The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-07
NAE WOODS CHARGEs.

MISS mae WOOQ mas broken OUT III d
new place. and this time it is in way
that may give her the serious consid-
GRAFTON of the country. for she makes
allegations in which the people are
personally interested.
Miss Woods grievances against Sem
ator Plat and others heretofore have
been of a private nature and were not
of strictly public interest. They had
to do with the love affairs of the New
York boss and senator of the express
companies, and the interest in them
came only from the curiosity which
some people have concerning such
| things.
But now Miss Wood makes charges
involving governmental affairs. She
was formerly employed in the post
office department at Washington, and
she alleges that she rendered valuable
services to the express companies in
that department. Her services, she
alleges, consisted in tipping off, the
inside workings of the postoffice de-
partment to the express companies and
also in assisting in keeping out of the
annual report of Postmaster General
Payne two years ago recommended
ton of the postcheck system. She
sues Senator Thomas c. Plat and the
United States Express company for |
900 for these services.
From these allegations it would not
appear that Miss Woods claims are
valid, for her services were not only
illegal, but they betrayed her en-
ployer. the United States government. |
If there is no law to reach such a
betrayal there certainly ought to be
one. Such an action is worse than the |
cal1 -
corning crop statistics in the depart
ment of agriculture, for that only en-
abled one set of market gamblers to
prey on another set, while Miss
Woods action betrayed the interests
of her employer. the government, to
its enemies.
At the same time the parties who |
benefited by Miss Woods action were |
fully as culpable as she. These par
ties, according to her charges, were
Senator Plat and the express COM
panies.
Senator Thomas C. Plat is presi- |
dent of the United States Express COM
pany and is recognized as the chief
representative of the express COM
panies of the country in congress. AS
the Republican boss of New York, he
exercises great power in national poll
tics, and his position as senior United
States senator from the Empire state
makes him very influential in govern
mental affairs.
The express companies are constantly
on their guard to keep the postoffice
department from extending it sservices
to the people. BY keeping the postoffice
department from carrying packages of
any considerable size, the express COM
panies are able to levy tribute amount
ing to millions of dollars annually on
the people of the United States. In
England the public post carries large
packages cheaply. and the United States
postal department would have done the
same thing long ago had it not been
for the influence of Senator Thomas
C. Platt and the express company lobby.
Another thing the express companies
have been guarding against has been
the adoption of the postcheck by con-
gress, which would enable the people
to send money cheaply, easily and safe
ly by mail, without the trouble entailed
in the money order system. The post
check would probably destroy the
money order business of the express
companies and therefore the express
companies have been anxious to keep
congress from adopting it.
Miss Wood, it is announced, has
also filed charges against certain Of
f1cials" of the postoff1ce department,
whose names are not announced, but
who are believed to be Robert j.
Wynne and ]. Martin Miller Wynne
was forerly first assistant postmaster
general, and he succeeded to the head
of the department upon the death of
Postmaster General Payne. Afterwards
he was sent to London as consul gen
eral and Mr.. Cortelyou became post
master general.
Wynne is the official, too, who was
bitter against Joseph L. Bristow, and
who, as postmaster general, took the
control of the postoffice inspectors
away from Mr.. Bristow. If there is
anything in these charges of Miss
Wood, Mr.. Wynne's anxiety to get rid
of Bristow may be explained. Further
details of this matter will be awaited
with interest by the public.