Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-01-20
POSTAL METHODS
aired IN court
First Assistant Postmaster General
WynGe 7 stiles in Trial at
Washington.
ADMITS IGNORANCE OF MANY THINGS
IN CONNECTION With DEPARTMENT
Declares He Is Doing His Best to
Learn Former First Assistant
Postmaster General Heath Also
on Stand-Tells of Practice Re-
Earding Purchase CT Supplies.

Washington, Jan. 16.-Robert ].
Wynne, first assistant postmaster gen
eral, who was on the stand when court
adjourned over on Wednesday, Friday
continued his testimony in the postal
trial.
On cross-examination by Mr. kumler,
er Croft fasteners were attached to
rural free delivery letter boxes Or not.
Ihere were many things connected with
the post office department he said that
ne knew nothing about Il am trying
to learn Mr.. Wynne sarcastically re-
marked, land am doing the best cam
Mr. Wynne was piled with questions
calculated to test his knowledge of a
number OF details of the rural free de-
livery service, but they we're met with
a frank Il don't know" the witness ado
ing that whenever he wanted certain
information he would send to the free
delivery division for it and get it. He
could not possibly give personal at
tention to all the details of his Office.
Further questioning brought forth the
statement by Mr.. Wynne that the basis
for the honest furnishing of supplies for
the post Office department originated in
the requisition of the postmasters of the
country. Asked to describe what was
meant by office routine, as applied to
contracts, Mr. Wynne said that certain
matters were routine for him but not
for the official who had made the con-
tract. IF the official was entirely hon
est,' said the witness, "and had no in
terest in the contract it would be rou-
tine. But il he was dishonest he would
follow everything up and see that the
contractor got the full benefit of the
service Concerning the influence of
senator's and representatives in postal
affairs, Mr.. Wynne said that congress-
men have complained of slowness in
establishing free delivery routes
But" ne added, Il have no recoliee-
ton of any complaint from any con-
gresham of any failure to furnish sup
Plies He declared that the represent
ations of congressman have been entire
ly proper
Heath On the Stand.
Perry S. Heath, former first assistant
postmaster general, later took the
stand, his examination being conducted
by Mr.. Taggart for the government.
He testified to his service in the depart
ment from March, 1897, to July, 1900,
and said he knew of the Croft fastener,
which had been adopted and was in
use when he entered the Office. The
practice of the Office in the matter of
the purchase of supplies, he said, was
continued after he entered upon his du-
ties. He was shown an order for fas-
teners with his name attached and
promptly said: That's my name and
my signature, but l see it is signed
with rubber stamp" The stamp, he
said, was used only for formal matters,
and it had not been his practice to rub
Der stamp document calling for the
expenditure of money. He said that
without his attention being particularly
called to a requisition from Machen's
division he would pass it in formal
manner. He declared that he never
saw either of the Groffs until he came
into the courtroom, and that he cid not
remember ever having attached his sig
nature with the rubber stamp to the
order for fasteners in question:.
He then described the Office circum-
locution of an order for supplies and
also explained that under the law the
chief clerk of the first assistant post
master general would act as first assist
ant postmaster general in the latters
absence. The witness was shown a bill
for fasteners signed by Machen and
marked Correct"
He said he was governed in placing
his own signature thereon, in approval,
by the fact that the voucher seemed in
regular form, properly initiated.
On cross-examination Mr. Heath said
he could not speak regarding the sign
ing of Machen's initials by Miss Lieb-
hardt, Machen's stenographer and chief
clerk, but he did recall having been
informed that she signed Machen's
name. He then was led through long
line of questioning.