New-York tribune., 1903-06-14

City Postofce Undergoing Thor
ough OUerhauIing.

That the NeW-IOrk ROSIOIlCe has NOOO--io
storm centre in the investigation Of the scan
dals-perhaps for the moment taking preceaehCe
even of Washington-was shown yesterday wnen
William E. Cochran. chief inspector Of the ser
vice walked into the inspectors rooms About
the same time yesterday morning came Inspec-
tor Paul E Williams. of Chattanooga; Inspec-
tors Farrell and Mayer, and Major E. j. Little
who has been especially detailed to the New
York office case. OF course. these inspectors
are not telling about their work. but snreWd
surmises soon drifted around the corridors OF the
Federal Building that something big must De
doing" to call the chief from Washington with
such staff. in addition to the seven men a.
ready working on the case
INSPECTORS HARD AT WORK
Their work yesterday was in search of infQr-
nation regarding the alleged promotion syn
dicate" which was spoken OF so freely IN the
first days of the investigation Particular stress
was laid on any political side lines the men
might be carrying. The inspectors went 10 many
clerks in different departments, and from them
took affldavits as to how they obtained their
situations going minutely into every detail OF
the mans former employment. his qualifications.
his record after entering the postal service. and
always reverting TO his standing in the district
political machines. political affiliations and
membership in political clubs
Another point which the inspectors are in
vestigating, it was learned, was the terms on
which branch postoff1ces are leased Complaints
have been made to the department at Washing
ton that enormous rents, out of all proportion 10
the value of the buildings occupied. are being
paid for these branch Offices One being in
vestigated is the offiee in the Grand Central
Palace in Lexington-ave.. where the lease. re-
newed about six months ago for nve-year tern'
prcvides for S33, 800 rent year.
This building is owned by the Goelet estate
From the estate Montgomery Maze VINO IS an
uncle of Augustus B. Maze, superintendent OF
mails in the General Postoffice, leases II, ana
s1,blets part of the ground floor 10 the govern
rnent for the branch office.
TALK OF ExORBITANT RENTS
When the talk of exorbitant rents first came
ont Postmaster Van Cott ordered Audltor jar
dine TO report on this subject. taking IN every
building. This it was supposed, was 10 30 ~
Washington. It was made up giving the o"H
ers of the buildings. the lessons ana the ie"''
Maid but it has never been sent to Washing
ton. III,
1neDector OlddeId and Major Little are still
,-orLing IN the automatic cashier" contract
from a dispute over which came the nght De
+1,aer Inspector Oldfeld and Assistant Cnlteu
States District Attorney Ernest h BALDWIN "no
is counsel for the company manufacturing .l0
Cashier and whose brother-in-law is agent LOT
the COMPANY Mr.. Baldwin would not talh III
regard to this matter yesterday
CHARGES OF FAvORITISM-
Aro+ber point which the inspectors are likely
"a take up is the alleged favorltlsrn SHOWN "
certain eunployes In all the ofhces there are
time clocks. TO which each enploye has Key
fitted with number and thus registers Doti
the hour of his arrival and departure these
InyTa
and departed on schedule time The only per
eone exan,nt from using keys to the time clocks
,,-era rba postmaster himself and Assistant POST
r,os+er Mnrean II is said that the inspectors
arc now endeavoring TO ascertain how 1t was
that the clocks were all rung up so regularly
and whether it could be possible that some one
had more than one key
II is expeeted that Senator PIatt will return
from Washington to-day. and that by Monday
considerable light will be thrown on the situa-
tlop and that some decisive action then viii not
be unlikely.
postnastsr Van Cott was serene usual yes
terday When it was remarked that ne was not
appreciably losing flesh. he replied:
.f7,bAre,s nothing like a clear conscience Ny
mind is as clear as babys. know I am all
right. I know Dick is ali right 1 know my
administration here is all right and why
shouldn't I be in good hurnor? These investl-
cations don't bother me. When / was IN the
Fire Department one Of the commissioner
years ago they trumped up an invesEigatoh OF
two The other commissioners couldn't see why
didn't get worried. but told them there wasn't
.r,-tbi,g 70 get worried about that could see.
and there wasn't as the sequel proved
Neither young Mr.. Van Cott nor Mr.. White
would discuss the situation The friends OF MI
White are yet hopeful that the question IN re-
gard 10 the superintendent Of delivery wld be
SO adjusted that he viii not be reduced 10
81 400 clerkshiP.
CIVIL SUIT AGAINST WATSON