The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-18

10, 1904, had been reduced to 4776.
That Justice Hooker secured eaid Balls
appointment without any reasonable
were needed in the Fredonia post Office
either as laborer or as clerk.
mat tho only substantial interest, rs
disclosed by the testimony, TINT Justice
Hooker had In said Ball was Bale in
debtedness to Justice Hooker's wife. and
these facts and circumstances lead to the
conclusion that Justice Hooker procured
Bali appointment to enable Ball to liquidate
that indebtedness.
Third-That on Jan. Is. 1899. Minerva
jeffrey, Thomas o'Neill, Ora Caldwell,
Henry j. Pemberton and George Cooper
were appointed clerks in the Eredonia
post office by directions from the Poet
OHlce Department at Washington, with
out any request from the FTedonia post
master; that there is no evidence that
Justice Hooker had any connection with
these appointments, and therefore no
findings are necessary as TO whether these
persons received from the Government
moneys for services not rendered.
DoDoINo THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
Fourth-That Katherine X. Clark is n
, niece OF Melvin H. Taybor's wife; that
Nov. 0, 1s 0 to March 81. 1904: that Miss
Clark was on Dec. ID, 1899. at the request
of Justice Hooker. appointed stamper
in the post Office at Fort Plain at a larry
OF 800 in order that when the Fort Plain
Office became free delivery Office she
might be carried thereby into the classified
| service without examination. and lhen be
transferred to the Fredonia post office,
which, since April 1, 1909, had been free
delivery Office, and its clerks in the classified
service; that she resided In fredonla az the
time OF such appointment and continued
to reside in Fredonia, and never reported
at the Fort Plain office.
That Emil Rebsll, the then postmaster
at Fort Plain. states that no payment by the
Fort Plain Office was made to Katherine
Clark; that Katherine Clark was trans
ferred to the Fredonia post Office May ?,
1900. at a salary of $500 a year, which was
raised at intervals until on March l. 1902.
1t was 81 600 a year.
That Justice Hooker knew that Katherine
Clark's services were not needed in the
Fort Plain Office and wrote az follows to
George W. Beavers on Dec. o. 1899: Il
have written Mr.. Sherman telling him 1
knew you would be willing 70 make this
appointment at Fort Plain additional to
those necessary in the Office and then trans
fer her to Fredonia. | hope this can be
done"
That Justice Hooker sought, by securing
this appointment at the Fort Plain office,
to evade the civil service laws Of the United
States.
HooREBs NEPHEW LOOKED OCT FOR.
Fifth--That Maurice Hooker ia a nephew
vi JlHllCt flOOhtlJ NlldJ IliOA W Jdluhi
1902, he resided outside Of Fredonia; on
or about that time he began TO attend the
Fredonia Normal School, residing in FIRE.
donna, but not with his uncle; that be was
then about 10 years old.
That on Jan. Il, 1902, Justice Hooker
requested George W. Beavers. a Post Office
Department officer, TO appoint Maurice
Hooker a. laborer in the Fredoria post
Office; that on Jan. 10, 1902. Beavers author
lied such appointment at an annual salary
of 500; that Maurice Hooker received this
salary from Jan. l. 1902, for eighteen months
less the amount paid other persons for
cleaning the post office, and that he was
discharged by order of the Post Office De-
partmeut az OF June go. 1908; that he re-
ceiyed as salary about $50 or $500; that
the postmaster tlaylor) refunded TO the
Government, upon demand. the salary
paid 10 Maurice Hooker: thnt before max
ing such payment the Gaii Taylor con-
suited Justice Hooker about the demand
made upon him o. the Government, and
Justice Hooker rep led that Taylor must
use his own judgment as TO repaying it,
That there was no need for the services
of a laborer in the Fredonia post Office when
Maurice Hooker was appointed that
Maurice Hooker never rendered any SER
vice in the Fredonia post Office; that Justice
Hooker secured said Maurice Hooker g
grounds for believing. that his services
were needed in the Fredonia post office.
Sixth-That Justice Hooker, when Con-
gresham, recommended the appointment
OF John A. Link az lnborer in the Dunkirk
post office; that said Link was appointed to
such position az Of May !, 1898. at 2 salary
of $500 "a year; that said Link rendered no
servicessbut drew his salary, less the amount
paid to cleaners and scrubwomen; that said
Link was discharged by order OF the Cow
eminent as Of June I, 1903; that the Govern
ment has demanded OF the Dunkirk post
masters the repayment OF moneys paid to
Link; that Barnard has refunded the amount
paid by him to Link, that Maggie haH declined
&c refund the amount paid by him TO Link.
GRAFT N POST OFFICE RENT.
Seventh-That in January, 1901, Lester F.
Stearns offered TO rent 10 the Government
for post office in Dundrk. at 81 500 year.
a portion Of building he was about to
erect that Justice Hooker was Interested
as actual or prospective half owner OF said
building. and later took title 10 an undivided
half of it, that the Government offered
81 300. and that a lease was finally executed
Oct. TO- 1901. to begin Oct. 10, 1901, at 81 $50
per year for ten years, and the premises
were occupied by the post Office IN that
month. although the building was not then
fully completed; that there was an oral
understanding between Stearns and Hooker
and certain Post Office Department officials
that the matter OF a larger rental should be
taken up again when the building was fully
completed and its actual cost ascertained.
That about the n1uule OF JandIF. lbUE,
the matter was again taken up with the
Government and that on Feb. 1, 1902 a
second lease for ten years wns executed at
81 500 a year. as from Jan. / 1902 That
on Nav 20, 1902, a third lease for ten years
was executed at $, 900 year, as from May
]. 1902.
That under the terms Of the third lease
the Government is entitled 70 less space
in the basement than 1t might have de-
rnanded under the terms of the first and
second leases.
That Justice Hooker's statement that
the fair rental value of the premises leased
to the Government is 81 900 is corroboratod
by the affldavits OF fourteen residents Of
Dunkirk: that no witnesses were called to
controvert this: that the building and lot
are assessed upon the city tax roll for 1903
at $500 and upon the city tax roll for 1904
at 5000.
Scathi1E Minority Report.
8. c. Huntin gdou Of the subcommittee
admitted a minority report containing
these additional findings and recommends
lions.
FINDINGS.
In making said application for The APP
pointrnent Of Frank =. Ball, Justice hooker
intended to defraud the United States ont OF
several hundred dollars each wear, which
sums should be applied ON Balls debt to
Mrs. Hooker.
?. In applying for said Balls tranHer TO
the classified service Justice Hooker in
tended TO have said Balls salary con-