Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-30

what they were entitled to.
Maurice Hooker was appointed laborei
In the post Office at Fredonia, N. T., at $4O0
per annum, on January I, 1902, and though
he did no work In the Office he drew pay
until June 80. 1903. amounting to 5000. He
employed substitute for part of the time
At Fredonia, n. Y, on October II, 1888,
the postmaster was directed to appoint
Frank p Ball as laborer. at salary OF
$500 per annum. which he did, and Ball was
carried on the rolls at that rate from Octo-
Der IL. 1888, to December 81, 1902, and paid
2.532.O7, for which he rendered no service
whatever. being engaged most of the time
IN the ticket-brokerage business at Dun
kirk, N. Y. This period covers part OF
the terms of two postmasters; both OF
them, however. certified Ball as regularly
employed.
At Dunkirk. N. Y, John A. Link was ap-
pointed laborer> in the post office on May
1. 1893. at 500 per annum, and drew pay
until June CO., 1903, covering a period OF
more than five years. He was barber and
continued to work at his trade during all
that time. He received In all 50, 100.50. less
s171 paid for a substitute, for which he
rendered no service.
At Baltimore. Md, on January t. 1898
John w. Petit was appointed an auxiliary
clerk at 800 per annum. He neither per-
formed duty nor drew pay until July p
1858, when his salary was Increased to 5000
per annum; and from that date lie drew
pay regularly but performed no service
whatever. On September 80, 1899, his roster
title was changed to ''bookkeeper" and his
paid him by the postmaster until September
., 1902. although he performed no services
The postmaster says he protested to
Beavers against the appointment of Petit,
stating that he was personally d1stasteful
to him and that he would not allow him in
the office. But at the same time he certified
his name to the auditor every quarter DUR
Ing the entire period as a clerk rendering
service. Petit was paid S., 90, for which
he performed no service whatever. In these
and all similar cases known the amounts
paid have been charged against the post
masters who made such certification.
Leases.
The leasing Of premises and furnishing
Of light and fuel for first second and
third-class post Offices are under the super
vision of the salary and allowance division.
Formerly leases were made usually for a
period Of FIVE years, with a proviso that
the government might at any time cancel
the lease. II the interests Of the postal
service required 1t, by giving three months
notice. Sometimes 1t was found necessary
to omit the "three-months' clause in order
to secure the most desirable location, but
these instances were rare.
In 1898 law was enacted authorizing the
department to make leases for period not
exceeding ten years. On November fol-
lowing the enactment of this law the first
assistant postmaster general, in a letter In
tended as a guide to inspectors when in
vestigating lease cases, stated:
While the department has authority to
execute lease for a period Of ten years,
it is not deemed advisable to do so unless 1t
can be demonstrated that positive advan-
tage to the service will be secured thereby"
This policy, however, was not consistent
ly carried out.
Canoeing leases.-At Weehawken, N. j..
on July 1. 1900. lease was executed for
ten years, at $500 per annum, including all
equipment, heat, light, etc. On July 1,
1902. eight years before the lease expired.
it was Cancelled and new lease entered
into for the same premises and the same
equipment at an annual rental of $500.
At Hastings. Neb., on May 1, 1897, a
lease was made for post office premises for
period of five years. including light heat.
vault and equipment, at an annual rent |
Of 500 per annum. In March, 1901, the
lessor was notified that the lease would be
Cancelled on June 3d. almost year before
its expiration. Shortly after this proposal
was accepted for another building no mo e
desirable, at rental OF 81 800 per annum
A most vigorous protest was filed against
this action of the department by those N
terested in the Cancelled lease, and the mat
ter was referred to an Inspector for in
vestigation, who, on April II, 1901, reported
as follows:
Viewed from the standpoint usually as
suIned by the Post Office Department in the
treatment OF tease cases, ana ell mlnatlnS
all questions of personal interest, am UNI
able to conceive what possible Representa-
tions could have been made to the depart
ment in this case to result in the entertain
ment and acceptance of the proposition OF
Mr.. Dietrich at the price named Isl 500 pc"
annumD. The proposition is exorbitant, and
the location one that If in competition W tn
other propositions Offering central locations
at two-th rds the price asked could not con-
scientiously be considered "
As a result of this report the price for
the new site was reduced to $3.50 per an
mum, with the proviso that the department
should pay for moving and ms alling the
equipment and provide heat and light. The
office was moved at an expense to the de-
partment of $1t6
At Dunlirk, N. Y, a five-yesr lease was
executed March !, 1893 at $3.50 ner annu,n,
including fixtures, with an additional al
lowance of s115 for light and fuel. mqkIng
1865 in all On October Is, 1891 a lease
was executed for a room fully equipped and
furnished with light and heat for 81 $50 per
annum for ten years. the three months
clause" being eliminated On January 81,
1902, about three months from TIE date OF
execution of this lease, it was cence'ed and
another executed at rental of 81 800. And
on May IA, four months afterward, this
1,500 lease was Cancelled and another ex-
ecuted for ten years at 81 900 per annum,
with the three months clause" ell minated.
NO additional service was provided for In
any of the subsequent leases that was not
included in the original lease.
1t will be observed that instead of using
this authority gwen by CONGRESS to make
longtime leases to secure better BUILDINGS
for less money, it has been used for the
benefit of "grafters'' who seek TO pillage
the public revenues.
Increasing rental over amount Of pro-
posal.-As rule there is an active interest
In every community in the location of tie
post office. and numerous proposals are
submitted by the property owners After
considering the reports Of the inspec ors
and accepting one of the proposals, Beavers
frequently, at the request of friends, in
creased the rental from 800 to 500 per an
mum above that asked in the proposal TIE
records indicate that many of these arbi-
trary increases in rent We're made upon the
recommendation Of members of Congress
list of over forty cases is submitted
where increases We're made In this manner
The arbitrary increase of rentals by de.
partmental officers because of the political
influence of the lessor is fragrant Injustice
to those whose bids are rejected. Ii en-
ables the man with a political or personal
pull" to bid lower than others and then
by intrigue secure increased COMPENSATION
Such policy is not only grossly unjust
to the property owners whose proposals
are submitted in good faith, but opens
wide the doors to official corruption and
fraud.
Brandt Automatic Cashier.
Prior to 1898 largeEsized post Offices, for
convenience in enabling clerks to make