Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-18
cracks WELL COVERED.
Hecords, yo icbers, etc., Kept In Due
Form, taking IL Dinicuit 90 Dee
tect Irregularities


request to be furnished information
that would substantiate published
Statements Of Mr.. Tulloch Some OF
the matters complained of will be in
yestigated Immediately by the lnspec-
tors
Mr., Tulloch. in his letter. says he Is
AZ the service of the postmaster gem
eral In rendering any further assist
ance that may be desired. Mr.. Tul-
loeh says that in all the instances OF
nregularity and favoritism the proper
allowances, records, vouchers, etc.
were most carefully executed and kept
as o rule and little information can be
nscertained by their investigation that
The real facts behind the allowances
OF Vouchers are not Of record and are
Known to few--'those interested who
VIII not, and others, clerks, who dare
not. talk"
STARTING OF TROUBLE.
"For upwards OF 10 years." the let
Ter recites, THE conduct of affairs be-
tween the Washington City postoAice
and the postofiice department was
regular; then came the first break,
- precursor Of q system Of allow
ances TO the Washington postofiice on
account OF departmental expenditures
which afterwards led 10 irregularities,
abuses, extravaganza and removal as
nm obstacle on June 30, 1899. Mr..
shapherd. then chief of the salary and
allowance division OF the postofilce,
desired a file case for the use Of his
Office. His acquisitions we're turned
down by his superior officers Later
vouchers were presented to me for 4
file case, accompanied by an allow
Rncp for payment out of the funds
81 the Washington Office made by Mr..
Shepherd and signed by the first as
sistant postmaster general. | direct
ed the contractor to obtain n certificate
OF delivery Of the goods.
MIR Shepherd refused 10 acknowl.
-SSge the receipt Of the goods fearing
exposure during the audit of the
vouchers, and | refused 10 pay for the
case until some one was willing 10
father the Same. Soon after the Me-
Einley administration came into pow
CO the first assistant postmaster gem
eipl sent his clerk down 10 me with
. voucher for a lump sum for travel
Ing expenses, accompanied by an al
lOwnnco for their payment from the
v
n demand was Irregular on It's face
But the official became very angry at
the idea OF mere cashier attempting
10 make any suggestions to him and
refused 10 amend and itemze his
voucher.
WANTED NEW PRECEDENTS.
The postmaster explained to him
that / had only asked for what was
required by the auditor and according
TO precedent. The postmaster, W on
his return, stated the Official had
raid, Look here, now, this is "A new
administration and new crowd and
we intend to make our own prece-
dents. The auditor of the postOffice
department finally sent word through
the postmaster that on account Of the
feeling shown IN the matter II l would
enclose the voucher in my next ac-
count It's informality would be- over
looked. An inspection OF the Wash
ington accounts will show many SINH
lar subsequent payments Of trayeling
and other expenses on eccount OF de-
paTtmental officials without the usual
departmental checks.
WASHINGTON OFFICE SURPRISED.
THE Washington office was surprised
Dne day to receive from the salary and
allowance division OF the first assistant
postmaster generals office a printed
circular stating " was intended to re-
uulre all employees at postofiices TO give
a blanket bond direct to the depart
ment, said bond to be furnished by a
single recognized bonding company, lr-
respective OF the fact whether such
employees could furnish good personal
bonds or might desire to avail them
selves Of competition in premiums be-
tween other bonding oomapnles. A
similar blanket bond was, believe, to
be required of the letter carriers The
postmaster had conference with
George Beavers. then chief Of the sal
iry and allowance division. and re-
ported that Mr.. Beavers had said SEN
Ator Plat Of New York would appre-
plate the fact II he would select the
senator's company. The original cir
:ular was subsequently modified by al
owing employees to select their own
bond or bonding companies
FEELING AGAINST TULLoCH.
Considerable feeling was manifested
loward me In the Office Of the first as
Ilstant postmaster general because
WOULD not pay vouchers for services or
mpplles upon personal requests or by
direction over the telephone j. Holt
livingston presented vouchers for pay
nent one afternoon, amounting TO geY-
nal hundred dollars. for postal fnrn-
.ure. ] refused to pey until the allow
lnce was received. | was Informed
that Il would be sent down by private
messenger as soon as II WIS signed
w the first assistant postlnss gen.
Tal. | again refused. Mr.. Livingston
departed quite angry and sone time
afterwards returned with the allow
lnce. properly executed and still damp
rom the copying press. Ii was for a
shipment Of furniture. as / remember,
% Cuba or Porto Rico. No one had
certified as TO the receipt OF the goods,
and | called the attention Of Mr., Liy-
ngston 10 the omission. He explained
hat II would be all right. and that he
needed the money, I declined TO pay
un IS some responsible official would
Knowledge the receipt Of the goods.
.he e1pon Mr. Livingston became con-
,deniisl and told me his company did
,ot lave much capital that work had
,ot vet even been begun upon the fur
,lisfc. but that George had agreed TO
live him the money In advance, Ii Is
,eedless to add that no payment was
made
RATHBoNE AND NEELY.
NJ. Tulloch says payments were au-
horized 10 AR Livingston amounting
y about $500 on May 3, June . and
Iuly 49, 1899 That Of June 10 was for
n ;es. for Porto Rico. and was rem
Tered In a lump sum. An intimate
sisnd OF MIR Heath's. NJ. ID. Helm, was
he vice president OF the company. Il
stated the company shipped $500
10000 worth OF supplies TO Cuba on
rlers from Mr. Rathbone and Nj.
seely and fitted up the American hotel