The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-04-17
8 ?. o.
Postmaster General Payne Says II
Will sift Charges to the Bottom.

Will Sift Charges to the Bottom.
Washington, April 15.-Postmastel
General Payne yesterday Afternoon
noanced thai the investigation of the
affairs OF the postottice department
would be continued, and that any per.
son ound guilty of wrongdoing will bt
. dealt with summarily. The statement
is as follows:
During the months of January ant
February information and report.
reached me which I deemed it for the
public interest to investigate, and J
personally gathered such Information
and facts as would enable The prope,
officers of the department to undertake
a thorough investigation as to the truth
or falsity Of these reports. l directed
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Genera.
Bristow to take the proper steps t.
institute the necessary inquiry, using
for h a urpos the postottice inspec.
tors division, and such other methods
as would thoroughly ascertain the
truth or falsity Of the charges or in.
situations made, and he was instructed
to proceed promptly and with yigor dur.
ing my absence.
Guilty Will Be Punished.
Since my return this morning 1 have
not seen General Bristow, so hat / an
not advised of the progress made. The
investigation will continue, and if my
wrongdoing is disclosed the persons
guilty of such wrongdoing will be sum
marily dealt with. II the system OF
method of doing business in the de-
partment is faulty the proper remedies
will be applied without fear or favor
l inaugurated the Investigation with
the determination that it should be ex-
haustive. 1t is proper for me to ado
that laid before the president the in
formation which I had in my posses
sion. and that he fully approved of the
action proposed by me-"
The whole administration of the post
Office department is made subject tc
the investigation under the postmaste,
generals direction, and the inquiry will
be made as thorough as the depart
ment's most expert inspectors car
make it."
Won't Act Too Hastily.
AT the same time Mr.. Payne's purpose is
to give fair and just treatment to all con,
cerned, and not to act arbitrarily anG
with undue haste. With this reason it car
be stated that no changes of Importance
in the personnel of the service are o
contemplated, and changes will depend
largely on the report to be made by
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Genera
Bristow on the investigation, although de.
velopments meantime may necessitate
some deviation from this policy. The of.
flee of the assistant attorney general for
the postoftice department is among the
bureaus included in the general inquiry,
and until the investigation Of affairs gen
orally is completed it is probable that nc
successor to Assistant Attorney General
Tyner will be named. Postmaster Genera
Payne did not reach the department unit
4 O'Clock yesterday afternoon. "A score OF
newspaper men We're awaiting him with
queries concerning the postoffice investi-
cation, but he parted all questions with
remarks on his trip to the West Indies
He expressed particular qualification al
what he had observed of postal conditions
in Cuba, and said his observations in
Cuba and Porto Rico would be helpful tC
him in administering the postal service.
Mr.. Payne summoned q number of the
officers of the department, and held short
conferences with them respecting posta.
affairs. About an hour later he gave out
his statement. Subsequently he held quite
an extended interview with Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General BristoW.
1t is learned that it will be several weeks
before the postoftice inspectors will be
able to complete the work. When they
have finished Fourth Assistant Postmas-
ter General Bristow will prepare a com
p~rehensive report on the whole subject
The reportsnecessarily will embrace mat
tiers in which publicity may not be war
ranted, so it is probable some parts of the
| repor. will be withheld from publication