Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-12
VIII Assert He DID Not Receive Cam
pRign Contributions.
INQUIRY Is WELL UNDER WAY
Civil Service Secretary Moss Starts
His Investigation Saturday.
SECRECY COVERS PROCEEDINGS
NitneE-es PrivHteiy Examined and
No Word NJ 20 Nature Of sturirs
Told is Allowed 20 Come
ThrouEh Closed Dnuru.

Though Postmaster Thomas has admitted
TO his counsel that he is confronted with
withsring facts ne Is going 10 make
deliberate stand against those who. accuse
him Of using his position TO collect political
campaign funds from subordiuateE in the
Omaha poEtuffiCe. In his defense he win
sndeavur 10 show that he did not receive
any political contributions through W A
Kelly superintendent Of registry in the
Omaha office.
Mr.. Kelly has already sworn 10 an
affidavit 10 the effect that he was pre-
vailed upon by the postmaster 70 make
collections FOR campaign purposes among
the faithful" employees Of the office
These facts and Others have been brought
to the attention Of civil service commits
sion and Secretary c. W Moss Of the Sixth
district on Saturday opened inquiry into
the charges made against Postmaster
Thomas by Carrier Dan w Tfnotson.
Why ne hopes to make Kelly the goat"
by centerfng his defense on the one point
is not explained by the postmaster. who
has not been disposed 10 talk curing the
last few DAYS. II is hinted thar he sees
an opening In Mr.. KeIly's TESTIMONY which
is 10 the effect that when ne turned over
the money 10 Thomas the lights were
turned out" M Kelly ADDS however,
that M. Thomas and Mr. woodward were
both in the posrmRstsrE private office"
and that III was bright enought TO
recognize who was present.
IBQuiry URder Way.
Mr.. Moss. who is secretary Of the Sixth
civil service district, with Headquarters ~
Cincinnati, opened the investigation in the
federal building yesterday Hnd during the
day ne called IN practically everyone OF
the civil employees who were induoed 10
make campaign contributions. First among
these was Kelly. who told briefly what he
knew, and he WIS followed by Dan W
TIlOts0n, who made the charges which
brought about the investigation
r. c. Aiken. cashier, VINO gave ND the
greatest amount was also called before
the ssuretsrg. who. by thls ttms had
fair working idss Of what ne mad to deal
with. During The resi- OF the DAY he called
IN prRuticrdly every employe who had con
tributsd TO the campaign fund which
4 Thomas raised.
/ Rigid secrecy chRrRcter,izes the inquiry
and thRse VINO have been before the sec
+ retBiy refuse 10 make any statements.
/ The order for absolute reticsnCe has been
40 thoroughly observed thai the elevator
operators have been Instructed by secre-
tary Moss to keep absolutely TO themselves
all information EE 70 who has been called
10 testify. In order 10 maintain this
secrecy the investigator has already seen
lit 70 hustle witnesses up the hack way
q the pOstOffice IN order that they may
not be seen or sooosted by reporters.
VIII GO 10 Bottom.
M Moss declared that the i~vsstigRtion
[ viii be thorough IN every respect. and that
no time viii be lost in pushing II to q con
clusiun To this END ne mas decided 10
work throughout Sunday examining wit
nesses
He is unable TO state al this time how
much time the investigation win consume.
lie VIII examine al the civa. service en-
ploysE known TO be involved In the shake
down as well az many others about the
postoffice. il is his announced purpose TO
CLEAN every word Of evidence possible.
A pOstOffice inspector viii be mere sun
DAY 10 cooperate with Secretary Moss
IN the work Orders have been issued for
joint investigation IN which the depart
msnt and the commission viii borh be rep
resented. BY way of explanation Of the
reason for a Joint inquiry. Secretary Moss
SAYS.
There have been instances where post
office officials nave been investigated by
agents Of the commission and repOruE Off
ciRlly made. In the cases I have IN mind
the POstoffios department concluded thar
itE side should be given and departmental
inquiries have followed. Thus c0nfhcting
reports have sometimes been made In the
Thomas case there VIII he no occasion for
conflict because both SIDES VII be rep
resented.
InvesttEBtoF Arrdves.
Secretary Moss arrived IN the CITY Friday
night and al . o clock Saturday morning he
went 10 the federHl building, where ne in
rrOduned himself 10 Postmaster Thomas
Mr- Moss explained thai he would IKE Il
fSEvo roan N which 10 u0nduut the IN.
uuiry and he was assigned 10 the post.
office inspsctorE suite on the second flour