Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-30

diiu idu no interest In the company Qlrectly
Machen alleges that what he did for this
company was at the earnest solicitation OF
ex-CongresSrnan Loud Richardson states
That Mr.. Lodd had no pecuniary interest
| in the company; that he never offered Loud
any stock because he thought such an offer
would be resented, but that he div. give $50
shares to H.aF Dodge clerk to the House
but that Loud had no knowledge of such do
nation. ii
The evidence in this case was submitted
to the United States attorney for the Dis
trict of Columbia. and Beavers, Machen and
Erwin were Indicted on September g. 1903,
LOT conspiracy to defraud the government.
Inc district attorney decided that the evf-
dence against Heath was not sufficient to
justify his indictment.
Rural Carriers Badges.
Charles j. Heller OF Philadelphia. who
furnishes badges for rural carriers, re-
ceiving 80 cents each, was required to give
Machen 10 per cent on the gross sales,
amounting to $7e755 in three years.
The HELLER case, completes the record
for the free delivery division wherein the
investigation has resulted in criminal pro-
ceedings. Many Of the frauds that yielded
Machen the largest returns. viz: those re-
lating to package boxes. Croft fasteners.
letter boxes, and straps. began during the
administration of Hon. Wilson 8. Bissell as
Postmaster General and Frank III. Jones as
first assistant A change in the politics of
the national administration did not retard
the progress of his corrupt operations
Machen does not seem to have considered
a day Of reckoning as possible; over nine
years of continued prosperity had given
him confidence. He had passed safely
through two Congressional investigations,
one in 1896. by the committee on the post
office and post roads of the House, and one
In 1897, by the committee on civil service
and retrenchment Of the Senate. He had
deceived his superior officers through the
administration of four different Postmas-
ters-General and a like number of first as
ststants; but his schemes finally grew to
be so elaborate and their ramiflcations so
extensive that the atmosphere became
charged with suspicion; damaging stories
affecting his integrity reached the ears of
his superiors, and this investigation was
ordered.
Charles Hedges was appointed an assist
ant superintendent of free delivery on July
1, 1898. He was made superintendent of
city delivery on July /, 1901. and was re-
moved by order of the Postmaster General
July %, 1903 for loaning his travelling COM
mission and making false statements In his
diary for the purpose of collecting per diem
to which he was not entitled z. I. MCCOY,
an assistant superintendent of free del1V-
cry, who also falsifled his diary, was per-
Initted to resign.
H. H. Rand was appointed assistant su-
perintendent of the salary and allowance
division in April. 1902. 1t was charged that
Rand was interested In promotion OF nu-
merous speculative enterprises, mostly min
ing companies, and that he used his offc1al
position to induce departmental employees
to invest in his schemes. A thorough m
YeStigation failed to sustain the charge
that Rand had ever solicited departmental
employees to buy stock in any Of his COM
panies
Anonymous charges were made against
John NJ. Masten formerly chief clerk to
the first assistant postmaster general. IL
was alleged that while he was chief clerk
he had solicited brides from clerks for pro
motions. An investigation showed that the
charges We're not true. and that c. B.
Terry. clerk in the supply division. who
had preferred the charges, had submitted
false affldavits: that Terry himself had en-
deavored to induce clerks to pay him
money under the pretense that he could aid
them In securing promotions.
Terry has been removed by the Postmas-
ter General
DIVISION OF SALARIES AND AL
: LoWANcEs.
In Augusta 1897. George w. Beavers was
appointed chief of'the salary and allowance
division Beavers methods have been
reckless and without rule or regularity.
Increases of allowances for clerk hire In
post offlces$were made as maiters of favor,
regardless Of the necessities of the service
Promotions were frequently made without
consideration of the merits of the clerk
promoted. longtime leases for post once
premises We're, cancelled and the rent in
creased upon the recommendation of prom
-inent political leaders, sometimes without
regard to the rental value of the premises.
+ Sale of Promotions.--Otto f. Weis. a clerk
in the New York post Office, and an tnti-
mate friend of Beavers, an officer of the
Post Office Clerks Association, according
to his own story collected from 5000 TO
10000 from clerks uron the pretense that
it was to be used in securing favorable
legislation
Many of the clerks in the New York and
Jersey City. post offices stated under oath
that they had contributed to Weis' legis-
Ia tive fund under the promise of promo
ton. Frank C. Hay, clerk In the Jersey
City post office, states that WelS told him
that this money was to be paid to Beavers
after deducting the expenses for collecting
Clerk Hire.
The appropriations for clerk hire are
made under two heads: For compensa-
ton of clerks in first and second class post
Offices" and "for separating mails at third
and fourth class post Offices"
The amount allowed to third and fourth
class offices is based upon the number Of
pieces of mail handled in transit. This ap-
preparation, averaging over a million dol
lars annually, has been distributed by
Beavers largely by personal favor If a
senator, member of Congress or any promi-
nent politician whom Beavers was anxious
to please requested an increase In the clerk
hire allowed a postmaster, Beavers would
comply, regardless of the merits of the
case. To Illustrate:
The postmaster at Duquoin, ILL.,, in De-
cember. 1901, asked for an allowance for
clerk hire. The postmaster was directed to
keep a count of the transit mail handled,
which he failed to do. but submitted a
statement showing the local work of the
office. He was informed that no clerk hire
could be allowed under the law for local
work. In March, 1902, the member of Con-
gress recommended that an allowance of
$500 per annum be given that office, and the
request was complied with. The amount
was afterwards increased to 5000 per annum.
Under the rules of the department, on the
basis of count made In August. 1903, the
Office was entitled under the law to 500
John w. Langley appointment clerk of
the census office. on December 6, 1900, re-
quested an increase in the allowance for
clerk hire at Prestonsburg, Ky. the post
master being hts sister. count was or
dered, and the report showed the office en-
titled to $3.50 per annum. but an allowance
OF $500 was made, which afterward. at
Langley's request, was increased to 500.
In May. 1900. the member Of Congress
recommended an increase in the allowance
at Conyers, Ga, which was then $40 year.
A count was ordered. and the report show