The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-17
CALDERHEAD
SINGLED OUT.
Full Report of General BristOw
Made Public.
Says Kansas Congressman Bene-
flied by Beavers Methods.
RENT AT MANHATTAN
Was Increased Without Addi-
tiOnal Service
And in Face of Existing Lease
for Ten Years.
RENT AT MANHATTAN

Washington Dec. 1.-THE full report
of Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Brfstow has been made public with the
exception of the exhibits which are
withheld because of pending criminal
cases. The report reveals many new
facts brought out by the month of in
vestigation and not embodied in the
official abstract made public a fortnight
ago. These are mostly in the way of
important supplementary information
regarding the alleged connection of ex-
ecutive officers of the department with
fraudulent contracts for supplies, al
legged efforts to promote mining stock
among postoffice department employees,
Irregularities in outside postoffices. etc.
Edward S. Allen, now a clerk at the
Cleveland postof1ce, testified that re-
ports he made on merits of the Hamp-
den cancelling machine were not salts
factory to First Assistant Postmaster
General Heath, nor to Beavers, and
says he was plainly advised that it was
Mr. Heath's desire that these machines
be installed and the desire of Mr.. Bea-
vers and the general that he do less
talking derogatory to the machines. He
says he was forewarned of this by his
brother, then chief clerk to the first as
Sltant postmaster general and there
Rfter Allen testified he simply installed
machines and refrained from any COM
ment. The machines proved worthless.
The report says that H. J. Truesdell
of Binghamton, n. Y, of the cancelling
machine company, told inspectors that
before the order of June 80, 1900, was
given for 100 Doremus cancelling ma
Chimes 200 shares ($20,000) of the stock
of the company was transferred to First
Assistant Postmaster General Heath,
Heath promising to order not less than
800 machines at 1925 each. In his aff-
4 HTr-rrr l-TT
state senator from New York told him
he had made this agreement with Heath
at the WaldOrf-AstOria hotel one Sat
urday night and that he thought Trues-
dell and Doremus should ..whack up"
with him. Truesdell states that he
agreed to contribute his share and that
he transferred fifty shares of his stock
to Green for that purpose. TruesdelI
further states that Green at the time
submitted to him a telegram or letter
from Heath acknowledging receipt of
the certificates of stock and that after
ward, he (Green) and DoremuS discuss
ed the matter and Doremus agreed to
contribute fifty shares of his stock.
Doremus denies any knowledge of stock
having been given to Heath, but states
that he did contribute fifty shares of
stock, par value $1,000 to Green to be
used for the best interests of the COM
pany. Truesdell further states that
Green at a subsequent date purchased
back from Heath this stock. Doremus
admitted to the inspectors that TrueS-
dell told him that the stock which Green
asked them to give was to be transfer
red to Perry S. Heath in consideration
of receiving a large order for machines.
Truesdell said that the payments made
to Beavers were cashed at the bank by
the former bookkeeper, Mrs. Ida E.
Crowel, she bringing the currency to
Beavers at the office of the company
here and then absenting herself from
the room when Beavers called to re-
ceive the currency; that the payments
were entered by the company as .'com
mission account and that the pay
ments which Beavers alleged were to
be divided with Perry S. Heath were
made with the positive knowledge and
approval of George E. Green and w. d.
Doremus. The evidence against Heath
was submitted to the grand jury here
but the district attorney decided it was
hot sufficient to warrant his indictment.
The report quotes section 3739 of the re-
Vised statutes, inhibiting contracts
with congressman and says that Beav-
ers nevertheless made contracts with
members of congress for the rental of
premises either in their own name, the
names of their agents or some mem
bers of their family. Mr.. Bristow says:
"A careful investigation however, does
not show that the government has been
defrauded by the payment of excessive
rentals to members of congress either
directly or indirectly. I recommend
however, that all leases where a MEM
ber of congress is a party be cancelled
and leases executed in conformity with
the statutes.
There is no evidence to indicate that
Beavers reckless and high handed pro-
ceedings in the matter of leases was the
result of any general scheme of cor
ruption or blackmail on his part. His
purpose seems to have been to place
members of congress and influential
politicians under personal obligations to
him.
At Manhattan, Kansas. the report
says, on the recommendation of Repre-
sentative w. A. Calderhead the rental
allowance for the postoff1ce was in
creased by $3.50 per annum although 10
additional service was performed, and
despite an existing lease for ten years
he does not offer any criticism against
the congressman
The report says that the case of AS
sistant District Attorney E. f. Baldwin
at New York, charged with knowledge
of a fraud against the government and
insultingly refusing information to in
spectors has been laid before the attor-
ney general and that the case of his
father, Judge E. Baldwin. consul at
Nuremberg, who Mr. Bristow says,
Probably knows as much about the
fraud as anybody, IS referred to the
secretary of state.
The report of Messrs. Conrad and
Bonaparte on their examination of the
Bristow report endorses that report
generally. but nonconcurs as to Ger
tain passages and recommends prompt
publication of the report. 1t suggests
that the Bristow report should note
how gravely the statute of limitati ton
has interfered with the punishment of
notorious offenders exposed in the re-
pSTt, and suggests that the statute term
be heightened to at least FIVE years
The Bristow report in referring to a
transaction says: