Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-12-04
POSTAL FRAUDS EXPOSED
HAVE EXTENDED OVER A PERIOD
OF TEN YEARS.

tiees and Says the Guilty Will Be
Punished to Fullest Extent Of Law
Millions of Dollars Were Stolen.
Washington, Nov. 30.-President
Roosevelt has given out for publica-
ton memoranda concerning the cor
rupt practices obtaining in the post
office department. Gross corruption,
he says, is uncovered by the investi-
cation which has been under way for
many months. Some Of the men ar
rested for corruptness are now beyond
the reach Of the law, because OF the
statute of limitations, fact President
Roosevelt deplores, but others are still
within the reach of the law. and it
is the intention of the department of
Justice to vigorously prosecute every
man, of high or low degree, against
whom evidence can be obtained. That
the president is satisfied the startling
disclosures Of stupendous frauds. as
outlined in the report of Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General Bristow,
is not overdrawn, is evidenced by his
reference to the review of said report,
made by special counsel Charles ].
Bonaparte and Charles Conrad. He
cordially agrees with the findings Of
those gentlemen.
President Roosevelt condemns in no
rtotv khA cd NJ n.
ment officials who have proflted by
their positions in an unlawful manner.
OF these he says: mo crime calls
for sterner reprobation than the crime
of the corruptionist in public life, and
of the man who seeks to corrupt him
The bride giver and the bride taker
are equally guilty. Both alike sin
against the primary law Of the states
safety"
Brlstow Reports.
Washington, Nov. 30.-Stupendous
frauds In the postoffice department
extending over a period of 10 years
are told in detail in a report made by
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow, directed by the president to
investigate the scandal.
Not for years has story Of such
gross corruption in office been made
public. 1t involves congressman, sub
heads Of the postofice department
manufacturers and men of influence
in other walks Of life. 1t tells Of
squandering millions Of dollars Of the
peoples money in order that few Of
ficials whose duties include the order
ing Of supplies might get rakeoffs oil
hundreds Of thousands of dollars.
In order to accomplish their ends
these venal officials and their part
ners, Mr.. Bristow says, forced upor
the postmasters Of the country ma
chimes and devices which were I'm
fitted for the uses for which they wer,
intended and were bought at price,
ranging from 80 to 100 per cent abov,
the quotation in open market.
Mr.. Bristow tells of the sale Of min
or positions, of creation Of dummy pc
sitions with good salaries attached
for fa yorites of congressman and othet
influential men. Leases of building
at figures far above the ordinary wer'
not infreQuent. Blocks Of stock o
enterprises expecting to grow rich on
of the government were given to mel
in Office.
Mr.. Bristow describes transaction
which involve Perry Heath, now put
Usher of the Salt Lake Tribune, an
Senator Dietrich of Nebraska.
Memorandum by Roosevelt.
White House. Nov. "a, 1s03.-Meme
randum upon the various papers sui
mitted from the department Of jus
tice and the postoff1ce department
concerning the investigation into tn
corrupt practices obtaining In tn
postoffice department, notably In tn
office of the first assistant postmaste
general and in the office Of the assist
ant attorney general for that depart
ment. All the documents in the cas-
are herewith forwarded to the post
office department. and will be hell
ready for submission to the congress
whenever 1t may choose to ask To-
them.
1t appears that in December, 1902
Postmaster General Payne and Con
gresham E. F. Loud, chairman of thu
committee on the postoffice and pos
roads, held various consultations re
garding the postal service, and as {
result of these interviews 1t was de
termined that as soon as possible at
ter the necessary appropriations coult
be made by the congress an investiga
ton would be made of the service
both Messrs. Payne and Loud agree