Upon the submission of additional evidence by Mr. Britt, the commission directed a reinvestigation and requested the department to suspend action. As the additional evidence furnished by Mr. Britt did not in any manner disprove the charges, the commission renewed its recommendation for removal. The department considered such action unduly severe and recommended its modification to the extent of directing suspension for a definite period. The commission was unable to concur in this view, and the department directed that Mr. Britt be discharged.

WEST VIRGINIA.

Huntington, case of Fred. H. Lunsford, superintendent of mails, and J. C. Le Sage, assistant postmaster and local secretary of the civil-service board of examiners. Charge: Political activity.

Date of charge: December 11, 1918.

Result: It was alleged that Postmaster Long arranged for a political meeting to be held on November 2, 1918, and solicited the attendance of the carriers and clerks. Upon investigation by a representative of the commission, the charge against Mr. Long was not sustained. It developed, however, that Fred. J. Lunsford, superintendent of mails, manifested an undue interest in the meeting, having invited the carriers and clerks to be present and informally introduced the speaker. It also appeared that Mr. Le Sage, assistant postmaster, granted permission for the holding of the meeting. The commission recommended that Mr. Lunsford be warned. It was also recommended that, in view of the long period of efficient service rendered by Mr. LeSage as local representative of the commission, no further action be taken than a warning.

WISCONSIN.

Barron, case of Alfred E. Coons, rural carrier.

Charge: Serving on election board.

Date of charge: May 9, 1919.

Result: Mr. Coons admitted having acted as ballot clerk in a nonpartisan election. The commission recommended that he be reprimanded and warned, which was done.

WASHINGTON.

Bellingham, case of George H. Watrous, postmaster.

Charge: Religious and political discrimination in appointment.
Date of charge: September 12, 1917.

Result: The district secretary transmitted correspondence regarding alleged political and religious discrimination by the postmaster against Will C. McCarthy, an eligible on the fireman register. The postmaster was informed by the district secretary that he was required by the rules to select Mr. McCarthy for temporary appointment pending the establishment of a new register. During an interview the postmaster inquired as to Mr. McCarthy's religion and politics and then stated that he could not be appointed at that time. The evidence established no substantial foundation for Mr. McCarthy's charge of discrimination. However, the action of the postmaster in making inquiry as to an applicant's religion and politics was contrary to the rules, and upon the recommendation of the commission he was reprimanded by the Post Office Department.

Kennewick, case of Edwin H. Mann, rural carrier.

Charge: Political activity.

Date of charge: September 22, 1916.

Result: Upon investigation of charges that Mr. Mann had made arrangements for a political meeting during the primary campaign the district_secretary recommended that he be suspended without pay for 10 days and warned. Upon the submission of additional evidence further investigation was ordered. The original recommendation was renewed and the department advised that the suspension of Mr. Mann for 10 days without pay, beginning April 6, 1919, had been ordered.

Puget Sound (Navy Yard), case of John R. Bleakley, wood calker.

Charge: Candidate for county attorney.

Date of charge: September 6, 1918.

Result: Mr. Bleakley made request under date of July 15, 1918, for permission to become candidate for prosecuting attorney of Kitsap County. The commission advised the Secretary of the Navy that permission could not be granted.

September 6, 1918, the commission was advised that Mr. Bleakley was running for the office of prosecuting attorney, despite the commission's refusal to grant such request. The commission recommended to the department that Mr. Bleakley be removed. Mr. Bleakley advised the commission that it was his understanding that he had been authorized by the Navy Department to make the race for county attorney, that upon notice that his request had been denied by the commission he took no further action in the campaign, although his name remained on the ticket, and requested retention in the service, which was approved by the Navy Department. Upon the showing made the commission withdrew its request for Mr. Bleakley's removal. The department informed the commission that Mr. Bleakley had been reinstated in his former position in view of the fact that he took no further action in the campaign for county attorney upon notification of the commission's disapproval.

WYOMING.

Evanston, case of Joseph U. Allard, deputy collector, United States Internal Revenue Service.

Charge: Political activity.

Date of charge: September 3, 1918.

Result: The commission received information that Mr. Allard used the prestige of his office with the voters in the community in favor of certain candidates and against others and that he volunteered his services as a judge of election and served in that capacity on election day. Mr. Allard claimed he did not consider that he was violating any rule. He was furnished with a copy of the department's circular letter of May 11, 1914, regarding political activity, and it was reported by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue that Mr. Allard had been reprimanded and warned.

CRIMINAL CODE.

CALIFORNIA.

Stockton, case of L. F. Kuhn, postmaster and custodian, and J. P. Carey, laborer. Charge: Violation of section 37 of the Criminal Code.

Date of charge: October 29, 1917.

Result: Mr. Kuhn, postmaster and custodian of the Post Office Building, irregularly appointed Wm. F. Bouche to position of watchman-laborer in the Federal building at Stockton, and failed to report the separation from the service of Joseph P. Carey, who was continued on the rolls and who indorsed the checks received by him in payment for salary to the postmaster, who, in turn, paid Bouche in cash. The commission asked for the removal of Mr. Kuhn. He resigned his position as postmaster on January 25, 1919, which also relieved him of his duties as custodian. The commission ordered the eligibility of Mr. Carey canceled and referred the case to the Attorney General with request for prosecution. An indictment was returned by the grand jury. The case has not yet come to trial.

PROSECUTIONS.

CALIFORNIA.

San Francisco, case of Antone Frank Mosich.

Charge: False statements in application.
Date of charge: January 24, 1918.

Result: In an application for machinist, Mosich stated that he was born in New York, N. Y., and that he was a citizen of the United States. As a result of this application he was given employment at the Mare Island Navy Yard, but was shortly afterwards discharged because of unfavorable vouchers indicating that he was born in Austria and that his sympathies were not with the United States. Upon being interviewed, Mosich admitted that he was born in Austria; that he was not a naturalized citizen of the United States; and that he made the misstatement regarding the place of his birth in order to secure Government employment. The case was therefore presented to the Department of Justice for prosecution. No report has been received.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Washington, case of Julius Musyl.

Charge: False statement in application.

Date of charge: December 4, 1917.

Result: In an application for the first-grade clerk examination held in Washington on October 9, 1917, Musyl answered in the negative the question regarding indictment and arrest. He showed that he was born in Austria, and an investigation of his loyalty was therefore conducted, during the course of which it was discovered that he had been arrested and fined not long before his application was filed. The case was therefore presented to the Department of Justice for prosecution and was in turn referred to the United States attorney for the District of Columbia. No report on the disposition of the case has yet been received.

GEORGIA.

Talbotton, case of Ullman A. Everette.
Charge: Forgery.

Date of charge: October 18, 1916.

Result: Everette filed an application for the stenographer and typewriter examination held at Columbus, Ga., on December 7, 1915, and competed in that examination. Because of the similarity between the handwriting of the vouchers and that of the application an investigation was made, which resulted in the discovery that the vouchers had been forged. The case was therefore presented. to the Department of Justice for prosecution, and on February 5, 1919, Everette was found guilty and sentenced to serve a term of one year and one day in the Federal penitentiary at Atlanta.

ILLINOIS.

Chicago, case of Hillry Barney, Allen Anderson, and Carl A. Hansberry.
Charges: False writings and conspiracy.

Date of charges: May 7, 1918.

Result: The medical certificates of the applications filed by Barney and Anderson for the post-office examination in which they competed at Chicago on April 29, 1918, purported to have been executed by physicians. It developed, however, that the certificate in Barney's application was executed by Anderson and that in Anderson's application by Hansberry, who also competed in that examination. The case was therefore presented to the Department of Justice for prosecution and was in turn referred to the United States attorney at Chicago. No report on the disposition of the case has yet been received.

Chicago, case of George C. Hoecker.

Charge: False statement in application.

Date of charge: October 23, 1918.

Result: Hoecker filed an application for appointment to the position of assistant to business manager, stating in the application that he was born in New York City. It developed, however, that as a matter of fact he was born in Germany. The case was therefore referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution. No report has been received.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Charlestown, case of John T. Everett et al.

Charges: False statements in application and conspiracy.
Date of charges: July 11, 1917.

Result: In an application filed for shipsmith's helper, Everett claimed experience which he had not had and also stated that he had never been arrested, which statement was untrue. Four of the persons named as references in the application submitted confidential vouchers supporting Everett's false claim regarding his experience. The fifth contended that the voucher bearing his name was filled out without his knowledge or consent. The case was therefore presented to the Department of Justice for prosecution and was in turn referred to the United States attorney at Boston. No report on the disposition of the case has yet been received.

Charlestown, case of Maurice F. Gee et al.

Charges: False statements in applications and conspiracy.
Date of charges: March 11, 1919.

Result: Gee filed two applications for shipsmith's helper, one in 1916 and one in 1917, in both of which he claimed experience which in fact he had not had. Four of the persons named as references in the 1917 application executed confidential vouchers supporting Gee's false claim regarding his experience. The person under whom this experience was claimed to have been had also supported the applicant in this false claim. The case was therefore presented to the Department of Justice for prosecution. No report has been received.

NEW YORK.

New York City, case of Jerome B. Jacobson.

Charge: False statements in application.
Date of charge: April 4, 1919.

Result: Jacobson filed an application for appraisals expert, as a result of which he secured an appointment. It was discovered, however, upon investigation, that he had made false statements in his application relative to his experience. The case was therefore presented to the Department of Justice for prosecution and was in turn referred to the United States attorney at New York City. No report on the disposition of the case has yet been received.

Brooklyn, case of Charles L. Fuller.

Charge: False statements in application.

Date of charge: December 3, 1918.

Result: Fuller filed an application for appointment to the position of inspector of slickers and rubber and was appointed as a result of that application. It was discovered, however, that he had made false statements therein relative to his experience, and the case was therefore referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution. No report has been received.

VIRGINIA.

Portsmouth, case of Lyman B. Hoggard.

Charge: False statements in Army discharge.
Date of charge: May 27, 1919.

Result: Hoggard filed an application for appointment to the position of auto machinist in the Norfolk Navy Yard. With his application he submitted his certificate of discharge from the Army. This certificate contained alterations which, upon being questioned, Hoggard admitted were made by him. The case was therefore referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution and was in turn referred to the United States attorney at Richmond. No report on the disposition of the case has yet been received.