IL the Office OF the First AssistaI
In. Postmaster General and In that OF l.
rs Assistant Attorney General for q
M. Postonice Department. In the case
the the superintendent OF free deliver
the Machen. the evidence shows that h
'e's his appointment in September. 1893.
the case Of the general superlntende
OF salaries and allowances. Beavers,
began son after he was appointed
that place In 1897. In the c'se OF 4
lee. s.stant Attorney General Tyncf. AZ b
his gone on for a number OF years. but
A.. Is Impossible TO say exactly whe
began A melancholy feature OF {
the case is that. with one exception. all {
the offenders have been for a numb
tea years in the government service. Tie
:. follows a list OF the "a postonice Q
ployes in the service at the time q
TIE Investigation was begun, who are 1
was larently most seriously implicated
he wrong-doing. together with an
:ount of The steps that have be
taken by the government In eacn G
and a statement OF the date OF or
Nan nal appointment OF each man in
lad eervice.b
here The details OF me corruption are
no forth IN full in Mr.. BrlstOw's reps
! n and need not be recapitulated by
49, AS regards Messrs. BeRye. and Ma
or en-. the corruption took the form
pa bribery and blackmail In connect
Iesss with the purchase OF government S
plies Ir the Office OF the Assistant
torney General for the Postofnce
r-old par1meEt. under Tyner and Barrett.
dinx greater wrong was inflicted Epon
shot public than could be measured b
arse pecuniafy standard. for IN this o.
on a the corruption OF the government
"a OF Gals took the form OF favoring
MP. | .ich-C-fick concerns and similar sw
ling schcmes; IN other words. the CT
inais, whom Il was the sworn I
/ - ahraa <<rvoer nsfnf cfHlfala ~ ~,