The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-20
POSTAL SCANDALS WIDENING.
II Now Appears There We're Two Appoint.
hent and Promotion Syndlcates.


WAsHlNaroS, June i0.-For the first time
since the beginning OF the present general
inquiry in the Post Office Department
affairs. official admission was made of the
existence Of the much ,akcd- of -promotihn
syndicate" which was operated from the
Depart ment at Washington and which
rendered imperative the merit system
in the New York Office and in other large
post offices Throughout, the country, Ii is
asserted that the game Of graft was in fun
operation in the New York Office up to a
few months ago, and that positive proof
OF the guilt OF several Of those concerned
has been obtained
The promotion syndicate has been in
active operation for seven yeurs, but the
Department officers in charge of Nle in
ves,igation express confidence thatN ulti-
rnately positive proof vii! he secured Of the
sale of promotions in the New York Office
within the last year or Two. Former Super
inendent Beavers OF the salury and allow
ance division OF the Post Office Department .
who had charge of the promotion OF clerks
in New YORK and OF ner frst-class offices
and who resigned with suspicious haste
al the beginning OF the scandal inquiry,
il alleged i'll the charges before the De-
par,ment to have been the head and front
of the syndicate.
Another and an entirely new feature
of the Postal servic ice scandals. which he
came known to-day for the first ne, was
the fact that an appointment and pro-
n"tion syndicate also existed in the free
delivery division during the administration
of former Superint endent Machen. Absolute
proof, consisting of sworn testimony and
aftidavit-, has been secured in a number
of specific cases. and the invest ga ion
into this new and unexplained phase OF
the scandals is being pushed as rapidly
as possible with the limited number OF
inspectors available for the purpose.
At least twenty indictments in WASH
ngton alone have either been presented
10 the Grand Jury or will be brought 10 the
attention of that body in the near future
in cases connected with the postal scandals.
Assistant District Attorney Hugh Taggart
was personally reprimanded by President
Roosevelt vest erday for his dilatoriness in
these cases Mr.. Taggart will have an as
sistant to aid him in the work OF making
up indictments and warrants and ii this
fails TO accelerate the methods Of the As
sis,ant District Attorneys Office other means
will Ike used.
Fourth Assistant Post mast err General Bris-
tow Is energeticallv pursuing the recently
ordered investigation into the conduct OF
II. H. Rand, Pos,ma sterGeneral Pavnes
confidential secretary, who is accused of
having sold mining stock to employees OF
the Posta! service on promise of dividends
Of Influence" as we'll as of dollars.
The latest and most serious charge against
Mr. Rand is that his Office in the Post Office
Department was headquarters Of a lobby
for the Parish ice claim, which has been
before Congress in one form or another
tial members Of both houses insist has
already been paid twice. 1t is charged
that Mr. Rand and Charles S. Hedges, in
charge OF tho division OF city delivery OF
the free delivery service. through Supt.
Machen, brought powerful influences to bear
10 secure the passage OF this $500, 600 claim
for ice that melted during the civil war.
While the bill did not pass in its original
form. the Comptroller of the Treasury was
instructed by Congress to adiudicate the
claim and pass upon the merits ofthe case.
INVESTIGATING THE CHICAGO OFFICE.
CHICAGO, H., June l9-The Chicago post
office has been under investigation for
several weeks.
1t is impossible to learn what irregulari-
ties If any the investigators have discovered
in the Chicago post office. 1t is known
that they have been looking into the records
Of all supplies received at this Office under
the administration of Postmasters Coyne