The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-27
THE POSTAL SCANDAL.

When the investigation of the officers or
the Postoffice Department first began the
Journal was inclined to the opinion that
while Ii might disclose some conditions
calling for reform in administrative meth
DDS. it was not likely to disclose any real
corruption In the light of current develop
ments this opinion must be revised, for the
evidence now seems conclusive that there
has been corruption of very fragrant kind
on the part of some employees In the office
of the assistant attorney general for the
Postoffice Department. This Is the law
Office of the department. and while it
belongs legally 10 the Department OF
Justice, its business is all with the Post
office Department. 1t is the Office OF which
Mr.. Tyner was the head. 1t has no connec-
ton with the rural free delivery service.
which has recently been under investiga-
ton. The charges affecting this office, and
which have now led to the arrest Of Daniel
v. Miller. and to another arrest. go back
to the exposure few months ago of the
''get-rich-quick" turf exchange of John
J. Ryan & Co., in ST. Louis. One Of
the functions of the law Office of the depart
ment is to decide upon the legality of
doubtful schemes and their right to use
the mails. The law relative to the use Of
the mails by schemes devised and intended
to deceive and defraud the public for the
purpose Of obtaining money under false
pretenses'' leaves it to the law office OF the
department to decide regarding such
schemes. When Gen. Gresham was post
master general he became convinced that
certain officials in this Office were acting In
the interest of the Louisiana lottery, and
he removed them. A swindling scheme
Going a large business by mail could afford
to pay soundly FOR a favorable decision
allowing it to use the mails. even for a few
months. That is what seems to have been
done in this case The head of the Ryan
"get-rich-Quick'' concern. which was broken
up few months ago, declares that his
company at different times paid money
amounting in the aggregate to about $500
for favorable rulings by officers or clerks
in the law Office of the Postoffice Depart
ment. The only person whom he duplicates
by name in this transaction is ]. III. Johns,
an attorney of Rockville, Ind. The depart
ment inspectors say that Johns acted as
middleman between the Ryan company and
Miller, and that the money thus paid for
favorable rulings divided between
Miller and Johns. Unless Ryans statement
or confession can be impeached. the case
looks bad for Johns, and the circumstantial
evidence Is strong against Miller The
Department of Justice would hardly have
gone so far as to place Miller under arrest
without very strong evidence of his wrong
doing There is a possibility that he may
have signed put his initials letters
without knowing their contents, but this
is remote possibility. If Miller is prose-
| cuted it will be at Washington, while if
proceedings are instituted against Johns it
would be in the United States Court at
Cincinnati. where the negotiations with him
have been paid over. Further investigation
will probably show that others in Mr..
Tyners Office besides Miller shared in these
corrupt fees, and the transaction may be
traced close to Mr.. Tyner's family. 1t is
a deplorabe affair. and the more so because
both Miller and Johns have heretofore
borne unblemished regulations and have
stood high in the estimation of all who
| knew them. In such cases. however, there
is but one thing to be done. viz. probe to
| the bottom and let no guilty man escape.
The Journal would rejoice to see these two
| citizens Of Indiana completely cleared of
| the grave charges which now hang over
them. and sincerely hopes that may be the
| outcome of tho affair, but public interests
and the honor of the administration require
| that the investigation shall continue until
the bottom facts are brought out, no matter
who may be hurt.