Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-17
Postmaster Fisher Puts Forth an
Explanation of the Whole
Affair
CONSEQUENCE OF A TOWN FIGHT
The Senator, it is Said is Immune
From Arrest So Long as Congress
Is in Session.

Omaha, Neb. Nov. 1.-THE indict-
ment Of United States Senator Charles
ii. Dietrich and Postmaster Jacob
Fisher, OF Hastings, Neb., on charges
OF bribery and conspiracy in connec-
ton with the appointment OF the lat
ter as postmaster, was subject OF
extreme interest In Omaha today. At
the federal building small groups OF
government officials, employees and
others gathered to discuss the subject.
United Staes Dist Atty. w S, Sum
mers, who has conducted the case for
the government refuses TO talk and
even TO see reporters. The details OF
the postmnstership transaction at
Hastings, as given out today by Mr..
Fishers friends are as follows:
The postofice at Hastings UP In
two years ago was located In a build
Ing erected by the local post OF the
Grand Army OF the Rep lbllc. Previous
to installation In this building l; had
been m other quarters and successive
postmasters had furnished the pos,
Office fixtures themselves The Grand
Army OF the Republic bought the
fixtures for $500 and their use was In
cluded In the government lease. About
three years ago considerable effort was
made to secure better accommodations
for the postotiice business, the conten-
ton becoming one between the opposite
ends of town Senator Dietrich, who
had then just been elected governor,
had put up a new building near the
q. A. X, building, and, anticipating the
nj of hA II a.
matter with the postofflce authorities
during visit to Washington. A lease
was agreed upon subject to more spe~
cific terms. but the negotiations were
not concluded until after Gov. Dietrich
had been elected United States senator
In the meantime property owners in
terested In the other section of the city
made counter offers at reduced rentals
and In order to hold the postoffice IL!
the vicinity of his property lease was
finally drawn and signed at rental of
81. 300. emitting the requirement of
the owner to furnish the fixtures,
Believing that he was renting his
property for less than II was worth FOR
the purpose of holding the postoffice for
the benefit OF the surrounding property
owners, II was suggested that the diff
ference In the rental be made up by a
subscription from the interested par
ties The u. A. r. people also again
became involved with protest against
the removal from their building for fear
they would lose the money they had put
into the fixtures and possibly be ten
antless for some time.
AT this juncture the senator was
called upon to endorse for the position
of postmaster one of the applicants
the competition having narrowed down
to the mayor, Jacob Fisher, and the
editor OF the Hastings Tribune, Adam
Breede. An understanding was finally
reached by which Fisher was to re-
ceive the appointment of postmaster on
condition that he purchase the postof-
flee fixtures belonging to the c. A. II.
post at the price which It had paid for
them and II is said he also agreed to
reimburse the senator for the difference
by which he had been compelled - re-
duce the rental from his original figure
OF $500 In order 10 meet the offers
that had been made on behalf of a oca-
ton at the other end of the street. This
difference of $500 II IL said was to have
been made up in equal portions by the
postmaster and his deputy and Il is al
legged that It was paid for few months
ago and when the senator discovered its
questionable character the money was
returned to Postmaster Fisher and
Deputy Francis"
Postmaster Fisher today appeared In
Judge Mungers court gave a bond for
'Nr his appearance later and was
released.
At the federal building 1t was stated