The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-27
TO PROBE OUR POST OFFICE,
SPECIAL COMMISSION HAS
BEEN APPOINTED
To Make Thorough Inquiry Into Rentals.
salaries and Expenses--H Charges
Made Are Proved There'm he q Great


Clearing Out-Work 70 Begin Al Once.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 28.--Despite the fact
that Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow has just completed an exhaustive
investigation Of the entire postal service,
including the large post Offices OF the
country, a commission was appointed
to-day to make a thorough inquiry into
every detail Of the business of the New
York post Office.
1t is evident from what could be learned
at the Post Office Department to-day that
the investigation OF the New York Office
made by the inspectors revealed such
condition Of affairs that It was thought
best to appoint a separate commission to
deal with the subject.
The names Of those selected cannot be
learned. but the commission will prob
ably consist of a number Of the ablest men
on the inspectors force, whose work will
be directed by Fourth Assistant Post
masterGeneral Bristow. aided by Holmes
n. Conrad and Charles j. Bonaparts. tho
special attorneys appointed by the Presi-
dent to take charge Of tho legal side Of the
postal service scandals and to make indie
pendent inquiries.
The commission viii begin its work
practically at once and its report will be
submitted directly to President Roose-
welt. Mr.. Bristow admitted this after
noon that he had selected the men from
the inspectors force who would form part
OF the commission and that he knew the
entire personnel, but he refused to give
their names or to discuss the matter in
any way. Postmaster General Payne was
likewise reticent.
About two months ago. as published in
THE SUN at the line, Postmaster General
Payne issued an order that the general
investigation Of postal service scandals,
which was then in progress, should be e1-
tended to include the large post Offices OF
the country. This was done largely upon
the disclosures with regard to the pro
motion syndicate operated from the De-
partment at Washington, whose largest
field Of operation was the New York post
office
In accordance with this order, as many
inspectors as could be spared were sent
to New York to investigate this and other
phases OF the postal service scandals in
which the high Department officials In
Washington were alleged to be involved
The inspectors obeyed orders and did the
work they were sent to do.
Their reports to Chief Inspector Cochran
and Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow. however. contained certain infor-
nation which did not fall strictly within
the line Of inquiry laid down, and that had
no connection with the relations OF the
high Department officials in Washington
10 the scandals in the New York ofios CON-
corning the promotion syndicate and
other subjects.
This information concerned the New
York post office alone, its administrative
policy and management. and incompetent
direction" wild extravaganza. Sense
less expenditures" and the like, we're some
of the mildest terms used in describing
the condition OF affairs that existed there.
Postmaster-General Payne and Mr.. Bris-
tow decided long ago that something more
than an incidental investigation In the
course Of the general scandal inquiry was
necessary to arrive at the true state of
affairs.
The whole matter was thereupon laid
before President Roosevelt and 1t Is under
stood that the plan Of having a special
commission do the work OF Investigation
meets with his full approval, il it did not
originate with him.
From what was learned this afternoon
il il known THAT for q time Postmaster
General Payne and Mr.. Bristow were inclined
20 withhold the Bristow report on the
postal service scandals which was delivered
o the President last Saturday not only for
what it does say about the condition OF
affairs in the New York Office, but also in
order that the investigation OF that large
unit in the postal administration might be
included in its contents.
II is understood, however, that the
President opposed this course. as he is de-
sirous Of having the BristOw report printed
and made public as soon as possible, In
order that the public may learn Just what
has been done to unearth and punish the
grafters and crooks in an important branch
~ the Federal Government, and also be-
cause he desires the investigation of the
New York office to be as thorough and
comprehensive AZ possible, and not at all
hurried because Of the other report
Rentals will be inquired into the amounts
paid for leases of various buildings being
considered almost prohibitive by Post
Office Department acknowledgements
lures for lighting and heating in the main
Office and branch stations will he gone
over for several years back, the salary
rolls Of the Post Ofice will be carefully
inspected, the efficiency OF the force con-
sldered. and, in fact, every detail which
might possibly contain some element OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. will be gone into at
great length and with great minuteness.
Just what the commission expects to
find az a result Of the investigation cannot
he definitely learned, but 1t Is not denied
that il certain statements now before the
Post Office Department authorities are veri-
fed by the inquiry wholesale changes