The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-28
DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO
MAKE POLITICAL CAPITAL
Hope to Hoodwink the People II
Regard to the Postal In
vestigation.
REAL FACTS IN THE CASE

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON March 27.-The Demo
cratic leaders in Congress have made II
clear that il is their purpose TO make one or
the issues OF the presidential campaign the
refusal of the Republicans in Congress 10
order a congressional investigation of the
Postoffice Department They have rung
the changes on that question almost dahy
during the past two weeks. The opinion pre-
walls among the Republicans here that the
people of the country Will not be misled by
a false issue raised through wildly-fiaunted
generalities in congressional debate Not
a single specific charge il made by the
Democrats, nor a reason given for the sus-
picion that corruption exists in the de-
partment, except the fact, disclosed as
result of an investigation conducted by the
department itself under the direction or
President Roosevelt and Postmaster Cen
eral Payne, the initiative, progress ana
conclusion of which furnished ample PROOF
that this Republican administration VIII
under all circumstances clean out rascals
in office and inaugurate reforms where re-
forms are needed.
During the debate on the postoffice supply
Dill, the statement was probably made IN
Democratic leaders that the "Postoffice
Department is reeking with corruption.
No specific charge is made, no point is
raised going 10 show that the Democrats
going on in any branch of the postal service;
nothing but the general and unsupported
assertion that the service is corrupt. Or
course nobody here believes any such state
ment, nor would such charges properly lie
against the Postoffice Department any
more than against any other one or the
great executive departments.
But what are the real facts regarding the
situation in the postal service and the re-
suits of the investigation? In the Postoffice
Department there are two or three divi-
/ a al
IN which there is any chance for corrup-
ton or fraudulent practices These are the
divisions of salaries and allowances, the
free delivery branch, the supply division,
and their related branches. True there
have been charges of possible frauds in
connection with the mail pay and subsidy
system TO the great railway lines. But
this charge is not made embodying fraud
or corruption on the part OF officials in the
department but covers the question of
railways getting too much pay for carry
ing the mails. These mail contracts are
made in accordance with specific provisions
of law. and If excess payments are made
they are made in accordance with faulty
laws. In respect 10 the other great
branches mentioned the investigation made
by the department itself covered them. 1t
was in these branches that opportunities
for wrongdoing existed, due 10 the lax
system of making contracts, and certain
practices which grew UP under the expert
mental policy with respect 10 rural free
delivery. AS a result of the investigation
conducted by the department the heads OF
these bureaus and divisions, Beavers, Ma
chen and Louis. were either indicted or re-
moved. Investigation was made in other
branches OF these bureaus. and a number
of under officials were either indicted or
removed. The investigation was conducted
by army of poStoffice inspectors, the
detectives of the postal service, who are
infinitely better qualified to detect fraud
than any committee of Congress possibly
could be. Evidence of that fact has been
| repeatedly shown. Congressional commit
tees on two occasions investigated the free
| delivery service on account of charges made
against Mr.. Machen, and, although IL is
| evident that the wrongs with which he
| was charged, and on which he was con-
victed, We're going on during the time of
| these congressional committee investiga-
| lions. he was given clean bill of health
| by the committees on both occasions. Ii
required months of persistent work by de-
| tectiveS TO ferret out the things charged
| against Machen and Beavers. A commit
| tee of Congress, sending for persons and
papers and administering oaths'' would
have had just the same luck In following
| up the Machen and Beavers cases as the
| against Machen. The trail was too intri-
| cate and too we'll covered to be detected
| out by such methods.
In addition to these substantial reasons
| why congressional investigation would be
without avail, attention is called to the fact
that the real object of the Democrats in.
| trying TO force such investigation is that
| they know, if entered upon a congress-
| ional committee investigation would not
be competed during the coming summer.
| 1t would drag along, with all sorts of
hints and suspicious being sent out all for
| political effect, in order that amidst the
| excitement of a political campaign the stir
| in postal affairs could be made to rebound
! to the benefit of the party On the outside.
| 1t will not be forgotten that the recent
departmental investigation of the salary
and allowances, free delivery and supply
| divisions made upon specific, direct
and positive charges against the officials in
| those divisions and bureaus, coupled with
| abundant suspicious circumstances in the
| management of those branches of. the pos
| tai service. The fact is not lost sight of
| that in regard to other branches of the
| postal service there are not even respect
| able grounds for suspicion, and no charges
except the most glittering generalities. adj
/ vanced as reasons for additional investiga-
| ton. Nobody has offered i'm Congress OF
| anywhere else, direct charges against any
| other official in the postal service.
JOHN +. MONK.