The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-11
CHRISTIANCY MAY HAVE TO GO
WILL FIGHT AGAINST LEAVING
UNDER A CLOUD.

His Case May Throw Light on the scanda.
Ious Condition OF the Assistant Attor.
ney.GeneraIs Omce Under Gen. Tyner
and Result in Criticism Of Gen. Payne
WASHINGTON, June 10.-When Postmas-
ter-General Payne returns to Warrington
Tomorrow from the Hanna wedding at
Cleveland, Attorney General Robb Of the
Post Office Department will present for
his consideration review OF the opinion
in the case OF the Ryan Turf Investment
Company Of st. Louis, issued some months
ago by the then acting Assistant Attorney
General G. A. c. Christiancy. Mr.. Chris
tiancy is now on indefinite leave OF absence
without pay, pending an investigation OF
his conduct, and upon Assistant Attorney
General Robb's report to the Postmaster
General will depend whether Mr.. Christiancy
Is retained in the postal service, allowed to
resign, or summarily dismissed.
There is good reason to believe that Mr..
Robb's report Is of such character that no
choice will be given Mr.. Christianoy. II
this proves to be the case, 1t will undoubt-
eddy result in bringing into notice few
more hitherto unpublished chapters Of
Post ONCE Department scandals which will
throw Iii ht on the acknowledged scandalous
condition of affairs which existed in the
Assistant Attorney Generals Office under
the administration Of Gen. Tyner, and
which may result in criticism Of the Post
master General.
The opinion In the Ryan case, signed by
Mr.. Christiancy, was drawn up by Assistant
Attorney Daniel " Miller, who Ia al-
legged to have received part Of 5000
bride for its preparation, and was based on
a similar ruling in the case u the Arnold
Turf Investment Company Of st. Louis,
signed by former Assistant Attorney-Gen-
eral Tyner.
There Is no charge that Mr.. Christiancy' g
action in the Ryan case was influenced BY
any personal considerations, but 1t is proba-
BILE that Assistant Attorney General Robb
will hold that Mr.. Christiancy was guilty
OF gross carelessness or Of actual incom-
potency in signing the Ryan opinion, even
admitting the existence Of a precedent In
Tyner's ruling in the Arnold case.
Postmaster General Payne has said re-
peatedly that he believed Mr.. Christianc y
| to be one of the most conscientious men IN
the postal service, and 80 personally hone ct
that Mr. Chrstiancy has no desire to re-
pleasant notoriety into which he has been
| drawn. but it Ia also certain that he and his
| friends will fight hard to see that he does
not leave the service under cloud: In view
of this condition Of AFFAIRS the Following
facts are pertinent:
Mr. Christiancy had been assistant at
torney to Assistant Attorney General Tyner
| but a short time when he realized that
attorney In the Department. . nephew
Of Gen. Tyler and at that time practising
attorney before the Assistant Attorney
Generals Office. had altogether too MUCH
influence owe, Mr.. Tyner While Mr..
doins he sr esa n Barrsts interfersnce
to such degree that he broke on his former
friendly relations with him
At length aiairs reached such state
that Nh y. wToe out his rssghs
evidence OF Irregularities: Then Gen:
! Tyner was taken seriously III. and remained
away from the office for some months
| returning to his desk on Dec. IL for the
speoac purpose OF Writing eten to the he
| forming them that after an Investigation
! the case against the firm had been closed
/ Harrison j. Barrett was attorney for this
Gen Tyner, having dictated this letter,
| asked Mr.. Christiancy to sign it. He re-
| fused Mr. Tyner then demanded that his
subordinate comply with his wishes. Mr.,
| Chrietianoy again declined, and finally
rendered his resignation. Mr. Tyner waved
| the matter aside. however. and signed it
| himself.
After the signing of the Arnold opinion
| Mr.. Christiancy went to Postmaster General
! PAYNE and told him the circumstances,
| adding that while he could not say that the
| opinion was improper or was not based
on facts, it had never been the custom to
mendation to a firm that had been under
,m se 81 she mails all Mr.. fayne contented
! himself with the remark that Gen. Tyner
| was in charge of the Office and probably
! knew HE business.
When the Ryan case came up Mr.. Chris
! tancy signed ruling ~ the effect that
under the present statutes no action could
be taken against that concern, This opinion
| was based on that signed by Mr.. Tynsr
i the Rstmaster-G General. Mr.. Christancy
had previously suggested to Senator Hoar.
chairman OF the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee, that the statute in question should
| be amended so az to cover the operations
OF race ipeters and turf investment con-
, Germs.
After the action Of the St. Louis police
authorities against the two turf investment
companies in question Mr.. Christiancy
again went to the Postmaster General
and insisted that II Gen IL, Lyner' VINO a stu
/
standing he had not been near the Depart
ment in months, were allowed to interfere
further in the affairs of the Office and to set
up precedents the following Of which re-
Elected seriously upon the acting ; Assistant .s =,
resignation be accepted. Mr.. Payne as
slred Mr., Christianoy that, in view Of the
state Of affairs. Gen, Tyner would not be
permitted to further direct the afiairs OF
the Assistant Attorney Generals office.
and on this condition Mr. Christiancy re-
manned.
! 1t is believed that Postmaster General
Payne, Immediately upon IN, his return to
the ofiicial conduct OF his confidential sec-
rotary, H; H. Rand, Who for thirty year,
business associate, and who Is now charged
with having foated mining stock among
employees Of the postal service, and with
having otherwise violated the laws and the
postal regulations.
| GEN. DUDLEY EARNS A 500 FEE
Secures Postal sub-station In washington