Evening star., 1903-07-15
CONFERENCES TODAY
INSTRUCTIONS TO PROSECUTE IN
CURRY WITH VIGOR.
Carefully Looking Into the Charges
Against Neutrality-suspicious. Now
at New York Office.

Payne and their niece, Miss Jones.
The Postmaster General will reach Old
Point Comfort tonight, and will remain at
the Chamberlin until tomorrow, when he
will go to Norfolk to visit the coaling sta
ton. The Journey to Boston will be taken
leisurely along the coast. 1t is possible
that the Onondaigua may go as far north
as Portland. Me.
Mr.. Payne was down to his office much
earlier this morning. The shining silk tile
he usually wears to and from the depart
ment was superseded by a Panama hat,
and the semi -neglige costume he wore sug-
gested that he was going to try and have
a rest and good time-one free from con-
VentiOnalitieS.
Conferences This Morning.
1t was nearly noon before the Postmaster
General left the department He spent
considerable time comforting with Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow and
Assistant Attorney General Robb Instruc-
tons were given these members Of his Off
cal family that the investigation be pushed
with vigor during his absence
Later in the forenoon First Assistant
Wynne was called in to the Postmaster
Generals office Several minor matters
pertaining to certain phases Of the investi-
cation were gone over. Mr.. Wynne will be
acting postmaster general during Mr..
Every day for a week there have been
rumors that something Of sensational i'm
portance would be doing as the result OF
further disclosures made by the inspectors
who are engaged in the investigation, but
no one outside Of the high officials of the
department know what Is in mind.
The Postmaster General did not see the
newspaper men In his Otilce before his de-
parture. AS he left his Office he shook
hands with them and volunteered the in
formation that there was nothing of i'm
portance to give out.
Fourth Assistant Bristow is devoting
more than ordinary attention to the inves-
tigation of the charges made against John
NJ. Masten, formerly chief clerk to the
first assistant postma ster general and now
assistant superintendent Of the railway
mail service.
The New York Post Office
Information comes from New York that
the post office Of that city is being thor
oughly investigated. The presence Of an
unusual number of inspectors from the de-
partment here in Washington has caused
no little interest in the metropolis. The
New York Times today says
The inspectors now in the city are
chiefly those of the western division, who
We're responsible for the exposures in Wash
ington These inspectors are not confining
their efforts to Manhattan alone, but to
the various boroughs of Greater New York
They were selected for the business at
hand because of their proved ability.
Many Of them were the chosen guard OF
President Roosevelt after the assassination
of President Mckinley, when there was a
popular demand that the chief executive be
constantly guarded against anarchists and
maniacS.
service the post office inspectors last sum-
mer We're assigned to Oyster Bay, where
they naturally came into close contact
with the President.
hat of ba in
veStgating postal affairs in New York are
western experts who We're at Oyster Bay
last year is taken to mean that the Presi-
dent is actively directing the carrying out
of the investigation into the Post Office
Department, and that it was at his sug-
gestion that those men were sent to New
York.
.'rhe inspectors seen yesterday refused to
discuss the reason for their presence in the
city. or to give any explanation of the con-
greSation Of SO many of them at this point
at this time.
ASKED about the reports that business
men OF the city had been called to Wash
ington to give testimony having been sub
poenaed by the government, they were
silent with the exception of one, who avoid
ed the question with another as to how II
would be possible to do detective work
when preceded by brass bands Another
inspector arrived yesterday from Boston,
making in all twelve.
'"The understanding is that the investiga-
ton into thu post office here is mainly
directed to the matter of contracts made by
the department and the paying out here OF
vast sums to those who furnish the depart
ment with various sorts of supplies that are
sent out to poStmaSters all over the coun-
try.
1T is alleged that there have been all
sorts of Irregularities in this business, there
being bids made by persons in no way con-
nected with the manufacture or sale of the
supplies bought by the government so that
the average rate of bids might be swelled.
1T was further alleged that the selection
of the banks where government money Is
deposited was being looked into, 1t having
been said that there had been changes in
the interest of Perry s. Heath and Fletcher
s. Heath. The monetary transactions OF
the local department are being closely in
veStigated."
New Postmaster at Camden
Robert l.. Barber has been appointed
postmaster at Camden, N. j., to succeed
Louis T. Derousse Several weeks ago de-
rousse. who is man of means and stands
high in the business circles Of Camden, dts,
appeared mysteriously.
An alarm was sent out, and a few days
later word was received by his friends that
he was at the home of Mr.. w. H. SwindeI
in Baltimore. A physician went from Cam
den to Baltimore and took Mr.. Derousse
home.
Derousse said he had no recollection OF
his whereabouts after leaving Camden, ex
cept that he was in Fairmount Park, Phil.
adelphia. for awhile. 1t was said his post
office accounts were muddled, but this, ii
true. was due to the condition of his min !.
and he had ample means to reimburse the
government for any loss that might be
found. No official report has been given
out by the department of any discrepancy
in his accounts.
The Postmaster General before his de.
parture today issued orders for establish.
ing free delivery service on September l In
the following cities:
Cordele. Ga. three carriers, one substi
tute and twenty-six letter boxes: James
town. N. D., two carriers one substitute
and eighteen letter boxes; Columbus Miss.
three carriers. one substitute. twenty-n,Ee
letter boxes and three package boxes.
Plea for Mail Bay Repair Shop Women.
Mrs. Charlotte Smith has sent to Post