The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-27

| s15S. In letter Oh this subject to Post
| master Willett. stated that it did not
| appear that these men actually served as
mechanics. and that evidence on that point
! had net been furnished as requested by
| this office.
The entire investigation of the city
postoffice was on my own molten. and l
sm fully satisfied that the interests OF the
! Government were protected. Under the
! law l cannot go back further than a gear
/ in investigating settlements. | may say
: that ii first taking up the matter of the
city pCstoffice and looking over the ac-
counts l made tentative objections to pos
sibly $5.C50 or Si,G00. Thesc objections
| except il the sums have already men
toned. were removed on explanation by
the proper officials"
Comptroller Tiacewei added further that
all OF the correspondence On the subject
here mentioned is on file in his 0:iice, and
can be seen by anybody who wishes 10
see ii. \ postGf!ice official. after reading
this statement of the Comptroller yester
day, said 10 Times reporter that il there
was any correspondence in the let from
posto!fice inspectors the exact nature of
the alleged irregularities would be ex-
posed by inspecting the correspondence.
But 1t does not appear that inspectors have
at any time been called into the case. 1t
inspectors of the PostoTice Department
to make a Thorough and searching invesi-
cation. No explanation is vouchsafed by
anybody as to why this rule apparently
has been ignored in this case. Ncr does
il appear that even Comptroller Tracewell
has made the same examination OF the
city postoffice accounts for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1899. as he made for the
preceding fiscal year, or part thereof.
Indiapn's Contingent.
AS before stated Oliver H. Smith. who
seems to play such an important part in
this little drama, is citizen of Muncie,
Ind After holding number of offices at
one time, he appears finally to have set
tied down to the dignity and emoiuments
of a single official position, that of super
intendent of the city postoffice buildings.
Mr.. Castle, Auditor of the Treasury for
the Postoffice Department said yesterday
that the law allows one person to fill one
or more Offices at the same time as long
as no one of the salaries attached thereto
exceeds $500 a year. Hence. according
to this ruling the enterprising Oliver
Smith was entirely within the pale of the
law in the enjoyment of his numerous Of
fees at the same time. Smiths appoint
ment. though generally accredited to his
IellOW-tOWnSfnan, FIRST ASSlSldHl IOSl-
master General Heath, is in reality, so
it is said. chargeable to the Hon. George
Washington Cromer. the Representative
of the Eighth district of Indiana, who also
has the good fortune TO be citizen of
Muncie-whch same fortune has fallen to
the lot of various and sundry other per-
sons now in the Government service, not !
the least conspicuous of whom are the !
frugal Charles F. W. Neely and his friend |
and able coadiutor in the looted Cuban |
postal service. Corydon Rich. who appears |
to have lost political standing at Muncie
for .'peaching' on Neely.
Two other Indianans Of distinction who |
are now in the postal service of Porto Rico !
are the father-in-law of Senator Beveridge. |
a Mr.. Langsdale, and Walter X. Lands. a |
brother of Representative Landis. The |
Representatives. brother is postmaster of |
San Juan. A certain Mr.. Carl Swiggett, of |
Indianapolis. consented. after much urging |
on the part of Senator Fairbanks. to ac- |
cept a position of responsibility in the !
Porto Rican postal service. How many |
other Indianans are in various depart
ments of the civil government in Cuba. |
Porto Rico. the Philippines, and Hawaii will
probably be learned soon. now tina. atten
tion TO them has been called