New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-13
r. VAN COLT DISMISSED.
RY PRESIDENTS ORDER.
Postmaster Fan Colt Not to Go, but
Must Refund Brothers Salary.
fFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

al
ros+,7,aster of New-York. This action was taken
- re recommendation of Assistant Attorney
C.rora1 RObb. who completed the final investi-
-, If the New-York office a few days ago.
s+ar Van Colt will be permitted TO serve
:. b,s term but must refund to the govern
80 ennroxinateIy 81 500 paid to his brother.
I17b,+Aeld Van Colt, who held the office OF in
.,ector Of mail boxes from the spring OF 1888
- the fall Of 1899. but performed no service in
-o+,,r,, for the salary he drew. Mr.. Van Colt
-,rst also refund to the government $500 when
-. r1eqaIlv paid to his son Richard, who went
'. T-r,one on a leave of seven weeks, when the
,.u allowed him only fifteen days vacation
POSTMASTER NOT SEVERELY BLAMED
4. INDICATED in these dispatches of May D.
=, q was asserted that Postmaster Van Cott
I'D he permitted to retain his place, but the
.ioee of his son Richard would be dispensed
,.b Mr. Rohb found evidence that POST
ester Van Colt had been morally responsible
g. +ba irregularities in the New-York office. al
,Io,,eb as much could not be said fer Richard
-. -os+roaster acted entirely on che orders of
George w. Beavers formerly superintendent or
..1sries and allowances. whose previous service
a, +ba New-Yorl Office enabled him to make
recommendations and issue orders which "ould
- have been possible in the case Of man less
~ the postmaster for having Entrusted too
much to his son. in whom he appeared to have
oreat confidence. but the most careful eXamina-
g. ~ every act of the senior Van Colt reveals
= +ber motive than a desire TO comply with
.,e directions of his superiors. and in no IN
stence does he appear TO have profted IN the
slightest by the acts which subjected him to
criticism Altogether, in Mr.. Robb's judgment
there was no ground TO warrant the removal Of
postmaster Van Colt before the expiration of
his term next spring.
RICHARD VAN Colts CONDUCT.
Mr. Robb's investigation of the conduct Of
Richard Van Colt confirmed the evidence OBJ
tanned by Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Pristow's inspectors II was found that Richard
was not only willing tool in the hands of
Beavers but that he had used his authority 10
further his political ambition, rewarding ward
workers with appointments and promotions, and
even writing to Beavers that he had promised
appointments in return for certain influence or
ward work The extent to which young Van
Colt thus perverted his authority was not great,
but ample to demonstrate that he had no
scruples about utilizing his office for his per
sonal ends, and that he was unfit for the place
Of trust he occupied.
The report also shows that while Richard Van
ing division he was also actually the general
superintendent Of delivery, the real head Of
trat Office. an elderly man, acting in the capacity
of an assistant Mr.. Van Colt drew only one
salary however. The real objection to the
practice the report said. was that Mr.. Van
Colt usurped the functions Of the real head OF
the division Of superintendent of delivery to
the detriment Of the service.
With regard to deviati0ns from the classical
ton act Of 1895 under the provisions of which,
II was alleged, there must be only one cashier
IN the New-York Office. specific number or
finance clerks, etc. Mr.. Robb calls attention in
his report 10 the fact that the terms Of the law
were not clear. and that for considerable period
each postmaster was compelled to construe the
law according to his own ideas. Mr.. Van Colt
was not a lawyer and could hardly be held to
account, even though some Of his interpretations
were not in accord with the later decisions Of the
department's legal officers. Moreover some Of
the deviatiors discovered antedated Mr.. Van
Colts incumbency. In view Of the fact that IN
almost every instance such deviations from the
proper construction Of the law as were found
TO exist did not conflict with the good Of the
service and In some Instances furthered it, the
law having since been amended, in these latter
particulars, Mr.. Robb found no occasion for
condemning the postmaster for the so-called ir-
regula-ities which inspectors found to exist in
the New-yorll office.
Reviewing the conduct Of the New-York Office
IN its entirety Mr. Robb coInmends it. He
speaks with high praise Of First Assistant POST
master Morgan, whom he found 10 be consci-
entous and efficient officer. With the influence
Of Beavers and the presence of Richard Van
Colt removed, Mr.. Robb believes the administra-
ton of the New-Yerl Postoffce will be all that
could be desired. He adds that although prac-
tees which merit condemnation, such as pro-
motions and removals on improper grounds. etc.
existed 10 degree that proved the unftness Of
certain officers, they did not prevail TO an ex-
tent sufficient seriously to injure the efficiency
and discipline Of the office a whole. Mr. Robb
ADDS that Richard Van Colt possessed consid-
cradle ability when applied in the proper direc-
ton
IN general way the report declares that the
service rendered by the postoffice to the citizens
o. New-York is very good. but that the post
master himself had not given that close atten-
uon To business which is required but had per
inf''ed his son TO usurp his functions in some
instances
SCOPE OF ROBES INVESTIGATION
AS there has been much wild speculation with
iessrd TO the character of the investigation in
""ioh Assistant Attorney General Robb is now
e~seo II may be well TO outline his present
"orN When the formal investigation of the
poSlai Service virtually completed there
IRE three classes of offenders recommended for
siniilssal by Fourth Assistant Postmaster Cen
80 80 brlstow. Those Of the first class were con-
Ht'"Ieo guilty Of malfeasance to a marked de-
See This class included such Beavers
;aiscnen, Tyner and others The entire class was
o -Inted as well as dismissed. Those in the sec
olu class including such men Hedges, Kemp
,er' Louis and others, while not guilty of mall
diasahce OF sufficient gravity to warrant their in
ulcifnent, were promptly dismissed. These classes