Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-20
Every Detective Of the Postof-
flee Department Engaged In
Tracing Big swindles
FRAUD OF eRossEsr CHARACTER
Enough Already Known to Justify a
Clean Sweep Of the Rins-corruption
in the Purchase of the Supplies
Every Conceivable Kind of Graft
Worked on the Government.

tive of the postoffice department is now
engaged in tracing the qualifications of
the great postoffice scandal. Since the
publication in the Press on March
26, of the fact that the operations of a
powerful ring We're being investigated
the scandal has developed to such an
extent as to be Supplying.
Already enough evidence has been
[secured to justify a clean sweep of the
ring. George w. Beavers, one of the
alleged leaders of the ring. already has
resigned, and there are persistent ru-
mors of the resignation of Superinten-
dent A. w. Machen, against whom hun
ldreds of charges have been filed. Some
of the Illegal acts of former Superinten-
dent Beavers have been undone and
others will be reversed.
Since the resignation of Beavers, who
resigned rather than stand the fire of
investigation, charges of every con-
cievabl character having been made
against Beavers. Machen and other
subordinates. The substantiation of
any one of the charges, will be q justi-
fication for the removal of the guilty
officials. Already 1t has been proved
that there has been gross and criminal
extravaganza. Supplies were purchased
in enormous quantities and We're fore
ed on the postmasters thruout the
country. Prices much higher than the
retail prices We're paid for some of the
articles purchased.
1t has been developed that the rami-
fications of the ring extend to every
hamlet, town and village in the United
States, and charges of grating" coll
fusion, and corruption have been placed
before the department in such numbers
that it will take months to complete
the investigation.
These charges are specific and In
many instances are backed by the evil
dence of reputable persons. General
charges nave been made that enormous
OF typewriters, registering
clocks, safes, mail boxes, mail
bags, pen holders, rubber stamps, sta
tionery and other supplies have been
and forced upon the post
masters thruout the country.
Definite charges are made that A. w.
Machen was instrumental In spending
100000 for equipping the country With
mail boxes of fiimsy construction in
place of more substantial ones. 1t is
that there was no Gus or
reason for wasting this half million
dollars, especially as the new boxes
were not as good as the old ones.
In the matter of painting the letter
o.1c a. l., olo;~o4d thof fhnra hos haor
gross extravaganza, the government
81 cents for the painting of each
box, as well as the hotel bills and the
fares of the inspectors to look
after hi work. whereas in one instance
a private contractor did the work for
3S cents.
George w. Beavers Is charged with
being the paid representative of the
Clerks Association, n 1t is
claimed that he used his official uosi-
ton to lobby to secure increased appro-
priations for the clerks. Congress has
authorized an increase of
pay of the clerks. 1t also is charged
Beavers a~ntagonized the legisla-
ton increasing the pay of letter car
riers, whose association Beavers did
represent.
Beavers is also charged with being q
member of a promotion syndicate,
which sold promotions for SIS each ami
a months per centage. AS h result
Of these charges the promotions of L.
776 clerks in the New York postoffice
we're ordered held until an investigation
could be made.
Beavers, it is also claimed, violated
the law by offering a larger number OF
appointments of high salarfed postal
clerks than is allowed by the law and
IF reducing the number of lower salar-
ed clerks. Orders to correct this abuse
a v been given by the officials.
Charges of collision between NJ. w.
4. Louis, chief Of the supply division,
a local rubber stamp manufacturer.
made by the Bingham Company
If Philadelphia. This firm claims that
In honest dealer is not able to secure
|. contract with the department., be-
,ause the local firm was given inside
information, which enabled it to under
lid its competitors, and the goods fur
,ished are below the specifications OF
contract.
Louis also is charged with purchasing
ypewriters at a cost of from $l5 to
80 above the retail price. Another one
the charges is hat 5000 cash regis
.ers were purchased at a price $25
higher than the retail figures.
FUGITIVE OWES 100000.
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