Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1903-12-02
President Roosevelt Issued . state.
ment condemnlng the Corrupt Prac.
tices and Says the Guilty Will BE
Punished to Fullest Extent Of Law
millions Of Dollars Were Stolen.

ID tno intention OF the department OF
Justice to vigorously prosecute every
man. Of high or low degree, against
whom evidence can be obtained. That
the president is satisfied the startling
disclosures Of stupendous frauds. as
outlined in the report of Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General Bristow.
is not overdrawn, is evidenced by his
reference to the review of said report,
made by special counsel Charles J.
Bonaparte and Charles Conrad. He
cordially agrees with the findings Of
those gentlemen.
President Roosevelt condemns In no
uncertain way the misdeeds of govern
ment officials who have profited by
their positions In an unlawful manner.
OF these he says: mo crime calls
for sterner reprobation than the crime
of the corruptionist in public life, and
of the man who seeks to corrupt him.
The hribe giver and the bribe taker
are equally guilty. Both alike sin
against the primary law of the states
safety"
erIstow Reports.
Washington, Nov. 30.-Stupendous
frauds in the postoffice department,
extending over q period Of 10 years.
are told in detail In q report made by
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow, directed by the president to
investigate the scandal.
Not for years has story Of such
gross corruption in oflce been made
public. 1t involves congressman, sub
heads Of the postofflce department,
manufacturers and men of influence
in other walks of life. 1t tells Of
squandering millions Of dollars Of the
peoples money in order that a few Of
fcials whose duties include the order.
ing Of supplies might get rakeoifs of
hundreds of thousands Of dollars.
In order to accomplish their ends.
these venal officials and their part
ners. Mr.. Bristow says. forced upon
the postmasters Of the country ma
chimes and devices which were un.
fitted for the uses for which they were
intended and we're bought at prices
ranging from so to 100 per cent above
the quotation in open market.
Mr.. Bristow tells Of the sale OF min.
or positions. Of creation of dummy po-
sitions with good salaries attached.
for favorites Of congressman and other
influential men. Leases Of buildings
at figures far above the ordinary were
not infrequent. Blocks Of stock OF
expecting to grow rich out
of the government were given to men
in office.
Mr.. Bristow describes transactions
which involve Perry Heath, now pub
Usher of the Salt Lake Tribune. and
Senator Dietrich Of Nebraska.
Memorandum by Roosevelt.
White House. Nov. "a. 1903.-Memo-
randum upon the various papers sub
mitted from the department Of JUS
tice and the postofice department
concerning the investigation into the
corrupt practices obtaining In the
postofice department. notably in the
ONCE Of the first assistant postmaster
general and in the office of the assist
ant attorney general for that depart.
ment. All the documents in the case
are herewith forwarded to the post.
ONCE department. and will be held
ready for submission to the congress
whenever 1t may choose to ask for
them.
It appears that in December. 1902,
Postmaster General Payne and Con.
gressman E. F. Loud, chairman Of the
committee on the postofflce and post
roads, held various consultations re-
garding the postal service. and as .
result of these interviews It was de-
termined that as soon as possible at
ter the necessary appropriations could
be made by the congress an investiga-
ton would be made Of the service.
both Messrs. Payne and Loud agree
ing as to the need for the investiga-
ton and the time when It should take
place. Accordingly, an increase Of
$4,000 in the appropriation bill report.
Gu III JduudTy Wob n0u0 AOI Su0 ga
press purpose of carrying on the in
vestigation in question. The reasons
for the increase in the appropriation
were known only to the postmaster
general, to Congressman Loud and to
Congressman Bromwell.
Subsequently, sometime In January.
information was laid before me by Mr..
Seckendorff tending to show improper
conduct by Beavers, general superin.
tendent Of the division of salaries and
allowances. and Machen, general su.
perintcndent Of the free delivery sys-
tenn; and by william Allen White
tending to show corruption by or un-
der Tyner, assistant attorney general
for the postofice department. First
Assistant Postmaster General Wynne
also informed me that he had become
suspicious Of the integrity Of both