The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-19
With Second Assistant Postmast
Generals Department.
SIXTY MILLIONS ANNUALLY
Disbursed to Railroad Mail Carriers
Collision Between Offcials-Test
Weighings Are Rigged-A Mime
apoIis Correspondent Finds Many
Causes for Suspicious Inquiry.

There is one branch of the post |
Office department which has not been
touched by the investigation now in
progress and it is freely predicted
by officials Of the department that it
will not be touched. 1t is the second
assistant postmaster generals depart
ment, charged with the annual eX-
penditure of no less than $5S,927,-
1876. That was the amount spent
in 1902. The totals will be consider
ably larger, when figured up for the
current fiscal year ending June 80.
For years there have been rumors
of misapplication of funds in this de-
partment The condition may be
said to be one of chronic, but sup
pressed scandal. About every year
there are things said on the floor OF
the house of representatives, and IN
the senate, which would justify a
thorough overhauling. Two years
ago special commission made a
report, filling four volumes, in which
much confirmation was furnished for
the loose talk in congress. But the
matter has always ended in talk. NO
serious attempt has ever been made
it would seem to take off the lid.
This second assistants department
has charge of all the railway mail
business. 1t represents the govern
ment in hiring the railways to carry
the mails. This has deV Hoped into
large business, as the above quoted
totals Indicate. 10 handle nearly
sixty million dollars worth OF gov
ernment business with the rich and
powerful railway companies and not
have any Of the money 90 wrong any
whore, and to guard the interests Of
tn government with scupnIou5 care.
is something Of strain TO weak hu-
man nature.
The general charge, frequently l2-
peated, and rather widely b Hevot
is that m railroads ans getting 2
good thing -that they are getting
more than Legitimate compensation
for carrying III mails Thc lour vot
umc5 of statistics are available to
prove this. It is stated also by JhoS'
who ought TO know that there Is cor
fusion between the railways and Ger
tain OF the departm MT employees ~
which the railways st more than tht
law eCntemplates. Inc compensation
is based ON certain test WeighnGs o
mail matter, and THESE "elghlhgS are
said to be flg2ed against the depart
mcnt. In addition to these aecnSa
lions, 1t Is related that the railroads
use their power through their lobb,
az nts, to get certain additional ga
tuities, in the shane Of hounties
which are appropriated ont OF tn
public treasury, and are paid to tn
companies under the @uiSe of exp
diting the mails. Nobody denies tina
there are such bounties. They al
pear in the annual appropriation bill
and the reports Of the department
Last year they amounted 70 Sl93
63G.25, and this year they will be 4
most as much. The only question i
regard to them is whether they az
really legitimate expenditures, an
whether the legislation is secured
a proper fashion.
Tho fact thar the department hi
ceased to roCDmm nd these bOuntie
and that rDngress goes right on a
propaiating the money. tells its oW
story. There are mighty few i
stances in which a department hes
tates to recommend an appropriatit
which has been sanctioned hv Il
custom of years: and still few
cases where congress appropriate
money that is not asked
Which suggests reason why t
present inquiry will not be extend
to the department of the seco
assistant postmaster general The
is too much influence to allow
Such. at least. is the opinion amo
,oc+ oHo, officials in some nf 7