The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-22
FavoritiSm for Contract
orS, Reckless Extrava-
gance, Smuggling, and
Sale of Promotions Are
Alleged.
Louis and Kempner In
dlgnanr at Postmaster
Generals Action in Not
Granting Accused For
NAL Hearing.

Michael w. Louis, superintendent of
the division of supplies; Louis Kemp
ner. chief of the registry division;
Charles B. Terry. a subordinate of
Louis, and Otto Weis, a clerk In the
New York postoffice, were dismissed
yesterday by Postmaster General Payne.
Louis was removed on the ground that
he had been wasteful and eXtravagant
In the purchase and allotment of sup
plies, and favored certain bidders i'm
drawing up his specifications for con-
tracts
Kempner was dismissed on the charge
that he was wasteful and extravagant
in sending out expensive manifold
books, and that he abused his Official
position to smuggle cigars from Cuba.
Terry was convicted in the mind o.
the Postmaster General OF making falls,
affidavit and of extorting money iron.
clerks under the guiSe that he could IN
fiuence their promotions.
Weis is said 10 have been the head
of the promotion ring" the disclosure
of which created such a sensation a
few months ago and caused the re-
vision OF thousands of promotions.
Long Under Investigation.
It has been known for a long time
that Louis and Kempner were almost
sure to go, and wonder has been ex
pressed that they were not let out
early in the summer. Twice the in
spectors went through louis Office
with the greatest thorOughness, but no
statement was ever made as to their
findings. The fact that he was not
dismissed was taken as an indication
that the inspectors could put their fin
gers on nothing definite. and Louis and
his friends came TO the conclusion he
would escape with a reprimand for
peculiar business and bookkeeping
methods He has been In almost daily
conference with the First Assistant
Postmaster General, and has sturdily
maintained that he did nothing wrong.
One Of the charges against Louis was
that he bought immense quantities of
cancenng ink for which the department.
had no immediate need, and that ne
distributed it among the small fourth
class offices in a prodigal manner.
1t was charged that offices that DID
not pay $500 were provided with ink
enough to run an Office in a large city.
Louis was also severely condemned for
what was alleged 10 be the eXtravagant
manner in which he burned large
amount OF ink that had been rejected
by oostmasters.
Terry and Weis.
Terry is the clerk who, when ques-
toned along with J. NJ. Masten in the
presence Of the inspectors, resented
Masten's comments by threatening 10
knock him down with a chair. Terry
was dropped from the department, and
accused Masten of Offering to secure his
reinstatement upon the payment OF
percentage Of tie salary. His case is
peculiar in that IL came before Presi-
dent Roosevelt. who personally ordered
his reinstatement. Masten was chief
clerk to Perry Heath, and is the man
upon whom Beavers placed the blame
for tying up the department In an al
legged four-year contract with the Bundy
time clock people.
Weis is not well known in Washing
ten. but his dismissal on the ground
that he was actively engaged in secus-
ing money for promotions is Of great
Importance. II the existence Of a pro-
motion ring has been sufficiently estab-
lshed 10 warrant action against the
man who collected the money. IL is ar
gued the collectors should know who
shared the money with Weis and made
the promotions In order that he might
continue in business. There were a
number Of persons in high official posi-
ton who might have had a finger in the
pie and interesting developments are ex-
pected.
Based on Bristow's Report.
The dismissals made yesterday are
thought 70 be the results Of the por-
lions of the report of J. L. Bristow
which have already reached the Post
master General and the President. Nor
are these by any means all the dismis-
sails which are anticipated by those who
have been watching the PostofIice scan
dals. Fully a half dozen other chiefs
and clerks drawing good salaries are
considered doomed beyond the help Of
influence or past good records.
A feature Of the recent dismissals that
has attracted comment Is that the ac-
cuscd men have had no formal hear
ings. Both Louis and Kempner made
bitter remarks upon the subject last
night. and even those who think the
punishments were merited are critics.
ing the department for not giving the
men a chance 70 make defense. They
have been Intercepted by inspectors.
and in come cases called before theiI
superiOrs in particular instances. but
Louis and kempner assert that they
have had no chance 70 present full
statements in the presence Of those who
were 20 decide their official fates