The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-22
Louis kemper, Charged with Negii-
xence Extravaennce and Smuggling
Cigars Through the Mails.
TERRY IN TROUBLE BEFORE
MADE CHARGES WHICH COULD NOT
BE sUBsTANTIATED.
Postmaster Generals Statement-Sec-
ond Trial of ID. v. Miller and j. VI.
Johns Set for Nov. 20.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21.-POstmaster Gen.
eral Payne's ak fell again to-day. and the
heads OF four officials dropped into the bas-
ket. The names of the men dismissed fol-
low:
c. B. TERRY, of Indiana, $500 clerk in
the supply division.
MICHAEL w. LOUIS, of Ohio chief Of
the supply division.
LOUIS KEMPNER, of New York, SUPER
intendent of the registry system.
OTTO WEISS, a clerk in the New York
postoffice.
Louis was removed for extravaganza,
wastefulness and favoritism toward certain
contractors. Terry was charged with max
ing false affidavits and attempting to obtain
money from clerks for promotion. Louis is
a close personal friend of Perry S. Heath.
and was very intimate with the Indiana
man when he served as first assistant post
master general. Terry was appointed from
; ''ana on Sept. 20. 1900. and has been in
the / al service since that time.
Kempn, & was dismissed for incompetency.
negligent administration. wastefulness and
petty smuggling. The inspectors have evil
dence thar he imported cigars from the
West Indies through the mails and sold
them without paying customs duties.
Weiss was a member of the close corpora
tion in the New York postofice that levied
on postal clerks seeking promotion. The
New York postmaster Is directed to remove
him for collecting money from clerks to in
fiuence legislation and procure promotions.
1t was originally charged that the promo
ton ring extended to every first-class
postoffice in the United States, but this has
not been substantiated by the inspectors.
s With the dismissal Of Louis there only re-
mains one chief in the BUREAU of the depart
,nent under the Jurisdiction of the first as
slstant postmaster general He is Captain
Iiebhardt. OF Indiana. chief clerk of the
dead-letter Office That branch of the serv-
ice has not been investigated, but it is the
purpose OF Fourth Assistant Bristow to over
haul it in the future.
To-days dismisssls are based upon find
inxs in the R-istow report The report may
not be ready until the latter part of the
week. The following signed statement was
given out by Postmaster General Payne
this evening:
Michael W. Louis has been removed from
the Office of superintendent of the division
OF supplies because the recent investigation
shows that he Influenced the awarding of
contracts Tor supplies TO favored bidders;
ful in the administration of his Office, anG
that he has paid excessive prices for sup
plies 10 favored contractors.
Lewis kempner. superintendent of reg
istry system, has been removed for ncom-
petent and negligent administration for
wasteful and reckless extravaganza in send
Ins eApchsNe niahIIoia IeslsUauoil DOCKS
TO large number OF small fourth-class
postoffices and for violating the revenue
laws by a system OF petty smuggling.
&c. Il. Terry. clerk i'm the division of
been removed "a 30
affidayfts: attempting To obtain money from
clerks under the gliise that he could in
fiuence their promotion. and general ineffi-
csency.'
In reply TO questions Mr.. Payne said the
discharges were the result of disclosures
made by the Bristow report. II have read
the report" he said. ''and am free to saw
that my action to-day was the result of It's
perusal." He declined to say whether there
would be other removals as result of the
report. but IL is said that while few others
may follow there will not be any wholesale
dismissa!s. Ii is stated there are three or
four other employees upon whose conduct
there IL some reflection, and whose cases
hang in the balance. They were not impIi-
Gated so much "a those whose cases were
acted upon to-day and some of them may
remain permanently in the postal service
though possibly not In their present posi-
tions.
rary clerk In the Postoffice Department and
was afterward removed. lie made charges
that he had been discharged from his posi-
ton by John VI. Masten. then chief clerk
of the first assistant postmaster general
but now assistant superintendent of the
railway mail service. because he had re-
fused 10 give money 10 Masten for his re.
tention. and the President directed his re-
instatement IL is understood that the I'm.
vestigation failed 10 substantiate Terry's
charges and his permanent removal is the
result OF that failure.
The possible effect of the Bristow inquiry
upon the fortunes of Louis and kempnei
has been much discussed. Both have beer
In the postal service for some years.