The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-23

Mansfield. O.. attending the funeral OF
former Secretary John Sherman on
Dec. Z, 1899, he reports himself at San
! Antonio, Tex. investigating carriers
service while. IN fact. ne was in Mex
Eco on mining property. In the
month Of October, 1893. A. W. Mclean,
superintendent Of free delivery. was
sick with typhoid fever and Hedges
was at the department. acting as SUI
perintendent. IN his diary he states
under oath that he was at various
places, namely New York. Philadel-
phia, Bridgeport, Conn, Camden. N j..
andt elsewhere. actually engaged in
travelling on the business of the free
delivery service. Assistant superin-
tendents of free delivery are allowed
a per diem of 81 per day in lieu of ex-
penses for each day engaged actually
in travelling on business Tor the depart
nient. Hedges false statements as to
his whereabouts were manifestly for
the purpose of collecting per diem TO
which he was not entitled.
Many Falsifeations.
There are many other instances of
similar falsifications. The facts were
submitted to the postmaster general
some days since, who directed Hedges
removal for the reasons above set
forth"
The case was worked up by Postoffice
Inspector George Sutton. assisted by
Inspectors Bennett and Johns. There
We're several charges on file against Mr..
Hedges, but none of these constituted
the basis of his dismissal The acts
which led to his removal were discov-
cred by the inspectors in the course of
their general Investigations of the rec
ords of the free delivery office. The
case has been under investigation for
several weeks. Mr.. Bristow summoned
Mr.. Hedges shortly before the close of
office hours this afternoon and notified
him of his dismissal.
Mr.. Hedges was appointed to the pos
tai service from the Tenth congress
sional district of Texas on July 1, 1898.
and was appointed superintendent Of
free delivery July l. 1901. His salary
was $4,000 a year. He had charge of
the delivery service in the cities, the
rural free delivery service being under
another superintendent, and both be-
ing under the general supervision 'of
August w. Machen.
Statement of Hedges.
In a statement tonight Mr.. Hedges
said:
lille 1 was assistant superintend-
ent of free delivery with headquarters
at New York, was called to Washing
ton to take charge of the entire serv-
ice, while Mr.. Machen was i'll with ty-
phoid fever. While so acting 1 got 81
600 salary as assistant superintendent,
while Mr.. Machen received $500. 1t
was necessary for me to get the per
diem allowance 20 make the services
and the compensation equal. 1t has
been the practice of the Office for the
party taking the place of the head of
hn 60 loo Tnfu
form. In my case, I was also supervis-
ing the eastern division, while oficiat-
ing as general superintendent here.
Herbert w Valentine, now in the New
York postoffice, and formerly stenog-
rapher there under me. surrendered pTi-
Yate letters and notes to the inspec-
torG which gave them this information.
1 used to drop him a line when L was
travelling to keep him posted on my
whereabouts. Valentine is the one who
used this postoffice commission. It was
used with the knowledge of General SU-
perintendent Machen and of First As
sistant Postmaster General Johnson.
Valentine was anxious to go out on
field work. Mr.. BristOw refused to al
low the Issuance of a commission for
Valentine on the ground that he was
a clerk and not an officer. Mr.. Ma
chen, however held that as Valentine
was engaged on the work of the office,
his use of the commission was not il
legal AS to the San Antonio refer
enee. / was in Mexico, but not exam
lining mining property. I did not see
this mining property. In making my
reports I never put down towns that
I had not visited. nor did 1 put down
all the towns that / visited, as ] was
permitted to do. Thus, I omitted men
tioning the Mansfield visit, because
had no official work there and Joplin
was the last place where had had Of
fetal work. l simply prolonged the
time on the list"
Mr. Bristow declined tonight to say
anything as TO the status Of Mr. Val
entine, who, Mr. Hedges says. Travelled
on his commission.