New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-11
ALL TO BE CLEARED UP.
THE TULLOCH CHARGES.
Presidents Action Causes Great
Surprise IN Washington.
rrRox THE TRIBUNE BuREAUl

washington. Sept IO.-The announcement
that the President had requested Holmes Con-
rad and Charles J. Bonaparte 20 take up the
Tulloch charges and submit report on their
accuracy. which appeared in The Tribune this
morning. created surprise and interest in Post
Office and Treasury circles to-day. Speculation
as to AIr. Roosevelts object in thus sitting these
charges at this late date vas rife. and several
fheories were IN circulation as to his ultimate
purpose and as 20 the nature Of the report
which has already been put I'm type and VIII be
filed with the Attorney General on Saturday.
one theory is that the President appreciates
that there are number Of officials on whose
regulations more or less reflection was cast by
TulIoch's allegations and that there is gen
eraI impression that certain OF these officials
would have been prosecuted FOR violations Of the
law had Il not been that the statute OF limita-
tions had barred such action. IL is therefore
said. that undoubtedly Mr.. Roosevelt desires to
relieve all innocent persons from such odium as
may thus attach 10 them. and that. on the other
hand. he viii have no hesitation about exposing
those persons. II such there are. who have been
found guilty % irregularities or mslfeasanoe.
but who have not been prosecuted for the reason
above stated.
Another theory is that Mr. Roosevelt, in the
face Of serious allegations which have never
been thoroughly probed by unprejudiced su-
thorities. desires. primarily for his own informa-
tion. that the charges may he 50 sifted 20
enable him 20 become thoroughly Informed re-
earding the administrative methods OF certain
officials SIN in the governments service. II is
pointed out that Tulloch charged that an in
vestigation OF the very methods which have
been. IN part, at least responsible for the pres
ent scandal. was undertaken two years ago. and
for some mysterious reason was called off Fur
thermore. when the Tulloch charges again came
20 light in connection with the present investi-
cation. Postmaster Merritt Of Washington. Cap
tain Castle. auditor for the Postofice Depart
ment; the Controller Of the Treasury and others
wrote letters 10 Postmaster General Payne. de-
nouncing TuToch's allegations as unfounded
ana unwarsnted by the facts. In some IN
stances they reflected on the reputation Of Con-
troller Tracewell. the Treasury expert. who
undertook ferret out some OF the Irregularities
which Tulloch had charged
PROSECUTIONS POSSIBLE.
Charles J. Bonaparte said to-day there was
always a possibility that things might come UP
later as a result OF the Tulloch charges which
might yet warrant criminal prosecution. and
although 81 was the intention OF himself and
Mr. Conrad TO file their report on Saturday.
this would not mean that their investigation
had been brought 20 a close they might at
any time he obliged 10 renew their investigation
: OF some phase OF the allegations
il Is known that Controller TTacewel and
several others Involved ia Tulloch's allegations
have appeared before Messrs. Conrad and Bona
parte and have given valuable evidence, on
which the present report is partially based.
The friends OF Postmaster Merritt are par
tiCularly interested in the report which viii go
10 the President Mr.. Merritt's term OF Office
expires early in December. and report deroga-
tory 20 his administration might prove a serious
obstacle 10 ms reappointm"nt The knowledge
7hat the TullOch charges again under in
NcstiIation has created great uneasiness among
officials who have long supposed that their
part in the Irregularities TO which TuOch drew
attention had passed into history.
While. Of course. IL is impossible 10 forecast
The nature % the report which Messrs Conrad
and Bon8parte viii submit 10 the President, IL
may Do said that there several Indications
that their findings VIII accord with those OF
Civil Service Commissioner Proctor. and the
guarded recommendations OF Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Brisrow. The reflection on
fhOse who have belittled the charges have
pronounced them unfounded, should this prove
10 be the case. is obvious.