United States. Post Office Dept.

U.S.: “Take these and let’s see how strenuous you CAN be.”

Uncle Sam hands President Roosevelt a “New Broom” and a “New Axe” in order to clean up a path which is labeled “Scandal.” The path leads to the door of the U.S. Post Office, and hanging from a tack on the door is a sign that reads “Department of Spoils.” Uncle Sam has a very upset look on his face and is drawn nearly twice as tall as President Roosevelt. Roosevelt is depicted as a short, round man in his Rough Rider outfit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-06

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Lodge hopes that Mr. Noble will be re-appointed as postmaster of South McAllister in the Indian Territory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-08

Letter from James Putnam Goodrich to Theodore Roosevelt

Indiana’s Republican State Committee Chairman James Goodrich updates President Roosevelt on political support in the state. Goodrich discusses changes which Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Joseph L. Bristow has made to the selection process for rural mail carriers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-09

Letter from Charles Dick to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Dick suggests delaying action on postmaster appointments in Ohio until the United States Senator from Ohio Mark Hanna has recovered from typhoid fever.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-11

Letter from Lucius William Nieman to Theodore Roosevelt

Lucius William Nieman asks President Roosevelt to send word to Joseph L. Bristow, Fourth Assistant Postmaster General, to issue a statement concerning Postmaster General Henry C. Payne, whose reputation came under scrutiny during the post office scandal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-11

Letter from Alfred Spring to Theodore Roosevelt

Alfred Spring recommends appointing a new postmaster in Fredonia, New York. Spring is doubtful of Republicans carrying New York in the upcoming election. He recommends that President Roosevelt make national affairs and his administration’s policies the main issues of his presidential campaign.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-02

A scathing P. O. report on Baumhoff

An investigation into the St. Louis post office under the administration of former Postmaster F. W. Baumhoff ended in a scathing report. Representative Richard Bartholdt recommends further investigation and employees expect a “big shakeup.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-03

Letter from Henry C. Payne to Jesse Overstreet

Postmaster General Payne transmits lists of third and fourth class post offices where allowances for separating service and for unusual business has been reduced or discontinued. He discusses the salary of the postmaster and the legislation relating to appropriations for separating services – particularly Section 308 and 309 of the Postal Laws and Regulations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-05

Exhibit “F” memorandum for the postmaster general

The list of allowances for reduced clerk-hire at third and fourth class post offices requested by Congress cannot be completed in time. There is not enough time to compile the list and many of the cases are still in the hands of inspectors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-30

Exhibit “G” Draft of a letter from Henry C. Payne to Jesse Overstreet

Postmaster General Payne transmits to Representative Overstreet, Chairman of the House Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, a list of third and fourth class post offices where allowances for separating services and for “unusual business” have been reduced or discontinued. He also includes the salaries of the postmasters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-30

Letter from Marcus Alonzo Hanna to Myron T. Herrick

Senator Hanna from Ohio discusses post office appointments. Hanna suggests that they choose the Roosevelt delegates to the Republican National Convention “from among our friends.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-30

Letter from Henry C. Campbell to William Loeb

Campbell requests statements from President Roosevelt and Joseph L. Bristow, Fourth Assistant Postmaster General, concerning Henry C. Payne’s retirement as U.S. Postmaster General.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-02

Letter from Jesse Overstreet to Henry C. Payne

Chairman Overstreet requests a copy of a statement made to the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General concerning the discontinuance of 900 offices’ allowances for separating purposes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-23

Correspondences between Jesse Overstreet and Henry C. Payne

Three letters between Postmaster General Payne and Chairman Overstreet concerning reduction in allowances for clerk hire in post offices and the discontinuance of allowances for separating purposes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-25

Letter from Joseph L. Bristow to Henry C. Payne

Assistant Postmaster General Bristow discusses the status of the investigation of Perry S. Heath’s connection with the postal scandal. He says that little information has been obtained about Heath’s connection because others being investigated will not talk about it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-20

Reduction in allowances for clerk-hire in post offices of the third and fourth classes since April 1, 1903

Report on reduction of funds available to hire clerks in third and fourth class post offices.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-20

Letter from E. S. Parnell to Henry C. Payne

E. S. Parnell resigns from his position as Postmaster of Junction, Arkansas, with plans to leave the state due to the Parnell-Tucker Feud. He reports that four family members have been assassinated within the last fifteen months.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-08

Letter from Alford Warriner Cooley to Theodore Roosevelt

Civil Service Commissioner Cooley seeks approval from President Roosevelt to issue a statement to the press concerning a case involving Postmaster of Philadelphia Clayton McMichael.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-31

Memorandum from Thomas Collier Platt to Theodore Roosevelt

Though the Post Office Appropriations Bill reduces the number of division superintendents of Rural Free Delivery, Senator Platt strongly recommends that William C. R. Hazard must be kept in his position as division superintendent of Rural Free Delivery for New York and New England. Hazard has been very useful to the State Committee and with the campaign this year, his assistance is “vitally necessary.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903

Memorandum for the postmaster general

Memorandum with postal figures for the years 1898-1902.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903