The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-18

legine that he was not financially respon-
sible: that a short time thereafter MI.
Herman called at your Office. and ysu
advised him TO withdraw his bid and re-
enter the employ of the Wynkoop Hallen-
beck Crawford company Understanding
at the time that such withdrawal wouio
result In the contract being awarded 10
said company and consequently In loss
to the government; that you onered 10
write and did write, letter TO said COM
Herman. and urging your good offices in
his reply that you advised Herman tnat
his $1,000 deposit would probably be re-
turned 10 him II he adopted your sugges-
tion."
Postmaster General Payne showed cor
sidera BILE emotion as he announced 10 tne
newspaper reporters his action IN tne
been In the service q years. and every
one in the department believes him hon
est. conscientious and capable official.
the money order division. OF which he
was the head. and his official conduct
has never before been made the subject
OF criticism"
third chief of the money Qrder system;
He is s5 wears OF age. and has served
since 1882 in the bureau.
CRISIS is AT HAND
The long expected crisis in the postal
scandals. which Postmaster General
Payne said would occur some time this
week. is not far in the future. Mr..
Payne said this afternoon: while II Is
not expected that any immediate arrests
will be made In this jurisdiction. II is
probable that developments may occur
In another quarter.
From Mr.. Payne's previous utterances
regarding some probably important de-
velopments II is apparent that he re-
ferred to the New York end OF the in
quiry.
Assistant District Attorney Taggart
said this afternoon: Sensational devel-
opments may come at any time. probab-
ly tomorrow or Friday do not refer
to the Washington jurisdiction"
These utterances were confirmed by
the remarks of post office inspectors.
who look for the most important de-
veiopments OF the inquiry to occur with
In n few days
CIRCLE OF FRAUD EXTENDING.
The astonishing statement was made
al the post office department this morn
ing that the ramifcatio Of fraud and
scandal and crlminality are widening at
such an ever increasing pace that the
inquiry which has now been In active
progress for more than three months
will probably last all summer ani may
possibly even extend through the next
session of congress
METCALF EXPLAINS.
The high postal officer who made this
statement whose name cannot now he
given, added: "If we knew where the in
vestlgation would end we would be bet
ter satisfied. But we do not. we
simply cannot form the slightest es-
timate The old simile OF the brick
thrown in the mud puddle best expresses
the present situation. The ever widen
ing circle that has followed the splash
In tbs case is spreading and growing
so steadily and rapidly. that there IL no
reason TO believe IL will not stop until
the very edge OF the puddle Is reached.
what will happen before that time. do
not know. but whatever happens the I'm
vestigation will be continued
Mr. Metcalf when seen tonight said
that he had done nothing wrong and had
nothing TO conceal: that his sons en-
ploy in the bidding firm could have 10
effect In the award that he suggested
Herman's return to his old company 90
handle the government work there. be-
cause he tMr. MetcalO knew that Her
mans means were limited and that n
etoppage OF supplies In the midst OF
contract term would have proved serious.