The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-23
POSTAL INQUIRY WIDENING.
ANOTHER BIRE4C no BE 81 H.
JECTED TO INVESTIGATION.
Cont ract for Registry Books Let without
Competition to . Concern In "hich
Congressman Sibley Is Interested
Graft In Mail Matter Classification.

-Gr,ft In Mail Matter Classification.
WASHINGTON, June 22-The bureau oi
the Third Assistant Poetmaster-General'
the only important branch OF the Post once
Department not heretofore included IN the
Investigations under the direction OF four'h
Assistant Postnaster-General Bristow' mas
at last been added to the list OF those which
will be objected 70 the dragna' OF the
scandal inquiry II has not teen actually
charged that there has been anything Grim
inal or irregular in the transactions 81 inns
bureau, but in view OF the recent discharge
Il Supt. Me,cah Of the money order d.
vision for an 'indscrstion committed
b trying to divert a contract Tor the manu-
far.ure Of money order blanks, certain con-
tracts in the Third Assistant Postmaster
Generals office for the manufacture OF
registry order books Will he carefully IN
vestigated
The specifications for t!ere ht7ks are
drawn No in the Office Of the Third Assistant
Pc-rnast er- General II Is alleged tha'
there IA only one mill in the United States
which has the necessary machinery ana
can turn ont tho books in sufficient qiant!-
ties to meet the demands Of the service.
Thia mill is operated by the General Mani
folding Company Of Franklin, Pa OF which
Repre- sentative Sibley Of Pennsylvania,
candidate for the craftsmanship OF the Post
Once Committee Of the House in the Fifty
eighth Congress, is large owner. Inc
Washington representative Of the com
pany is man Of The name OF wilson,
Representative SibIeys son-in-law
II was learned a. the Department this
morning that the books ar. bought under
a closed or non-competitiv", contract. II
was explained that this was necessary be-
cause the General Manfolding Company
had patents on portions OF the registry book.
Ii was admitted that the specifications are
such that no other mill in the country can
fill them.
The general investigation: in which. il
can be positively stated, the Third Assist
ant Postmaster Generals Office will be in
Guided, will also embrace the bureau which,
has charge Of the classification OF second
and third class mail matter. This division
has been considered Of great importance
since the publication Of the Department
order placing eo-called premium publica-
tions in the third instead Of the second
class, with an increase Of seven cents on
every pound Of this matter carried.
, 1t has been charged again and again Of
late that the classification Of mail matter
by the Third Assistant PostmasterCieneral's
ONCE was conducted In very unsatisfac-
tory manner. But it was believed by POST
master General Payne and other high
officers Of the Department that these charges
we're made by disgruntled publishers whose
publications had been transferred from
the second to the third-class mail matter
and made TO pay the increased rate, and no
attention was paid 70 them. Mr.. Payne
and the other officers profess to have abso-
hIte confidence In the honesty, integrity
and good judgment OF Third Assistant
Postmaster General Madden. and have
heretofore given his critics scant attention
But !, is realized that the .opportunities for
graft among his subordinates have been
many since the PRONUNCIATION Of the order
ferred to, and a careful investigation OF
thi. branch OF the service will also be made
1t is known that a publisher. some time
mates a 5000 bride to obtain his entrance
into the lower classification. The subor-
dinate was indignant, but the o1er OF the
IS 900 was made in such way and under
such circumstances that no further action
could be taken.
The American Federation Of Labor re-
Gently filed charges with the Post ONCE
Department against the contract for the
charges alleged that the books were bound
by child labor, and IL was petitioned that
the contract be annulled. or. at least, not
renewed upon its expiration.
In connection With this contract there
are some further facts Of considerable in
terest In the course Of the preliminary
inquiry which followed the hlng of the
charges by the Federal ion Of labor. Third
Assist ant Post ma ster- General Madden. IT,
whose Office the specifications are made up,
was asked concerning the contracts He
said that the books we're purchased by the
First Assistant Postmaster General.
Mr.. Wynne explained that this was true
only in the feet that the orders for registry
books went through the supply division.
which has been under Investigation NJ
Wynne said further that Public Printer
Palmer was the man who knew all about
the contracts. In turn, Mr.. Palmer asserted
that Third Assistant Postmast e. General
Madden was responsible for the contracts,
j. aslnuch the specifications. which limited
the books to the output Of one mandatory,
were drawn up in his office.
Some time ago Mr. Palmer wrote to the
Genera! ManifoIding Company. requesting
estimates for supplying the Govern ment
with the particular kind of manifolding
paper manufactured BY them. Tn" com
parv refused to sell the paper uness the
entire book was purcha sed we'll. II il.
said that the Government Printing Office
could manufacture the hooks for less
than the present contract price II the
carbon paper specified in the contracts
could be secured The Investigation will
also determine whether his particular brand
q man Unfolding paper is 50 much superior
10 all others as to warrant the non -coinpeti :
tive contract.