The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-18
It's Disclosures and Their Ef-
feet on the Fubiic Mind
Mich More Serious Than
Was Generally Anticipated.
METCALF BEFRLENDED
Resentment That Postmaster
General DISMISSED Him
Without Granting a Hear
ing-Stoty Of Me9v Indic!-
mems,

A general air of suppressed and
gloomy excitement prevailed in the Post
Office Department this morning. as a
reply of J. L. Bristow. Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General. to the charges of S
W. Tulloch, ex-cashieT in the Washing
ten postcffice. The reply of Mr.. Bristow
is conceded to be exceptionally strong.
Words were not minced. and the bald
facts were stated in a language which
left no opportunity for misconstruction.
MIR. Bristow cited specific instances OF
alleged wrongdoing by Perry Heath, ex-
First Assistant Postmaster General, and
did not hesitate to blame him for condi-
tions which have cost the Government
thousands CT dollars through the pay
meDt of high prices for material or the
payment of salaries or expenses TO peo-
pie who did no work.
4 Wider Field Suggested.
It was expected that Mr. Bristow's re-
port would be a long and important doe
ment. but Ii was not anticipated he
would fill page after page with citations
Of abuses OF political and official power.
that II so much evil could be uncovered
in the Postoffice Department by an in
vestigation which has barely done more
than scratch the surface, then misde-
mes.nors Of equal or only slightly less
Importance could be revealed by a thor
ough searching through the other dA-
partments by competent men directed
bx such an official as Mr. Bristow
The exposure in The Times yesterday
OF the manner in which the Postofice
Department was used as the channel for
the meteoric rise of Nellie G. Terry
from S4C0 per year ir the Wellsville
postofnce on September /. 1900. to 81 ,e0C
q year IS stenograrher in the Pension
Office on April II. 1901, amazed even the
hardened old politicians and wirepullers
who have long been using the depart
ment for similar purposes
The Civil Service rule has since been
changed so that an employe has to &c
IN an unclassifed office at least si1
months before classification in order &C
get into the protection of the Civil
Service, but the possibilities Of what
might still be accomplished by shrewd
favor-seekers made a great impression
Sympathy for Metcalf.
The case OF James T. Metcalf who
was yesterday dismissed as superintend-
ent Of the money order division, as set
forth in another column. caused unlimit-
ed and unfavorable comment in the de-
partment. Everywhere the opinion was
heard that the superintendent was IN
Justly treated, and that ne seemed to be
deliberately sacrificed to the public de-
mand for action in the investigations.
II was pointed out that Machen. Beav-
ers. Tyner, Christiancy, Miller, Upton
and McGregor were under investigation
for months before action was taken n
their cases. Charge after charge against
them was minutely investigated and
the accused given ample opportunity c
defend himself and offer explanations. In
each instance the department and the
Postmaster General acted with the most
extreme precaution, moving decisively
only after days OF delibeTation and
careful consideration.
New Indictments Rumored.
number of witnesses, several o
whom are from Baltimore. are belnt
examined today In connection with thu
Postofice scandal. II is rumored tina
several indictments are being prepared
and Will be returned either this evening
or tomorrow morning.
The presence Of witnesses from Ban
timore is significant in that IT is believe,
at least one indictment will be directe,
to the Baltimore Office. The story is tha
the indictments VIII be five in number
one for General Tyner, a new one 10
Machen. one for LorenZ. OF Toledo, Ohio
and one for each OF the Groffs.