Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-07


was any fraud indicated in the busi-
ness transactions. but solely because
such contracts appeared to be In v1o-
lation of the statute above mention
ed"
The history OF 161 cases is given in
the report( wherein members of con-
gress figure in getting authorization for
clerk hire in excess of the amount the
office in question was entitled to, ac-
cording to the secret method employ
ed by the department to determine the
merits of the case. Many of these
increases were only temporary and
have been discontinued. A tabulated
statement shows that in eighty-two In
stances where reductions have been
made since April, 1903, $15,SS0 was be-
ing paid annually in excess of the
amounts these offices We're entitled TO.
AS illustrations of the nature of the
long list of cases, instances from
single page are quoted in which
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow appears as the influence" as
follows:
Mora, Indiana On June 25, 1902.
Hon. Jesse Overstreet wrote, request
ing an allowance Of 5000 for separ-
ating clerk hire at this office. Two
days later he wrote requesting that the
allowance be made $3.50.
On June 27, 1902, the allowance was
fixed at $3.50, effective July /, 1902
There does not appear to have been any
statement of the separating work on
which to base the allowance of clerk
hire. On May Is, 1903 the records show
that there was no separating service
performed at this office, the allowance
was discontinued effective that date.
Oakland City, Ind.-Aprdl II, 1902
Hon. j. A. Hemenway personally re-
commended that the allowance for sep
arating clerk hire $4,000 be allowed to
continue.
On April 81. 1902, the postmaster
made report of the separating SER
vice performed, and according to the
scale used he was entitled to only $190
per annum.
On May s, 1902, a letter signed by the
first assistant postmaster general, was
addressed to Mr.. Hemenway in which
he advised that the amount of transit
mail now handled at that point, Oak
land city, Is not sufficient to serve as
basis for the present allowance for
clerkhire, but In view Of your special
interest in the matter, no change will
be made at this time"
The $500 allowance was therefore al
lowed to continue until Nov. 19, 1908.
The postmaster having reported sepa-
rating business at his office which en-
titled him to 1910 his allowance was
reduced to s210 effective Dec. 1, 1908.
Rockport, Ind.-February 1s, 1899.
Hon. J. A. Hemenway personally re-
commends an allowance OF $500. An
increase from 5000 to $50 was granted
from July l, 1899.
April II, 1902 Hon. ]. A. Hemenway
recommended an allowance Of $40 II
possible. The postmaster was directed
to make a report of transit mail hand
led, which he did, showing him to be
entitled to $3.50 for clerkhire. The al
lowance was increased from $500 20
$40O. effective July l, 1900.
April II, 1902, the postmaster was
again directed to make account of tram
sit mail handled. His report showed
him to be entitled to an allowance of
$3.50. In memorandum marked "spec-
ial" in the handwriting of the general
superintendent, directions were given
to Increase the allowance to $500 from
July /. 1902. This was done.
On Nov. 10, 1903, the postmaster. in
accordance with instructions. made a
new account OF the transit mail handled
showing the office to be entitled to $39O.
Accordingly the allowance was reduced
from $500 to 1890 on Dec /. 1903.
DorcnoS nvhOCa ssinflnance' seemed
good with the postoffice department.
for a time at least. embraced IN the
history of these cases include:
Hon. G. D. Meiklejohn, representa-
tives Russell, Sperry and Hill of Conn;
Senator Clay and Representative
Griggs of Georgia; Senator Cullon. ex-
Senator Mason and Representatives
George W. Smith, Rodenburg. War
ner and Prince of Illinois; Senator
Beveridge. and Representatives G. B.
Lands, Crumpacker. Watson, Hemen-
way. Overstreet and former Represen-
tatiye Steele of Indiana; former Speak
err Henderson, and Representatives
Cousins and w. I. Smith of Iowa; Rep
resentatives Miller Bowersock and
Calderhead of Kansas; Representative
Pugh and John w. Langley of the CEN
sus office for Kentucky; Senator Nc
Comas and Representatives Pearre and
jackson of Maryland. Four allowances
in Michigan were secured by Repre-,
sentative n. C. Smith. Representative
Gardner was successful in one instance
and Hon. John A. Merritt in another.
The Hon. III. A. Castle. former repre-
sentative Fletcher and Representative
McCleary are the names mentioned Ill
the Minnesota list. Hon. r. G..
Kerens Hon. Webster Davis. Hon.
John Dougherty. secured increases
which afterwards were revoked for
Missouri Hon. Thomas Carter ap-
pears in the list from Montana. For
,ner Senator Thurston ana Represen-
tatiye Rurkett are down for Nebraska.
Representative Gardner and Hon. Will
liam Johnson secured increases in New
Jersey. New York is represented in the
list by Gov. Odell, Representatives Ser
emo e. Payne. Sherman, Alexander
Ketcham aud Vreeland. and ex-Rep-
resentatives Ray and Tompkins. For
mer Senator Pritchard secured an in
crease for clerkhire for Greenvflle. N.
c.. from $40 to $3.50 per annum. which
on Dec j. 1903. was discontinued alto
cether He also secured an increase
from $40 to $3.50 for Waleforest n. c.,
which was reduced to the former
amount Oct. i. 1903 Senator Hans
brough appears in the list for North