New-York tribune., 1903-07-23

festly for the purpose OF collecting per diem to
which he was not entitled.
There are many other instances of similar
Justification The facts were submitted TO the
Postmaster General some days since, who di-
rected Hedgee's removal for the reasons apoYe
set forth
HOW HEDGES EXPLAINS IT
When seen after he had been informed of his
dismissal Hedges acknowledged the correctness
of the charges and protested that he cared
nothing for his place. but pronounced anathema
on one w. w. Valentine, his former stenog-
rapher who he asserted, had profted to some
extent by his Irregularities. and who had now
turned inforrner He complained bitterly Of the
strictness with which Mr. Bristow interpreted
the law saying that 1t entirely different
from the construction put upon II by Machen.'
but expended most Of his eloquence in con-
signing to everlasting punishment his former
subordinate, Valentine. He made the following
statement:
While was assistant superintendent Of free
delivery with headquarters at New-York,
called to Washington to take charge OF the
entire service while Mr.. Machen was Ill WIN
typhoid fever. While acting. ] got $3.50
salary assistant superintendent, while Mr.
Machen' received s.. 800. 1t was necessary Tor
ne 20 get the per diem allowance TO make the
services and the compensation equal IL IS
charged that the per diem accounts snow me az
other points. the theory being that strictly
lspeal1ing. under the law. I was not entitled 10
;Der diem when at headquarters This has
If has been the practice of the office for the
lTaTty taking the place Of the head OF the SER
lHice 10 claim per diem in some form. In my
,CaSe vas also supervising the eastern olNlsioh
while officiating general superintendent here.
tITerbert W Valentine. now In the New orR
E1'ostofffce and formerly stenographer there
iuBder me surrendered private letters and notes
ITO the inspectors which gave them this in
forna ton 7 used 10 drop him a line when ]
was travelling 20 keep him posted Of my where
,sboUts Valentine is the one who used this
;postof1ce commission; IT was used with the
4l-y,o rF rfrte Tanf
end ef First Assistant Postmaster General
.JotHson. Valentine was anxious to go out on
field work Mr Bristow refused 10 allow the
issuance Of a commission for Valentine, the
ground that he clerk and not an officer.
mir. Machen. however. held that as valentine
was engaged on the work or the ofnce, his use
,of the commission not Illegal AS to the
;f;sn Antonio reference. I was In Mexico, but not
examining mining property. did not see this
5uining property In making my reports never
put down towns that had not visited, nor did
j put down all the towns that I visited as !
'-szs yer,,itfed 10 do Thus omitted mention
ifng the Mansfield visit, because I had no official
work there, and Joplin was the last place where
J had official work ! simply prolonged the
7ine on the list
Mr Bristow declined 10 say anything as TO
she status Of Mr.. Valentine. who, Mr.. Hedges
says. travelled on his commission
The case was worked up by Inspector George
sutton assisted by Inspectors Bennett and
Jones. There were several other charges on
siie against Hedges. but none OF these consti-
ruted the basis Of his dismissal. The acts which
led 10 his removal discovered by the in
spectoTs I'm the course Of their general investi-
Estion of the records of the Free Delivery Office.
The case has been under investigation for sew
rral weeks. Mr. Bristow summoned Hedges
shortly before the close os Office hours this after
moon and informed him Of his dismissal
Hedges reiterated his contention that his dis
snissal not warranted
Hedges was appointed 10 the postal service
from the Xth Congress, District Of Texas on
fully 1, 1898. and was appointed superintendent
Df city free delivery July l, 1901. His salary
yves 5000 a year.
Erwin II. Thorpe, postofflce inspector in charge
ht New-York. who has been assisting in the
administration OF the Free Delivery Service
since the beginning Of the investigation, has
been designated as acting superintendent Of city
free delivery IN place of Hedges.