Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-14
SEARCH GOES ON
Post Office Scandal and the
Latest Developments.
MERRITT VS.. TULLOCH
HOW THE TROUBLE ORIGINATED
IN THE DEPARTMENT.
Human Jealousy and How It Has
Worked in Creating War
and Friction.

The Post Office Department is seemingly
perturbed over the recent appointment OF
Andrew ]. Day as postmaster at Qulndoc-
quia, Somerset county, Md.
An Associated Press dispatch from Baltl-
more this morning contained the informa-
ton that William H. Jackson, the repub-
lican member Of Congress from the hrst
Maryland district, would ask for the dis
continuance Of the post office at Quindoc-
quia.
The dispatch contained the further In
formation that Representative jackson
would ask for the discontinuance OF the
post Office at this town of almost unpro-
nounceable name because Day Is not
proper person to hold such Office. Day Is
a colored man.
When Postmaster General Payne was
shown the dispatch this afternoon he said
he was unacquainted with the conditions at
Quindocquia He sent for the papers In the
case and read them.
The Postmaster. General said that, so
far as he could ascertain off hand, no
order had been given for the esta blishment
of a postoffice at Quindocquia, because
1t had been found that postal service there
was not needed.
From another source 1t was learned that
Representative Jackson had asked for the
establishment Of postofice ana that ne
had recommended Andrew ]. Day. AFTER
this official action was taken 1t was found
that there were two Andrew j. Days In
the town Of QuindocQuia.
The one other than the Andrew J. Day
who received the appointment as postmas-
ter is a white man and prominent cltlzen
of Somerset county.
AS to whether the disposition OF the Post
Office Department, or the proposed move
ment Of Representative jackson TO nave
W.
mistake in names could not be ascertained
at the Post Office Department this after
noon.
Continuing Investigation.
The investigation Of affairs in the division
of free delivery, Of which Mr.. Machen was
the superintendent up to a few days ago.
is being pursued with vigor by the In
spectors.
An important development has been the
discovery of an order issued by Mr.. Ma
chen to all rural free delivery carriers
calling for the names of the patrons on
each mans route and the number OF per-
sons in each family served.
The Evening Star yesterday printed the
charges that have been made that officials
in the free delivery division were furnish
ing valuable information to the department
stores of the big cities. thereby working
hardship to local business men.
1t is alleged that this information was
sold to the department stores which do
mail order business. Proprietors OF these
great emporiums have, 1t is SAID. mace a
business of purchasing lists of bona hde
names and they found this means OF deal
ing directly with the free delivery division
of the Post Office Department much more
satisfactory than dealing with persons un-
known to them and who might work on
spurious names upon them.
An official of the Post Office Department
said this afternoon that the information
such as asked for in the order issued by
Mr. Machen over the first assistant post
master generals signature could De OF ut
tie. if any, value to the department.
The civil service commission recently
caused an investigation to be made OF the
several government departments in Wash
ington. This investigation disclosed, IT Is
understood, that there were approximately
800 persons being carried on the rolls OF
the several departments as laborcrs, when
they were all detailed to other work that Is
specified in the rules promulgated by the
President of the United States as coming
under the classified service.
A case that came to the attention Of the
civil service commission recently was that
of man who was brought to Washington
last fall by a member of Congress and,
through his influence, given the position OF
elevator man in the Post Office Depart
ment. He is carried on the rolls as la
borer, although up until within a week he
has been doing work that comes under the
classified service.
This employe appeared at the civil service
commissions Office a few days ago and
asked If there were not some way that he
might be transferred to the classified serv-
ice. He brought strong credentials, but he
was told that he would have to pass an ex-
animation and take his chances with the
rest of persons who have done likewise
and are on the waiting list.
He is now, since the order Of Postmaster
General Payne, doing work as a laborer in
the engine room of the Post Office Depart
ment
The Postmaster General said this after
noon that he had every reason to believe
that Mr.. Tulloch, former cashier of the
Washington city post office, would send to
him by tomorrow as he promised the let
ter containing the charges involving the
city post office.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow this afternoon received telegram
from F. w. Reast post office inspector,
saying that the post office at Whitesboro,
Tex, was burglarized last night, the safe
blown open and the contents taken.
Beginning Of the Trouble.
AS the line of inquiry in the post Office
investigation is drawn closer. and one notes
its ramif1cations in every bureau Of that
great department, the question naturally
arises: Where will it end?'
Little attention has been paid thus far to
it's conception. 1t Is no new thing. 1t has
been expected for years and behind It all
the close investigator will find that most
potent Of all influences. human jealousy
| After the campaign of 1895 had closed
with victory for the republican party and
sound money, the politicians all over the
country were active In supplying a cabinet
for President Mckinley. Precedent had
| recognized the formation of a cabinet rep
| resentative of the different sections of the
| country, and 1t was not strange that the
south should clamor for recognition. AL
ready shrewd politicians had sounded the
political leaders of the south, and had OBJ
| tanned their support for James H. Gary of
| Maryland as Postmaster General.
Immediately after the election the Presi-
| denf-elect WAS deluged with letters from