The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-18

Washington. June las a result
Of alleged indiscretiOn in matters per-
tanning to the award Of contracts for
printing the money order forms Of the
government, James T. Nletcalfe, for
many years superintendent Of the
money OrGer system Of the pOSUOn1ce
department, was today removed from
Office By the postmaster general. A
full investigation viii be made later.
The dismissal is the result Of acts OF
Mr.. Metcalfe in opposition to the bid or
Paul Herman of Rutherford, n. J.. the
lowest bidder by s45, 000. and in favor
of the next highest bidder, the Wyn-
kOOp- Hallen beck Crawford company Of
New York, of which Mr. Netcalfe's son
IS an emplOye- The story is briefly
told in the following letter Of dismissal.
signed by Postmaster General Payne
at . o'clock this afternoon.
Letter of Removal.
James r. AIetcalfe. superintendent
Of Money Order System, POstofice De
Dartment-Sir: You are hereby re-
moved from the position of superin-
tendent Of the money order system.
The charges upon which ] base your
removal relate to your actions in the
matter of letting the contract for
money order forms. These charges
We're made known to you this morning
by Fourth Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Bristow and Assistant Attorney
General Robb Of the Postofice depart
ment. and transcript Of your answer
thereto is enclosed herewith.
His Son an EmpIoye.
1T appears from your answer that
when the proposals Of the different
competitors for the contract of supply
ing money order forms were opened,
Paul Herman of Rutherford, n. j.
formerly employed as foreman by the
WynkoOp- Hallen beck Crawford COM
pany of New York;, by which company
Il 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-HaHen beck era WfOrd company.
that the bid of Herman as submitted
WAS regular in form and that he had
deposited a certified check for $1,000
as a forfeit 1t further appears that
within a day or two the WynkOOp-
Hallenbeck-CraWfO company filed a
protest against awarding the contract
60 Herman, alleging that he was noS
financially responsible.
Acted For the Company.
That a short time thereafter Mr..
Herman called at your Office and you
advised him to withdraw his bid and
Te-enter the employ Of the WynkOOp-
Hallenbeck-Cr Crawford company, reai1Z-
ing LudL MS WlLnQEdWdl would result
in the award being given to said COM
Uany and result in loss to the gov
eminent: that you offered to write and
cid write a letter to the said company
apPrisinS it of your interview with
Herman and using your good Offices
in his behalf; that you advised Herman
that his $1,000 deposit would probably
be returned to him if he adopted your
suggestion.
1T further appears that you regarded
Mr.. Herman as possessing the mechan-
zeal qualifications requisite to the per
Torrance of the contract, and that il
was not any part of your duty to pass
upon the question of his responsibility,
financial or otherwise.
Didn't Tell Wynne.
eft 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 a hearing
has been had before Generally Wynne
upon the question of the financial re-
sponsibility Of Mr. Herman, and it has
developed since the submission Of your