Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-06-18
Made In The Post office
Department Yesterday
FAVORED CONTRACTORS
Who Employed His Son, Therefore
Supt. hetcalfe Of the Money order
Department for Years was Removed.

Washington. June l7.-As a result of
alleged indiscretion in matters per
tanning to the award OF contracts Tor
printing the money order forms OF the
government. James T. Metcalfe fcr
many years superintendent Of the
mony order system of the postoaice de-
partment. was today removed from
Office by the postmaster general \
full investigation will be made later
The dismissal is the result OF the acts
of NJ. Metcalfe in opposition 10 the
bid Of Paul Herman OF Rutherford y.
j.. the lowest bidder by $4,000. and in
favor of the next higher bidder. the
Wynkoop. Hallenbeck. Crawford COM
pany of New York, of which Mr. Met
calfe's son is an emplOye The story
is briefly told in the following letter ~
dismissal, signed by Postmaster O.-r-
eraI Payne at 3 O'clock this afternoon
James T Metealfe. superintendent
of the money order system
Sir:
You are hereby removed from th,
position of superintendent OF the money
order system.
The charges upon which I base your
removal relate to your actions in the
matter of letting the contract for
money order forms These chare.-s
were made known 10 YOU this mornin.-
by Fourth Assistant Postmaster isri--
tow and Assistant Attorney General
Robb Of the postOfiice department. arl
i transcript of your answer thereto is
enclosed herewith
1t appears from your answer that
when the proposals Of TN. different
competitors for the contract Of SUNNY
ing money order forms were opened
Paul Herman OF Rutherford. y. J.
formerly employed as foreman by the
" yhiCOp. 1aiien beck. Crawford COM
p5ny of New York. BY which companv
II seems your son is also employed. u.ss
found 10 be the lowest bidder. his nr,-
posai being $4,000 below that uf the
next highest bidder. namely the Kyvr-
kcop, Hallenbeck. Crawford coynr,,,,-
that the bid of Herman as submitted
was regular in form. and thar ~ hal
deposited a certified check for s. COO rs
forfeit 1t further appears that with
IN day or TWO the Wynkoop. Hallen-
beck, Crawford company filed a nro-
test against awarding the contract 10
Herman, alleging that he was nor
financially responsible: that shorr
tine thereafter Mister Herman call-s
at your Office and You advised him LAD
Withdraw MS bid and re-enter the en-
ploy OF the WynkOop. Hallenb--g
CFaWIord company, understanding thlt
at the time such withdrawal wouI5 r..-
SUIT IN the contract being awarded q,
salu company and consequently In q
loss 20 the government: that Vo,
Chered 10 write, and did write a Iat-
Ter 20 the said company apprisins in
OF your interview with Heru,.- -,-,f
using your good offices in his bab,tr-
that You advised Herman that his & raa
uePcslt would probably be returned "a,
MN II he adopted your Suggestion
II iurtner appears that you r--ars-
ed Mr. Herman as not POSSESSING tb.
( mechanical qualifications REQUISITE n,
the performance OF the CONTRACT ana
'iat II was not any part of your dufy
10 pass upon the question ~ his r.
sponsibility. financial or otherwise.
1t also appears that you did not ae-
quaint your superior. First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne. with th..
tact that you had endeavored 10 have
Mr.. Herman withdraw his bid.
1t further appears that a hearing
has been had before General Wvnre.
upon the question OF the financial ~
| Sponsiblllty of Mr.. Herman. although it
developed since the submission OF your
answer this morning that you discour-
aged such a hearing and manifested "a
desire that the contract be awarded 20
the Wynkoop. Hallenbeck. Crawford
company. Very respectfully.
H. e. PAYNE.
POSTMASTER General
Postmaster General Payne in ex-
planning his action stated that these
was no charge that Mr. Metcalfe had
done anything against the law. but n
said that his conduct was serious in
discretion that could not be overlooked.
Mr.. Metcalfe, he says. has always
been considered 4 faithful. efficient
man and anNbonest employe. Tho post
master general on his arrival at 5hn
department today sent for Fourth As
sistant Postmaster Bristow and Assist
Continued on Page SIX