The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-19


alleged indiscretion in matters pertain
ing to the award of contracts for print
ing the money order forms of the gov
ernment, James T. Metcalf. for many
years superintendent of the money or
der system of the postoffice department
today was removed from office by the
postmaster general. A full investiga
ton 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. Hallen-
beck, Crawford Company, Of New York,
of which Mr.. Metcalf's son is an en-
ploye.
The story is briefly told in the letter
of dismissal, signed by Postmaster
General Payne which says:
The charges upon which your re-
moval is based, relate to your actions
in the matter of the letting of the con-
tract for money order forms. These
charges were made known to you this
morning and a transcript Of your an
swer thereto is enclosed herewith
1T appears from your answer that
when the proposals of the different
competitors for the contract for sup
plying money order forms were opened,
Paul Herman, Of Rutherford, N. j.,
(formerly employed as foreman by the
Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, Crawford Com
pany, of New York, by which company,
it seems, your son is also employed)
was found to be the lowest bidder. his
proposal being $4,000 below that of the
next highest bidder, namely the Wyn-
koop, Hallenbeck, Crawford Company;
that the bid of Mr.. Herman as submit
ted was regular in form and that he
had deposited a certified check for
$4,000 as a forfeit. 1t further appears
that within a day or two the Wynkoop
Hallenbeck, Crawford Company filed a
protest against awarding the contract
to Herman. alleging that he was not
financially reSponSible; that a short
time thereafter Mr.. Herman called at
your office, and you advised him to
withdraw his bid, and re-enter the en-
ploy of the Wynkoop, Hallenbeck,
Crawford Company, understanding at
the time that such withdrawal would
result in the contract being awarded
to said company. and consequently in
a loss to the government; that you Of
fered to write. and did write, a letter
to said company, apprlsing it of your
interview with Herman and using your
good offices in his behalf; that you ad-
viSed Herman that his So 900 deposit
would probably be returned to him if
| he adopted YOUR suggestion. 1t fur
| ther appears that you regarded Mr..
| Herman as possessing the mechanical
| qualification requisite to the proper
| performance of the contract, and that
| it was not any part of your duty to
pass upon the question of his respon-
\ Slblllty, financial or otherwise. 1t fur
| q
| had before General Wynne upon the
| question of the financial responsibility
| of Mr.. Herman; although it has devel-
| oped, since the submission of your an
swer this morning, that you discour-
| aged the granting Of such a hearing
| and manifested a desire that the con-
tract be awarded to the Wynkoop, Hal
! lenbeck, Crawford Company.
Postmaster General Payne in an
| nOuncing his action stated that there
| was no charge that Mr. Metcalf had
| done anything that is amendable tC
| the law, but that his conduct was a
serious indiscretlon that could not be
| overlooked. Mr.. Metcalf, he said, al
| ways has been considered a faithful
| efficient, painstaking and honest en-
| ploye. The postmaster general on his
| arrival at the department today sent
| for Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen
| eral BrlStOW and Assistant Attorney
| General Robb and after detailing the
| information that had reacheI him re-
| garding the money order printing bids
| instructed them to send for Mr.. Met
calf and Immediately investigate the
| case. The two gentlemen named witt
| Inspector Fosnes thereupon examined
| Mr.. Metcalf closely for two hours anC
| he, it is stated corOborated the facts
| stated in the letter of dismissal.
| The postmaster general later confer
| red with President Roosevelt regarding
| the case and the order Of dismissal fol
| lowed:
Mr.. Payne's voice trepbled Will
| emotion as he announced the dismissa
| to the newspaper men late this after
| noon. He said it had become his duty
| to make the removal, and 1t was a stel
| which he could not avoid in the prope
| discharge of his duties.
| Mr.. Metcalf was originally appoint
ed from Iowa and has been in th'
postal service since 1882. His salar!
| was $1,000 a year
| The Wynkoop. Hallenbeck. Crawford
Company has been the contractor 70
the money order blanks for siXteeI
| years. Paul Herman the lowest bidde
for the next contract, formerly was il
the employ of that company, as also il