Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-20
COMP AINTS COMING
Investigation in Post Office
Department Grows.
EFFECT ON CLERKS
A FEELING OF INSECURITY HAS
GROWN UP.
The Postmaster General Has Confer
ence With Messrs. Wynne and
Bristow Today.

AS in all such cases, there are all kinds
of rumors and reports. Only where COM
plants are filed by some responsible per-
son or persons is any notice taken of them
Two Conditions Of Affairs.
The alleged scandals in the Post Office
Department have brought about two con-
dition of affairs.
The charges of corruption made against
Mr. Beavers, the retired superintendent Of
the division of salaries and allowances,
have had the effect Of demoralizing to q
certain extent the force of clerks employed
in the Post Office Department.
By the word demoralizing is meant that
the clerks have become uneasy. fearful of
possible changes in the chiefs of divisions
or heads of departments causing shifting.
It is feeling of insecurity that bids fair
to exist throughout the pending investiga-
ton.
On the other hand, 1t has produced a con-
dition Of mud singing that must Of neces-
sity be anything but pleasant to the great
their labors conscientiously and shrink
from mixing up in a, public scandal that
involves the department.
1t would be impossible to mass together
several thousand employees. among whom
from time to time. there are promotions and
recognitions. without finding jealousfes.
Whenever an appointment Is made. there
Is always one or more. oftentimes many,
or she should have been the one selected.
1t is from this class that the mud singing
emanates. There Is no use trying to dis
guise it. This condition obtains in the
Post Office Department today. and 1t Is
the fuel that adds to the flame of gossip
that is in evidence on every hand.
Has Brought About Factions.
Again. the alleged scandals have brought
about factions. Those who are accused
N,,ft <t,o1~ 4.{1,
sent the charges and resent any imputations
of dishonesty. The other faction Is COM
posed of those always to be found in this
world. who say II told you so.' and with a.
knowing twist Of the head lead you to be-
lieve that, were they only at liberty to
speak freely, they would reveal to you
something In the way of information that
would be paralyzing
So 1t goes from day to day, and SO 1t will
go until the fourth assistant postmaster
general has ferreted out the charges and
has submitted his report to Postmaster
General Payne; The Postmaster General
is not hotheaded. He wants facts and
figures. He knows that he will get them.
Until then he is remaining passive. When
he does get them he will act.
Postmaster General Payne is placed in
peculiar position. Many if not all. the
charges made against subordinates Of the
Post Office Department are regarding
transactions that were made before he be-
came the uedQ OF the department. some
of the charges go back as far as 1895, be-
fore Mr.. Payne was ever thought of as a
possible Postmaster General.
Dead Letter Office Sale.
rumor that has been exploited In the
last few days charges that there was col
fusion among certain employees Of the dead
letter division to purchase articles put up
at auction at the last dead letter sale.
There were charges of the kind made fol-
lowing the annual dead letter sale in 1901,
as was fully reported in The Star at that
time. Information came to Postmaster
General Charles Emory Smith that there
was conspiracy and he ordered rigid
investigation. The inspectors who made
the investigation submitted their report to
First Assistant Postmaster General John
ston with recommendation that four
clerks be dismissed.
Mr.. Johnston formulated the charges
against these clerks, and they were cited
to appear within specific time to show
cause why they should not be dismissed.
Each clerk filed an answer. Mr.. Johnston
dismissed two Of them and the other two,
after a severe reprimand, were permitted
to continue with the division. Captain
Leibhardt, superintendent of the dead let
ter division. said this afternoon that the
men had been given an entirely different
class of work to do.
1.-The report that there was any collision
at the recent dead letter sale, or at any
other dead letter sale since 1901, and there
have been two regular and one special, is
absolutely untrue. I presume the reports
that have gained publicity in the last few
days were made UP from what was really
true in 1901, and which was at the time
thoroughly and carefully remedied."
Up to o'clock this afternoon the Post
master General had not received a copy of
the charges that have been formulated by
a committee representing the Central La
Dor Union against Second Assistant POST
onko~ 1Io,,h
pected that the committee would wait upon
Mr.. Payne last Friday afternoon. but 1t
had not put in an appearance up to the
time designated above. Mr.. Shallenberger
has been absent from the city since last
Thursday. He is expected to return to
Washington tomorrow morning.
Mr.. Wynne Uncommunicative.
First Assistant Postmaster General Wynne
is still uncommunicative when approached
on the subject Of the charges made
against Mr.. Beavers. late superintendent Of
the division of salaries and allowances. and
Mr.. Augustus w. Machen. superintendent
Of the division of free delivery Mr..
Wynne takes the position that. inasmuch
as he was instrumental in bringing to the
attention of Postmaster General Payne q
condition of affairs in these divisions that
he, as man and as public official, could
not brook, that he is an interested party
and it would be unfair to those against
whom charges have been preferred to ex-
press himself one way or another.
1t is understood that the first assistant
postmaster general has no official dealings
with Mr.. Machen and has not had for soma
time. Mr.. Wynne had long conference
with Postmaster General Payne this after
noon. after which he left the office for the
day. wishing to be present at the funeral
OF the late Harry L. Merrick Of the Post.
who was personal friend.
Mr.. Bristow had conference with Post
master General Payne today. He was In
the latter's ONCE for more than an hour
Mr.. Bristow is in close touch with his chief,
and the latter il informed every day with
the progress OF the Investigations.
The presence of Mr.. ]. NJ. BIasten, who
was chief clerk Of the first assistant post
master generals Office under Mr.. John.
ston's regime, caused some speculation
about the Post Office Department.
Mr.. Masten is now an inspector under the
second assistant postmaster general. His
name has been connected with the signing
OF an alleged contract with the Interna-
tional Time Recording Company OF Bing-
hamton. N. T.. while he was chief clerk.
What Mr.. Mastan Savn