The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-17

Statement Denying Accusation.
Following an investigation by the Fed
eral grand jury of an alleged attempt to
bribe a post-ofiee inspector in the matter
OF furnishing the stock for the new pos
! tai cards, a statement was made last
night by a high government official that
| the next twenty-four hours would prob
ably develop some further interesting
things in connection with this question
between the Post-of1ce Department and
the Government Printing Office.
II cannot say anything now" he said.
but IL this matter Is fully aired there
may be time 70 talk.
ut is a question which believe VIII
reach the proportions of Congressional
! inquiry"
Claim Attempted Bride.
Post-office inspectors are reported TO
have discovered what they claim was an
attempt to br1be w. P. Zantzinger. the
Post-offlee Departments agent in the
Government Printing Office.
The evidence was placed before the
grand jury, and officials of the POST
Office Department say that an indictment
was returned.
Peter G. Thompson. of Hamilton, Ohio,
is president Of the Champion Coated Pa
per Company. and is charged with at
tempting To bride Zantzinger,
r. Golden Donaldson. attorney for the
accused man. says he Will appear imme-
diately when wanted. Mr. Donaldson so
Informed the authorities
Although Mr.. ThompsOn's whereabouts
could not be located, the following state
ment was given to the press as coming
from him:
Statement OF Attorney.
There is no Truth whatever in the report Of the
attempted bribery Of the government enpi0ye r.
feTred to This ma1 came 70 cur mill u suggest
Improvements IN the writing surface Of the new
post cards
While there be voluntarily gave me information
regarding certain actions ~ former employe who
had lately represented IN Washington, and Who
had brought slit aglinst claiming large con
mission on this contract 10 which lie is not entitled
and he agreed with ms 70 keet ne posted as 10 any
Further actions by this former enpoye foT which l
agreed 20 Iay hiIn: and did send hiua 500. and
nothing more, for this service but for 30 other con.
si6efatiOns whatever.
The facts exactly rs stated above and that is
al there Is 10 the case. and / am absolutely limo
cent Of any WTousdoing. either ipteptionaI or inn
piled.
Mr.. Thompson. it is said, came to
Washington at once when he heard of
the accusation and prepared to meet his
accusers.
Passes on Quality.
Zantzinger as postal card agent IS re-
CURED 10 pass upon the quality OF the
paper used. and the inspectors say he
was approached with an offer Of q sub
stantial sum 10 make 8 certain report.
Complaints began to pour into the
Post-office Department about two weeks
ago that though the new postal cards
which were being gradually distributed
were different from the old ones there
was no Improvement.
Postmaster General Hitchcock. who has
taken personal interest in getting the
new cards. Immediately ordered the sale
Of the inferior cards stopped. and had
an investigation started to discover how
the inferior stock came 70 be passed
First, he ascertained that ZantZinger
was the only one who passed on the
stock He then had an extra man de-
tailed on the inspection to check I'D Zant-
ginger. Inspector Beach. Of the Chemi-
cal division Of the Bureau OF Standards,
was named.
Was WrOngfuIIy Approached.
Then. according to an official OF the
department. it developed that Zantzlnger
had been wrongfully approached In re-
gard to passing certain stock for the
cards. Upon his report the matter was
promptly turned over 10 the legal de-
partment of the government.
Zantzinger absolutely refused last night
to speak of the investigation or Of his
experiences.
Pursuant to the efforts of Postmaster
General Hitchcock TO remedy the many
complaints Of the poor quality of postal
cards. a number of investigations and
experiments were made
This resulted IN the selection Of a
stock that was both attractive and dur
able, as well as lighter and IN every
way superior 70 the bun cards so long
In use. Upon the recommendations OF
the Post-Ofice Department the Public
Printers Office closed a contract with
the Champion Coated Paper Company.
Considerable Amount Distributed,
The various locations and wide range
OF the complaints indicated that a con-
siderable amount Of stock had been dis
tributed and an order was dispatched to
the Public Printer to furnish only the
quality specified in the contract All Of |
the cards Of inferior stock sent out VIII |
be destroyed.
Who will stand the expense. the gov |
eTnment Of the contractor, could not be |
determined last night. Apparently the /
action OF the government IN accepting |
the stock. and cutting and printing it, re- |
heves the contractor. II it is shown that /
inferior stock was wrongfully passed I
upon, It probably viii mean the caneella- /
ton OF the contract and strict criminal /
prosecution of some one
The expense of the loss has not been |
but II will run into thousands /
of dollars.
Further bearing on the card contract,
it was stated at the Government Print
ing Office that it had been found i'm
perative a number of times to bar some
Of the stock furnished on the contract.
The total of these reflections, it was
stated, was close to 100000
pounds.
The postal contract. according TO an
official Of the government, whose name Is
is pointed to as the most costly
blunder Of the printing Office. and is evil
IDENTIFY going to cause the Public Printer
3 severe jar.
Aside from his reported inability to
keep up with the contract through his
failure properly 10 prepare for getting it
out before the work commenced, he has
been handicapped by the rejection of
majority of the paper rolls
Then when he has had sufficient stock
he has been compelled to run the presses
day and night at extra cost and it Is
'aid that he is now behind on the con-