Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-13
Two Important Developments
In Investigation of Affairs
In Postal Department
WAGON MAKERS WERE FAVORED
Certain Manufacturers Advance lnfor-
nation Regarding Rural Routes
Carriers Given instructions to Neso-
tate With Certain Firms for their
vehicIes-More Charges Pending.

Washington, April 13-There were
the investigation of the affairs of the
postoffice department. The first was
the fling of charges that advance in
formation has been furnished wagon
manufacturers regarding rural routes,
and tho other was the issuance of an
order to Postmaster Van Colt, of New
York City, directing him to hold up all
of the promotion and extra clerk al
lowance cases recently announced for
the New York City service for the next
fiscal year. Fresh charges were filed
by western establishment engaged in
the manufacture of vehicles, alleging
that competing houses had gotten the
benefit of advance information regard
ing rural free delivery routes and the
appointment of rural free delivery car
riers. The charges alleged the COM
planning company, upon announcement
of appointment of rural carriers, gave
instructions to their agents in various
sections to negotiate with them for the
sale of the wagons, buggies, or other
vehicles for use in performing the post
al service, and that in a number OF
cases cited the agents made reply that
the carriers had previously procured
their outfits, sometimes, it is asserted.
several weeks ago. 1t is also alleged
that in one instance cited. represen-
20. ,f ,fnin n
panied on the route by the regular car
rier thereof, the latter advising and
urging the sale of the articles offered
by the commercial representative. The
compliments say in the charges that
the conditions cited '.savor of the star
route methods of twenty or twenty-five
years ago"
When the attention of Acting Post
master General Wynne was called to
these charges he refused to discuss
them, but admitted that they had been
filed and would be turned over to the
inspectors for consideration.
An order issued Saturday by Acting
Postmaster General Wynne directs the
postmasters at New York to withhold
any action on the promotions and other
allowances recently ordered, and TO re-
turn certain of these cases. The full
list of promotions to be made in the
New York office will not be finally made
up until the cases are thoroughly IN
restigated Postmaster Van Colt viii
be held responsible for any promotions
that he endorses. and any not endorsed
by him in the usual way will not be
allowed to go thru. There We're LIS
promotions, and an allowance OF 800
additional clerks at $500 per annum.
In connection with the investigation
an apparently routine order of the act
ing postmaster general issued Saturday
regarding the initiating of mail, IS sig
nificant The order directs that here
after chiefs OF divisions and bureaus
shall check by initials the mail which
has to be passed upon by the first as
sistant postmaster general, and that
such official shall have the right to del
egate to clerk or to any person the
right to use such initial in checking
The action is intend
ed to hold the person aftiXing the mi
tial to a responsibility for the paper so
checked, instead of permitting an Off
cial to let another affix his signature
with the possible disclaimer of such
paper on the ground that 1t was signed
by another.
The order in the eXtradition case of
Whitaker Wright was filed in the Unit
ed States supreme court Saturday.
Wright says in his petition that he is a
citizen of the United States and COM
plains that the commissioner who
heard his case is without jurisdiction.