The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-18
OFFENSE NOT CRIMINAL
OF SUCH A NATURE. HOWEVER. IT
COULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED.
Reply Of Mr.. BristOw to the
Charges Made by Ex-Cashier
S. W. TulIoch.


alleged indiscretion in matters pertain
ing to the award of contracts for printing
the money order forms of the government,
James T. Metcalf, for many years superin-
tendent of the money-order system Of the
Postofice Department. to-day was removed
from Office by the postmaster general. A
full investigation OF the case will be made
later. The dismissal is the result Of acts
OF Mr.. Metcalf In opposition to the bid Of
Paul Herman, Of Rutherford, N. J., the
lowest bidder by $4,000. and in favor of the
next highest bidder, the Wynkoop. Hal
lenbeck. Crawford Company, OF New York,
OF which Mr.. Metcalfs son is an empIoye.
The story is briefly told in the following
letter Of dismissal signed by Postmaster
General Payne at o'clock this afternoon
'Mr. James T. Metcalf. Superintendent of
Money-orGer System, Postoftice Depart
n1ent-
"Sir: You are hereby removed from the
position Of superintendent OF the money
order system.
IS based relate to your actions In the mat
ter OF the letting of the contract for money
orter forms. These charges were made
known to you this morning by Fourth As
eistant Postmaster General Bristow and
Assistant Attorney General Robb, of the
Postoff1ce Department, and a transcript or
your answer thereto Is inclosed herewith.
ct appears from your answer that when
the proposals of the different competitors
for the contract Of supplying money order
ford, n. J., formerly employed as fore
by the Wynkoop- p-Hallenbeck- Crawford
Company OF New York. by which company.
iG a a1a1 m WA
found to be the lowest bidder. his proposal
being $4,000 below that of the next high
est bidder. namely, the Wynkoop-Halien
beck-Crawford Company; that the bid OF
Herman as submitted was regular in form
and that he had deposited a certified check
for 5000 as forfeit. 1t further appears
HaEenbeck-CrawfordC Company filed pro-
test against awarding the contract to
Herman, alleging that he was not financial
ly responsible; that short time thereafter
Mr.. Herman called at your Office and you
advised him to withdraw his bid and re-
enter the employment of the Wynkoop-
standing at the time that such withdrawal
would result In the contracts being awarded
to said COMPANY and consequently rent vdT, In
offered to write, and did write
letter to said company. apprising It of your
good Offices in his behalf; that you advised
Herman that his fve-thousand-dollar de-
deposit would probably be returned TO him
II he adopted your suggestion. s lon & II further
possessing the mechanical qualifications
requisite to the performance Of the contract,
to pass ON the question of his responsibility,
financially or otherwise. IL also appears
that you did not acquaint your superior.
First Assistant Postmaster General Wynne,
with the fact that you had endeavored to
have Mr.. Herman withdraw his bid. 1t
further appears that hearing has been
had before Mr.. Wynne on the question or
the financial responsibility Of Mr.. Herman,
although IL has developed since the subnis-
sion OF your answer this morning that you
discouraged the granting Of such hearing
and manifested a desire that the contract
be awarded to the. -Hallenbeck-
Crawford Company.
MR.. PAYNE'S ANNOUNCEMENT
Postmaster General Payne. in announc-
ins his action, said that there was no
charge that Mr.. Metcalf had done any,
thing that was amenable to the law, but
said his conduct was serious indiscretion
that could not be overlooked Mr.. Metcalf.
he said. always had been considered a
faithful. efficient. painstaking and honest
employee.
The postmaster general. on his arrival at
the department to-day, sent for Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow and
Assistant Attorney General Robb, and
after detailing the information that had
reacleQ MIN reSdIOlH6 the IuOuey OrueF
printing bids. instructed them to send
for Mr. Metcalf and Immediately to investi-
gale the case Bristow and Robb. with In
spector Fosner examined Metcalf closely
for two hours and he, IL Is said, corrobor-
ated the facts given In the letter of dis
missaI- Messrs. Bristow and Robb immedi-
ately afterward had long conference
with the postmaster general, who also
sent for Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne, who had immediate supervision OF
the money order system and who has in
sisted on the lowest bidder being given a
hearing and an opportunity TO demonstrate
his ability TO fulfill the contract The post
master general later conferred with Presi-
dent Roosevelt regarding the case and the
order OF dismissal followed
Mr. Payne's voice trembled with emotion
as ne announced the dismissal to the news
naper men late this afternoon. He said il
KID become his duty TO make the removal
and was a step which he could not avoid In
the uroper discharge OF his duties. In re-
,Iv 10 questions he said that no consider
alton had been given as yet TO the ap-
nointment Of a successor, but that the
Suffes of superintendent for the present
would devolve on Mr. Metcalfs assistant.
He is Edward +. Kimball, OF Massachu-
setts. who has been In the service seven
teen years
METCALF AN IOwAN.
Mr.. MetcaIf originally was appointed
from Iowa and has been In the postal serv-
tcs since 1852. During his administration
AT the oflce the money order service has
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