The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-15
WORST is OVER.
Mr.. Payne Can See the End of
POstOfiice Investigation.

washington, July 15-POstmaster Cen
eral Payne can see the end of the post
office investigation. This fact he has
announced. Mr.. Bristow, who is con-
Quoting the investigation, will not COM
nit himself on the subject. Mr.. PAYNE
says he cannot fix the date of the final
announcement, but he has been compar-
Ing the vast amount of work which has
been done with what he believes re-
mains to be accomplished, and the re-
suit is a belief that the worst is over
and that the end may fairly be said to
be in sight.
What is to be the outcome of the long
period of silent work in which Mr.. Bris-
tow and his corps of inspectors have
been engaged since the Machen indict-
ments We're secured is a puzzle in some
degree even to the postmaster general
himself. Mr.. Payne has invariabl ta-
ken prompt action on recommendations
for dismissal or arrest made by Mr..
BriStow heretofore. and the fact that
the recent long period of work by the in
spectors has produced no public results
leads to the conclusion that nothing
warranting indictments has been dis
covered against other officials. But that
there are several officials who cannot re-
main in their present places as the re-
suit of Mr.. BriStOWS Investigations
there is not the slightest doubt and
with this fact generally known at the
postoffice department the question is be-
ing asked more and more persistently
why the removals are not made at once.
A list of officials whose usefulness to
the government is regarded as having
been destroyed through the investigation
includes the following names:
H H. Rand, confidential clerk to the
postmaster general
Charles Hedges, superintendent of city
postal delivery.
NJ. A. ". Louis, superintendent of di-
vision of postoffice supplies.
John NJ. Masten, assistant superin-
tendent of railway mail service.
w. D. R. Hazard. division superin-
tendent of rural free delivery, New
York.
This list will undoubtedly be enlarged
by dismissals from the New York city
postoffice and from other large post
offices.
That these recommendations will be
contained in the final report of Mr..
Bristow, it, indeed, they are not made
before that time, is. the firm belief of
persons familiar with the organization
of the department. If conditions which
existed before the investigation began
were detrimental to the efficiency of the
service, those conditions cannot be rem
edied without eliminating all persons
who have contributed materially to the
decentralization.
Some of the persons to go are believed
to be thoroughly honest, but their in
terests and methods have been of such a
nature as to identify them with the old
continued.
If Mr.. Bristow is going deeper into the
records of employees who have been en-
meshed in what is popularity called the
postoffice scandal, with a view TO in
voking the law against some of them,
his delay in reporting recommendation
can hardly affect this phase of the stu
alton.
Postmaster General Payne's sea trip
to Boston, beginning on Wednesday on
the revenue cutter Onondaga, is to last
exactly ten days, and when his an
nouncement of the end of the investiga-
ton is taken in connection with this
trip and the seeming reluctance to be
definite exhibitor bF Mr.. Bristow, the
impression is un1ni4 tafxably given that
Mr.. Bristow has assured Md. Payne that
he cannot be ready to make a final re-
port until after the Boston trip at least.
Postmaster General Payne said today
that the incident of Mr.. Madden's pub
LEGATION of a communication rejecting
on other officials in connection with
charges against the registry contract
may be regarded as closed. He said he
had received a letter from Mr.. Madden
in reply to a request for letter of ex-
PLANTATION of the circumstances attending
the publication but that the letter was
not to be given out at present. He add
ed that thesinspectors had not yet re-
ported on the investigation OF the man
fold paper contract.
The postoff1ce inspectors are investi-
eating charges made against John NJ
Masten, now assistant superintendent OF
the railway mail service and formerly
chief clerk of the first assistant post
master generals office. A man named
Terry now in the government service
has made an affidavit before the inspec-
tors alleging that Masten, while chief
clerk to the first assistant postmaster
general proposed that Terry pay him $50
down and Sc or so month to secure
reinstatement in a former position IN
Masters bureau. Terry charges that ne
was originally a 5000 employe in the
dead letter office; that he was removed
under an order of Masten and put into
the city postofice; that he protested
and finally that Masten suggested ms
getting an outside party, close friend
of Masten and former employe of the
postal service to help him. The atfloa-
Wit alleges that MaSten gave Terry as
sllrance that if he paid the amount
mentioned he could get back; that ne
went to Masters house about the mat
ter but did not pay the money Terry
charges that subsequently he MADE an
affdavit making these charges, and
handed it to Masten to present to FIRST
Assistant Postmaster General johnson
and that the affidavit did not reach
Johnson. According to the charges, Mas
ten subsequently was asked Dy Terry
for the affidavit and refused to return II
and Terry thereupOn placed the lnfor-
nation before the civil commission, VINO
took UP the matter with the president
The federal grand jury In TINS CITY Is
considering several important postofhce
cases which are expected to prove or
vvidesnread interest. Postmaster Cen
eral Payne said that he expected there
would be some important news during
his absence on his trip along the coast
and that he expected that the grand
i,Irv would furnish some interesting de-
velonnoents There is no definite infor-
nation available as to the identity OF
the cases. but the jury has been work
ing on them for some time
An agreement has been reached pc
tween the postoffice department and
the civil service commission regarding
the ira nsfer of employees from other de-
nartnents to the postoffice depart
me7t-
The new regulations provide that IN
such transfers it must be shown that
tha r,arson to be transferred WIFI be