The Grit-advocate., 1903-12-04


master General Payne and Congressman
L. i. Loud, chairman of the Committee
on the Post-ofiice and Post Roads held
various consultations regarding the pos
tai service, and as result of these in
terviews 1t was determined that as soon
as possible after the necessary appropria-
lions could be made by the Congress an
Investigation should be made of the SER
vice, both Messrs Payne and Loud agree
ing as to the need for the investigation
and the time when it should take place.
Accordingly, an increase OF 5000 In the
appropriation bill reported in January
was made for the express purpose of car
ryinR on the investigation in question.
The investigation made by Mr.. Bris-
tow discloses a condition Of gross cor
Tupton in the office of the First Assist
ant Postmaster General and in that of
the Assistant Attorney-General for the
Post-Office department In the case of
the superintendent of free delivery. Mach
en-, the evidence shows that his miscon-
duct began Immediately after his appoint
Inent In September. 1893 In the case of
the general superintendent of salaries
and allowances, Beavers. 1t began soon
after he was appointed to that place in
1897. In the case of Assistant Attorney
General Tyner 1t has gone on for a num-
oer of years. but 1t is impossible to say
exactly when 1t began. The following is
list of the fourteen Post-Ofce en-
ployes in the service at the time this III
vestigaton was begun, who are appar-
emily most seriously implicated in the
wrongdoing. together with an account of
the steps that have been taken by the
Government in each case.
(The case Of eN-First Assistant Post
master-General Heath, who had left the
service over three years before this in
vestigation was begun, is set forth in
ths report of Mr.. Bristow)
James N. Tyner, Assistant Attorney
General for the Post-O Office department:
appointed special agent. Post-Ofilce de-
partment, March 7, 1851: with intervals
Of a few years has been in the service
ever since, and was Postmaster-General
under President Grant for several
months; he was removed April %. 1903;
he has since been indicted three times.
A. w. Machen, general superintendent
free-delivery system; appointed clerk in
post-oftice at Toledo, Ohio, March / 1857:
continuously in service ever since save
for three years; removed May p, 1903;
has since been indicted fourteen times.
George w. Beavers. general superin-
tendent of salaries and allowances; ap-
pointed to clerkship in New York post
Office January, 1881; continuous service
ever since; resignation accepted to take
effect March 81, 1903; has since been in
dicted eight times.
James Y. Metcalf. superintendent mon
ey-order system: appointed post-oi1ice in
spector February ., 1882; has been in pos
tai service ever since; removed June II,
1903: has been indicted once
Daniel v. Miller, assistant attorney,
Post Office department; appointed July l.
1902; removed May %, 1903: indicted once:
after one mistrial was retired and ac-
quilted.
Louis Kempner. superintendent regis
try system; appointed clerk in New York
St-Off cd
2l 1903
Charles Hedges, superintendent city
free-delivery service: appointed assistant
superintendent free-delivery service July
], 1898; removed July %. 1903.
James w. Erwin. assistant superintend-
ent free-delivery service: appointed post
office inspector June 81 1857; removed Sep
tember 1G. 1903; indicted once.
w. Scott Towers superintendent Sta
tion c. Washington, d. c.; appointed
q clerk. Washington post-ofiice November,
1850; removed October. 1909 indicted three
times.
Otto F. Wels, assistant superintendent
registry division, New York post office;
appointed clerk, New York post office
June, 1890; removed October q, 1909.
1 L. w. McGregor, clerk, freedelivery d-
VISION in charge of supplies; appointed
Post-Ofice department, March II, 1881;
removed June 8, 1903: indicted twice.
C. E. Upton, clerk, free-deivery divis-
Ion; appointed July l, 1SIJ: removed June
8, 1903; indicted once.
! NJ. w. Louis, superintendent supply di-
vision: appointed Kansas City post -office
April H. 1897: removed October q. 1903.
Charles b. Terry, clerk, supply division;
iappointed September %. 1900; removed Oc-
'tober q, 1903
The three chief offenders in the Govern
ment service were Tyner, Machen and
beavers. AS regards Messrs Beavers and
Machen the corruption took the form of
bribery and blackmail in connection with
the purchase of Government supplies In
the office of the Assistant Attorney Cen
ierai for the Post-Office department under
iTyner and Barrett, far greater wrong
was inflicted upon the public than could
be measured by pecnniary standard
for in this office the corruption of the
Government officials took the form of
lfavoring get-rich-quick concerns and SIM
liar swindling schemes; in other words
the criminals. whom it was the sworn
duty of these Government officials to
prosecute, paid them for permission to
fleece the public unmolested
l heartily approve of the recommenda-
ton of Messrs. Conrad and Bonaparte
that the statute of limitations be extend
led in the case Of Government servants
to period of at least five years; for the
persons who in such positions of trust
lengage in corrupt practices can ordinarily
conceal their guilt for longer time than
lis covered by the present short statute of
Limitations.
No crime calls for sterner reprobation
than the crime of the corruptiouist in
public life. and of the man who seeks to
corrupt him. The bribe giver and the
bribe taker are equally guilty. Both alike
,sn against The primary law of the States
safety. All questions of difference in par
'ty policy sink into inssnihcance when
ithe people of this country are brought
face to face with a question like this.
(which lies at the root of honest and de-
cent government. On this question, and
ION all others like 1t, We can afford to
have no division among good citizens
Self government becomes n farce if the
Representatives Of the people corrupt
Iothers OF are themselves corrupted Free
dom is not gift which will tarry long in
the hands OF the dishonest or of those
so foolish or so incompetent as to tolerate
'ulshonesty in their public servants I'm
der our system all power comes from the
.e~.~e.~~~e~-~~