The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-29
PAYNE TAKES UP SCANDAL
The Postmaster. General Says He
Caused the Investigation.
NEW CHARGES AGAINST BEAVERS
He 10 Accused OF LobbyinR For the Postal
Clerks Qnion-Psyne Promises Most
Searching Iaquiry-Evsry Guilty Par.
SON Will he sanmarily Dealt With
President Roosevelt Approves.


Washington. D. C.-Postmaster-G Gen.
eral Payne has returned to Washing
ton. Before seeing any of his subor.
dinatcs Mr.. Payne said that he was
personally responsible for the investi
CATION COW being conducted. informa.
ton having reached him before lie left
Washington which he felt warranted q
thorough investigation. and he had &C.
cordingly. with the approval Of the
President. directed Fourth Assistant
Postma General Brlstow to make
the necessary inquiry. Not only
would 1t naturally fall to Mr.. Bristow
to make such IN Investigation, but the
fact that the divisions to be investl-
gated were under First Assistant Post.
ma aster-G General Wynne's Jurisdiction
made 1t especially desirable to secure
an ex porte inquiry. The Postmaster.
General made the following statement:
During the months Of January and
February information and reports
reached me, which I deemed II for the
public interest to investigate. and I
personally gathered such information
and facts rs would enable the proper
officers Of the department to undertake
q thorough investigation as TO the
truth or falsity Of these reports. I
directed Fourth Assistant Postmaster.
General Bristow to take the proper
steps to institute the necessary Inquiry.
using for that purpose the postoffice
inspectors division and such other
methods as would thoroughly ascer-
tain the truth or falsity of the charges
or Insinuations made, and he was in
structed to proceed promptly and with
vlgor during my absence. Since my
return this morning I have not seen
General Bristow, So that am not ad-
vised OF the progress made. The In
vestigatIon will continue. and II any
wrongdoing Is disclosed tie parties
guilty Of such wrongdoing will be sum-
MARTY dealt with. II the system or
method Of doing business In the de-
partment Is faulty the proper remedies
will be applied without fear or favor.
I inaugurated the investigation with
the determination that It should be
exhaustive.
1T Is proper for me to add that I
laid before the President the informa-
tIon which I had In my possession.
and that he fully approved OF the ac-
ton proposed by me-"
After debating the above statement
Mr. Payne held long conferences with
Mr. Bristow and Mr.. Wynne.
Nr. Bristow received formal charges
20 the effect that Mr.. Beavers. late Su-
perintendent Of the Division OF Salar.
les and Allowances. had been employed
by the Postal Clerks Association. and
had not only drawn salary from the
association. but had used his influence
with members of Congress to secure
continually increasing appropriations
for clerk hire. As In the cases OF all
charges fled 1t was merely said that
the matter would be thoroughly inves-
tigated.
The whole administration OF the
Postoffice Department Is made subject
to the investigation under Postmaster
General Payne's directions. and every
charge will be prObed thoroughly and
the inquiry made rs searching as the
departments most expert inspectors
can make 1t. At the same time Mr..
Payne's purpose Is to give fair and
Just treatment to all concerned. and
not to act arbitrarily and with undue
haste. For this reason 1t can be said
that no immediate changes Of impor-
tance In the personnel Of the service
are now contemplated. and changes
will depend largely on the report to be
made by Mr.. Brlstow. although deyel.
opments In the meantime may make
some deviation from this policy neces.
sary.
When Postmaster General Payne
reached the department score OF
newspaper men were awaiting him
with queries concerning the investiga-
ton. but he parried all questions with
remarks on his trip to the West Indies.
He expressed particular qualification
at what he hid observed Of postal con-
ditIons In Cuba, and said his observa-
tons In Cuba and Porto Rico would be
helpful to him In administering the
posta! service. Mr.. Payne summoned
q number Of the officials Of the depart
ment and held short consultations with
them respecting postal affairs.
It may be several weeks before the
postofiice inspectors will be able to
complete their work. When they have
finished Mr. Bristow will prepare
comprehensive report on the whole sub.
L. Ill xxxtII