The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-30
CASES OF TYNER AND BARRETT
PRESIDENT ESPECIALLY SEVERE IN
DENOUNCING THEIR oFFENsEs.
Declares that Condition of Gross Cor
Assistant Postmaster General.
pecial to the Indianapolls Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Nov "a brief of the
report OF Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral ]. L. Bristow on the postal investiga-
ton and the memorandum of President
Roosevelt on the subject were made public
to-day. Mr.. Bristow's full report would
fill several newspapers the size Of the Jour
nal. for it is very voluminous. The brief
itself contains over fifteen. thousand words.
1t covers every phase of the investigation
and shows how extensive were the rami-
hcations Of the schemes worked by A. w.
Machen. George W. Beavers and other al
legged grafters. The President, in his mem-
orandcm. briefly reviews the evidence of
corruption presented by Mr.. Bristow. and
makes several important Recommendations.
In alluding to the charges against Beavers
and Machen the President speaks of their
corrupt methods as bribery and blackmail.
but he is more severe with Barrett and
Tyner. He says the crime OF the two last
named took the form of favoring get-rich-
quick concerns and similar swindling con-
Germs; in other words. the criminals. whom
1t was the sworn duty OF these government
officials to prosecute, paid them for permis-
sion to fleece the public unmolested."
The alleged connection of Perry s. Heath
with the scandal is alluded TO- and
the reader is referred TO Mr.. Bristow's re-
port for details. ...---..
Mr.. Roosevelt urges the enactment of
laws that will prevent recurrence OF the
recent wave of corruption. He says. how
ever, the prime need is not new legislation,
but the punishment of those who offend
against existing laws. mo crime" he
declares, calls for sterner reprobation than
the crime of the corruptionist in public life
and of the man who seeks to corrupt him.
The bribe giver and the bribe taker are
equally guilty. Both alike sin against the
primary law of the states safety" The
Presidents arraignment of the grafters is
indicative that they will be strenuously
prosecuted by the government.
The Presidents Memorandum.
Following is the Presidents memoran-
dunn, as given out by Postmaster General
Payne. 1t is dated Nov. "a:
Memorandum upon the various papers
submitted from the Department OF Justice
and the Postoffice Department concerning
the investigation into the corrupt practices
obtaining in the Postoffice Department
notably in the Office of the first assistant
postmaster general and in the office OF the
assistant attorney general for that depart
ment. All the documents in the case are
herewith forwarded to the Postoffice De-
partment, and Will be held ready for SUBJ
mission to the Congress whenever IL may
choose to ask for them.
1T appears that in December, 1902 POST
master General Payne and Congressman
L. +. Loud, chairman of the COMMITTEES
on postoffices and post-roads. held va
rious consultations regarding the postal
service, and as result OF these interviews
1t was determined that as soon possible
after the necessary appropriations could be
made by the Congress an Investigation
should be made Of the service. both Mcssrs:
Payne and Loud agreeing TO the need
FOR the investigation and the time
when IL should take place. Accordingly an
increase of 5000 in the appropriation bill
reported in January was made for the ex-
press purpose OF carrying on the investiga-
tion In question. The reasons for the in
crease In the appropriation were known
only to the postmaster general, TO Congress-
man Loud and to Congressman Bromwell.
subsequently, sometime in January in
formation was laid before me by Mr.. Seek
endorff tending to show improper conduct
by Beavers. general superintendent OF the
division of salaries and allowances, and
Machen, general superintendent OF the free
delivery system; and by Mr.. William Allen
White tending 10 show corruption by or
under Tyner assistant attorney general
for the Postoffice Department. First As
sistant Postmaster General wynne also
informed me that he had become suspicious
OF the integrity OF both Machen and Beav-
; ers. After full consultation with Mr..
Payne, ii was decided that Fourth Assists
ant Postmaster General Brissow should
make a thorough and exhaustive investi-
cation of the charges in question and OF
all matters that might be developed In
connection with them. Mr.. Bristow's re-
port is record Of as thorough bit OF In
vestigating work as has ever been done
| under the government.
SPECIAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED.
After this investigation had been in
progress for about two months, IL became
evident that legal proceedings would have
to be undertaken against some OF the Of
tenders. Owing TO the Importance OF the
case il was deemed advisable that special
counsel should be employed. and Messrs.
Charles j. Bonaparte and Holmes Conrad
were chosen for this purpose. Messrs. Bo-
naparte and Conrad. in their review OF the
report of Mr. Bristow. speak as follows:
/ We consider the report an exceptionally
able, candid and impartial review OF its
subject-matter and that IL shows. clearly.
| renrehensible misconduct anountiryu--s>6 -
| many cases to crime, on the part of a
4 ber OF public officials. IL Is a volum
document. but this arises not from
! ity, but from the nature OF the matt
! cussed We heartily comu
/ report and deem its conclusions
( fed by the facts IL sets forth
regretting in common with
| citizens that the grave abuz
4 standing which IL reveals
/ grown up in the Postoffice
| consider the exposure of
/ the attempts made TO pu
BILE for them a work Of
utility. quickly and
| all that Is thus sa
/ Mr. Bristow / cord
"The investigate,
| discloses a conditi
\ the Office OF the
general and In
ney general fo7
In the case z
delivery, Ma
his misconG
appointing
| of the
and a