Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-17
Friends of Postmaster at Hast
ings, Neb., Give Out Details
Of the Case
STARTED IN LOCAL CONTEST
Fight Between Rival Sections of the
City Of Hastings for Location Of The
Postoffics Got United States Senator
Dietrich involved in an Unpleasant
Prsdieament.

Omaha, Nov. 1.-THE indictments
returned yesterday by the federal grand
jury against United States Senator
Dietrich and Postmaster Fisher, OF
Hastings. Neb., on charges Of bribery
and conspiracy In connection with the
appointment Of the latter as postmas-
ter, was the subject Of extreme interest
in Omaha today. District Attorney
Summers, who has conducted the In
quiry under the government refuses 10
talk of the matter. The details Of th4
postmastership transaction At Hastings,
as given out today by Fishers friends
are as follows:
THE postofflce at Hastings up to two
years ago was located In a building
public post.
About three years ago considerable
effort was naS 20 secure better ace
commodations for the postoffice busi-
ness, the contention becoming one be.
tween opposite ends Of the town. Sem
ator Dietrich, who had Just bean
elected governor, had put up a new
building and anticipating removal OF
the postof1ice, took the matter up with
the postofice authorities during
visit to Washington. A lease was
agreed upon, subject to more specihc
terms, but the negotiations were not
concluded until after Dietrich had been
elected senator. In the meantime prop
erty owners interested in any other sec
ton Of the city made counter offers at
reduced rentals and In order to hold IL
In the vicinity Of his property lease
was finally drawn and signed at rent
al of $1,000. Believing he was renting
the property for less than 1t was worth,
| for the purpose of holding the posto6ice
for the benefit OF surrounding property
owners II was suggested the difference
in rental be made up by subscriptions
, from interested parties. The 6. A. r,
people became involved In the fight
against removal from their building. for
fear they would lose the money they
had put into fixtures and possibly be
tenantless for some time. AT this junc-s
ture the senator was called upon to
endorse for the position Of postmaste~.
one Of the applicants. competition hav-
ing narrowed down to the then Mayor
Jacob Fisher and the editor OF the
Hastings Tribune, Adam Breede. An
understanding was finally reached by
which Fisher was to receive the ap-
pointmcnt Of postmaster on condition
he purchase the peStomce fixtures be-
longing to the g. A. r. post at the
price which it had paid for them and Il
is said he also agreed TO reimburse the
senator for the difference by which he
was compelled to reduce the rental
from lis ''s. ..,l ayn.s 800, in or
der to me It Dffars it.ll hl. r.r made
In behalf OF :he location at the etker
end Of the streat This difference az
5000, It IL said, was 10 have neen made
up In equal portions by the postmaster
and his deputy and it IS alleged tha. It
was paid for a. few months and then.
when the senator discovered Its Ques-
tionable character, the money was re-
turned to Postmaster Fisher and Dep
uty Francis.
Postmaster Fisher, upon learning OF
his indictment today appeared in court
and gave bond for $1,000 for appearance
and was released. At the federal build
II ing It Is stated the United States SEN
ator Is immune from arrest on charges
IOI the IldIuIS "a InOSG l1aulC0 AA SAA'S
Indictment while congress 10 In session.
AS a consequence Dietrich will not be
unprecedented At this time. He will be
notified Of the indictment, however, ana
LIT Is expected he will appear in court
when he can conveniently do so. tPar-
ticulars Of the indictment Of Die
trich are given on page Of this issue.1
The Cottage Grove cars traversed the
entire route without serious dixculty.
Those on Wentworth avenue. however,
were less fotunate. May switches
were found spiked, necessitating fre-
quent stops and delays, and obstruc-
tions of various kinds were placed on
the tracks. Occasionally a shot was
Aired at the car as 1t passed or brick
or piece Of iron was thrown thru the
windows, but no person was reported
injured.
Mayor Harrison today sent . request
to the street railway company to havs
representative meet with the mayor
and committee of aldermen this even-
ing in an endeavor to discover a means
by which the strike can be brought to
an end.