The sun., 1903-06-18
TULLOCH CHARGES ARE TRUE.
GLARING IRREGULARITIES IN
POST OFFICE ADMITTED.

NnAT8eu 70 EeTTy -. nohSu suu Dup~
Beayers-Metcaif. Head OF Money
Order System Removed. Charged with
Trytng to Divert Contract for Order
Bianks-Fiye indictments Expected
in Brooklyn Over stamp Machine Sales
WASHINGTON, June l7--Postmaster-Gen
eral Payne to-day made public all papers
and documents connected with the investi-
CATION Of the Washington post Office In
1899 and 1900, az result Of charges pre-
ferred at that time by Seymour w. Tui-
looh former cashier Of the Washington
post Office. which were recently repeated
by Tuoch In formal communioa-
ton to the Postmaster General. Post
master General Payne at first decided that
he would not make the documents public,
as they related to matters connected with
prior administration and concerned irregu-
larities which had since been corrected
But to avoid possible misunderstanding
and Misrepresentation as to his reasons Tor
this course, and to familiarize the public
with the conditions which prevailed In the
Washington office at that time and since.
he finally decided to make the papers pub
lie, practically in their entirety.
The most interesting feature contained
in the Documents which cover fifty type
written pages, aggregating $4,000 words.
Is the admission of Fourth Assistant Post
master-General Bristow that he recom-
mended to Postmaster-General Smith that
tho office of First Assistant Postmaster
General Heath be investigated. This was
charged by Tulloch, who also charged that
the investigation requested had been
called off," The papers show, however.
that later the investigation was made and
a number of irregularities corrected.
The documents made public include the
following:
First-A letter Of Postmaster General
Payne. dated May /, 1908, addressed to
Fourth Assistant Postmaster-Ge General Bris-
tow requesting a complete statement re-
garding the truth or falsity OF the Tulloch
charges.
second-Mr. B,istow's reply, in which
he says:
In response to your inquiry Of May 1, 1913.
as to the truth or fnlsity OF the assertions OF
S. W. Tulloch. I beg to hand you herewith
an abstract of three reports made by the
inspectors on the condition Of the Washing
ton post office. The first. marked Exhibit A.
refers to the transfer OF the post ONCE to
the present postmaster. John A. Merritt. by
his predecessor. james p, Willett, made
June so 1890 At the time this inspection
Se4 Hhe @ and m
in-Charge Smith advised me that their sub
OF dinates had discovered many ,Su.; serious n;
During the inspection ! was advised that
Division had sugsested to an Inspector that
when he came TO certai appointments that
appeared Irregular he had 6dtfsr n MAKE as-e3 no
sTsGanay sca RI insneessr ga not
authorized any irresalarities. and instruStsd
the inspectors to report the facts 40 they
The inspector-in charge subInitted a special
report on July 9. an abstract OF which Is here
with submitted. marked exhibit = which
General. suggesting to him that i P9 oo9tained
matters to which / thought he would want
TO give his personal attention.
Referring to the statement that had Dc.
manded thorouTh OF she SSe
in Ps lis special pc fs report that he h.d az
S mmeaS SCnon snd an
vesteation. / submitted this report 70 the
Postma General With my approIsl. but
on my part that MIR. Heath's of1lce be inves-
The third report. dated JHly 81; ;h'9;;.s his2'9; sn
marked exhibit G. sets forth number OF
rsgusrites which prsSsiled Sf that time
was begun when was absent from the De-
partment.
Third-Exhibit A. the report OF the in
sPec!orss who supervised the transfer OF
the control of Postmaster Willett to the
present postmaster, John A. Merritt. This
report is dated June 30 1909. and deals
largely with expenditures which were
by the auditor. and afterward passed when
properly accounted for. There Is also
record Of number OF employees who were
paid from the wrong appropriation, and
mention Of seven 'cleaners appointed
Heath, some of whom performed very
little service and others none at all.
Confidential report Of Inspector
in-Charge Smith in connection with the
inspection OF the Washington post ofice.
Irregularities which indicated "a condition Of
affairs demanding an immediate, thorough
and exhaustive investigation. The re-
port shows the following instances OF
Irregularities:
1s rsur Assns ssss sDPsfss ta S;sy % H.
none Of whom performed any service In
connection with military postal matters.
rolls. ' N'''
Jan. ana ~, ls9N, rlrSt hsslstant fOot-
master General Heath transferred twenty
clerks to military roll. Most OF them were
on duty in the Washington ONCE:
W. s. Larner military mn R1stsll "a shs sIsrf p.td
ington office, under orders of Mr.. Heath.
PAYMENT subsequently disallowed by the
Auditor.
Premiums paid on bonds Of military postal
clerks BY the Washington ONCE on authority
OF Mr., Heath Payment made Illegally.
Highly. excessive payments, authorized
by Mr.. Heath. for postal service supplies.
furniture and travelling expenses. aggre.
eating nearly 3lo.Ooo. Articles purchased
without competition.
Eight specific instances OF Irregularities In
connection with payments made to clerks
and laborers in he Washington Office. These
payments made by order Of Mr.. Heath.
Irregularities in appointment. compenea-
tion and promotion Of o. n. Smith Smith
was appointed by Mr.. Heath and payments
to him ordered by that official. In appointing
Smith Heath said In letter to the Washing
ton postmas ster, This is the gentlemen whose
appointment has frequently been recom-
mendnd by YOU" The postmaster had never
heard Of Smith prior to the receipt Of Mr.
Hcath's letter.
Irregular vouchers authorized to be pal by
Mr.. Heath for expenses Of himself and Supt
beavers in visiting Philadelphia and New
Irregular appointment and, payment. of
seven cleaners" placed on the payroll Of
the Washin Eton office by Mr.. Heath. In
spectors reported Practically no service
whatever has been rendered for the money
expended"
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