The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-17


tant supplementary information regard.
ing the alleged connection of executive
officers os the department with fraudu.
lent contracts for supplies. alleged eff
forts to promote mining stock among
postoffice employees. irregularities I'm out
side postoffices. etc
The recommendations of the Tunoch
investigators are as follows:
We respectfully recommend:
First-"Thata thorough investigation De
ordered, IL it has not been already or
dered. (a) of the administration of the
Washington postoffice: OBJ of the admin
istra ton of the New York postoffice. and
(c) of the administration of the office
of the First Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral within the past three years Il is
probable that this recommendation has
been already in great part and perhaps
altogether anticipated by the action of
the present Postmaster General: but. as
we are not at the moment of preparing
this report fully informed as to the
scope Of the departmental inquiry now
Tor several months in progress under his
orders. we venture to submit it. We
have been favorably impressed by the
postoffice inspectors, and deem them
fully competent. under the supervision
OF the Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General. to conduct sucn an investiga-
ton as is here suggested
Removal From Influence.
Secondhand a carefully chosen.
small commission be appointed by the
President TO report a plan whereby the
work Of the offices of the COMPTROLLER
and Of the several auditors may be re-
moved from all political, personal. or
other extTaneous influences. the Off
Gals therein employed protected from
injury through the enmities they
may incur through the discharge
OF their duties. and the compe-
tency and independence OF all engaged
in this branch of the Government Sc
cured through their selection by free
competition, promotion for merit only,
and assurance of tenure during the con-
tinuance of fidelity and efficiency on
their own part"
What Might Ee Revealed.
No improper act on the part of any Of
fetal is charged in the repo-a Of Messrs.
Bonaparte and Conrad which did not oc-
cur more than three years before July
IL. 1893. but they suggest that if thor
ough investigation were made into acts
in the Washington postofice within the
past three years some interesting matter
of an iHdictable nature might be re-
vealed. The statement on the general
conditions found in the Washington
postoffice is:
"F'irst-The discussion Of the 'Tulloch
charges has revealed the existence of
deplorable and gravely discreditable
abuses during the years 1898. 1899. and
1900 in the Washington postoffice and the
Office Of the First Assistant Postmaster
General.
'SecOnd-These abuses involved con-
duct on the part of various public Off
Gals which was certainly often illegal,
and may have been sometimes criminal.
but such offenses. II committed. were
in all cases committed more than three
years before we were ordered to investi-
gate the charges and, so far as we
are clearly informed. more than three
years befo-e Mr.. Tulloch's interview of
May l last.
Abuses May Have Continued.
''Third-The evidence laid before us
suggests the possibility and even proba-
bility. but does not prove that abuses
may have continued both i'm the depart
ment and in the postoffice subsequently
70 the early summer of 1900. when we
lose sight of them. and that in connec-
ton Herewith criminal acts may have
been committed within the period of
limitations.
"Fourth-The report of Inspector
Crowell and the facts relating to the
claim of George w. Beavers, indicate
the possibility that similar conditions
may have existed both within and be-
You'd the period OF limitations in the
New York postoffice."
Perry Heath's Answer.
The difficulty in obtaining full and
direct replies from some Of the accused
officials is severely condemned. and the
.evasiveness is taken to mean that the re-
suit Of direct replies was feared. Perry
Heath was particularly evasive in his
replies, and the investigators consider
his answer" altogether insufficient.
and no less unsatisfactory in substance
than in form"
The revision of Postmaster Willett' s
accounts is held to have been enough
I'm itself to show that Mr. Heath's Off
cial career is not above suspicion. The
confidential report of Inspector Crowell
and the special report OF Inspector Lit
tie arc held to have 50 strongly sus-
tained some of the more serious Of thc
Tulloch charges against Mr.. Heath that
it is impossible TO dispose OF them by
calling them lies from the whole
cloth" The confidential report was to
the point and showed irregularities
which had been discovered.
"a Reckless Disregard"
The special report was prepared year
later. after Mr.. Tulloch had left the de-
partment. Continuing on this subjet {,
the investigators say: AT least a
strong prima facie case is presented
Of wilIful and reckless disregard by the
late First Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Of obligations imposed on him by
the regulations Of his own department
as well as by the statutes OF the United
States. and we feel IL our duty TO add
that suspicion Of his personal integrity
must be inevitably aroused I'm our judg-
mcnt by an impartial consideration Of
the facts submitted 10 us and Of his
pkinly inadequate explanations
Charles Emory Smith.
Mr. Heath and Beavers are held direct
" responsible for the improper appoint