Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-11
Mail Contracts With Railroads.

In the POSt OHlCe department Things nave
been moving quietly ever since the inves-
tigation began, more than a year ago, ana
there are several changes in the conduct
of the department which are expected. The
largest single item of expenditure in the
department is the contracts for carrying
the mails by the railroads, and this matter
has been for a long time under investiga-
ton by the Department of Justice. This
was sent to that department some time be-
fore the death of the late Postmaster Gem
eral Payne and report Is expected at
early date in order that Congress may be
apprtsed of the result of the work If IL
be found, as suspected, that there has been
collusion between the railroads and any
other person or persons interested in the
matter ii may be stated that there will be
an expose and those guilty punished. There
are a number Of the contracts between the
government and the railroads before the
Department Of Justice. and the result OF
the Investigations will be made known to
the President soon as they are COM
pleted. This investigation was ordered af
ter the adjournment of Congress- IT being
known that several members OF that body
objected to such an investigation as an
affront to the railroads. President Roose-
welt ordered the investigation because he
had been informed that there might be rea-
sons for such objections on the part OF
quite number of persons
He wished the entire post Office scandals
aired, and instructed the late Postmaster
Ceneral Payne TO furnish the Department
of Justice with copies of the contracts in
order that every facility might be accorded
a thorough inspection of these papers and
If anything was wrong with them. that It
might be corrected. Specific charges have
been made. that during the period when the
quantity of mail matter going over the
railroads was weighed in order to strike a
balance and estimate the quantity during a
year, by which estimate a four-year con-
tract would be awarded. the mails for the
section where this test was being made
would increase to a most remarkable ex-
tent and the contract be awarded in accord
anee with this as basis for computation
of weight for the entire year and for the
four-year period If that charge is true. IT
follows that the persons supplying the ex-
ira quantity of mail matter did not do this
out of charity for the down-trodden rail-
roads, and the Department of Justice Will
find out where the fly is In that particular
ointment. The method of estimating the
weight of mails will probably be corrected.
Another matter in the Post Office Depart.
ment Is the transfer of the post Office in
spectors from the control of the fourth as
sistant postmaster general to the Postrnas-
ter General. This probably will be done
Immediately after the reconvcning of Con-
gress, which will also see that all letter
carriers and post Office clerks not imme-
diately connected with the department In
Washington are placed under the jur'sdic-
ton of one bureau.
The Supply of Twine.
An important matter that is now under
Investigation and which has been for some
time is the supply of twlne for the use OF
all post offices. including the railway mail
service This seemingly trining matter
costs the department more than $4,000 a
year, and It has been learned that possi-
BILE saving of from SD o09 to $4,000 year
can be made by the substitution of DIFF
ferent brand of twinc for that now fur
nished under contract between the DEPART
ment and NJ D. Helm of New York the
successful bidder. whose contract expires
with the year ending July 1, 1905.
The twine being supplied is three-ply Jute
and it has been demonstrated to the depart
nent that a two-rly jute win do the work
quite as satisfactorily as the heavier twine.
Postmaster General Wynne has instructed
william r. Cochran, purchasing agent Of
the department, to thoroughly Investigate
the cost character and strength OF the
twine now being supplied. and has given
assurance that IL a saving to the govern
ment can be made at no loss of quality the
machinery of the government will be set In
motion to break any contract calling for
the higher sum expended for this item.
Nothing will be done In the Post Once