Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-07
WYNNE AFTER FACTS
X-POSTMASTER GENERAL SMITH
ON TULLOCH CHARGES.
Proposed Congressional Investigation
of Postal Matter-Mr. Overstreet
Possible Committee Chairman.

The first bids for supplies for the money
order division that would have become
effective July 1. were rejected The lowest
bids In the second batch would make net
saving Of $4,000 during the next four
years, as compared with the previous four
years.
The first assistant postmaster general
will not award the contract until be has
seen that part of Fourth Assistant POST
master General Bristow's report which re-
lates to James T. Metcalf the deposed su-
perintendent Of the money order division.
The indictment returned by the grand
fury of the District of Columbia Monday
against Metcalf charges him, 1t Is under
stood, among other things. with having
written a letter to a New York printing
firm directing how a combination OF pos
sible competing bidders for the contract
for printing money order blanks might be
effected.
It is understood that this letter, or a copy
of It, found its way into the possession OF
the inspectors detailed on the case OF Met
calf and that 1t formed part Of the bass
for the Indictment
What Mr.. Wynne desires. as a matter OF
protection. Is to ascertain whether any OF
the firms that composed the combine that
Metcalf is alleged to have been interested IN
mitted bids at the second advertising. II
SO, their bids will be ignored.
Mr. Smith on Tulloch Charges.
ory Smith came here from Philadelphia last
evening, and today took luncheon with the
President at the White House. 1t was ex-
pected that he would have conference
with the Postmaster General, but 1t was
denied at the department that he had called
there.
This meeting of the President and Mr..
Smith at this time is likely to be Of especial
interest. The President has in his posses
sion the report of Messrs Charles ]. Bona
IIo1v nf no nj 10 - &c
made by Seymour w. TuIloch. former cash
Ter Of the Washington city post office. The
report went to the President a week or
more ago. and he has had an opportunity
to study it, 30 that II he desired he could
have been fully posted for q discussion of
that subject with the former Postmaster
General.
Mr. Smith was seen by a Star reporter to-
day. He is giving himself no concern about
the Tulloch report, and when asked how
he Viewed the controversy on the subject
Of the charges made in that report said:
II have read that report as carefully as 1t
Is possible to do and there is absolutely
nothing in It except the charge that some
appointments were made that should not
have been made. There are thirteen Of
these appointments through the civil ser
vice commission, and seven appointments
of cleaners. You can read 1t and you will
find nothing else.
ut is possible that some appointments
were made that should not have been made.
I am not prepared to say as to that. did
not personally know Of but one of these
appointments. and therefore could not judge
of them by personal knowledge. 1t would
have been impossible to have had it other
wise.
Mr.. TracewelPs Investigation.
Mr. Tracewell, the controller of the
treasury in April. 1899. began an investiga-
ton of the accounts Of the Washington
city post Office. He made list of those
things that it was thought might be wrong,
but his revised report approved everything
except items amounting to 1882.
ut was not until July that l got the re-
port of the inspectors on these same cases.
and as the matter was then under investi-
cation by the controller Of the treasury a
reliable and authorized officer Of the gov
ernment, l regarded the matter as being in
good hands to discover whether anything
was wrong.
Mr.. Tulloch got hold of that list of
things that the controller was to look into
In his investigation, and they are the
charges he makes. good many of those
things were correct, as stated, but they
were not explained, as they eventually
were, to my entire satisfaction. For IN
stance, 1t was found that certain men were
on the rolls of the city post Office and were
not ON duty there. That was all right as
far as it went But that was explained
satisfactorily, as the men were on duty In
Cuba at that time and there was a proper
reason for carrying their names on the
rolls of the city post Office
Mr. Snltn Will return TO Il1lduelpnla + LnlS
evening.
Proposed Congressional Investigation.
A private dispatch received in this city
intimates the possibility of the appoint
ment of Representative Overstreet of In
diana as chairman of the committee on
post offices and post roads. Nothing is
known here of the matter, and the ap-
pointment would be a surprise to some who
know the circumstances Of the situation.
noa av,nu n q n a n a.
stoned by the defeat of Representative
Loud for reelection. Mr.. Overstreet is not
member of the committee and would have
to be transferred from banking and cur
rency OR judiciary. Mr.. Overstreet him
self desires assignment to one OF the va
cancies on ways and means.
If he is placed at the head OF post offices
1t probably will be on account of the i'm
portance politically which that committee
will hold at the coming session. If the pro-
posed investigation of the Post Office De-
partment is intrusted to subcommittee of
the post Office committee, as probably will
be the case, the committee will have impor
tant political work to do. Undoubtedly the
democrats will endeavor to make capital
out of the postal scandals and the republi-
Gags will try to prevent it,
Mr.. Oyerstreet, as secretary of the ma
tional republican congressional committee
has had experience in politics and is re-
manager
II was said today that republican leaders
In looking over the membership of the COM
mittee In the last Congress, and assuming
that the men returned to the coming Con-
gress will be reappointed, found that the
minority party was strong on the commit
tee. There is Mr.. Griggs, chairman OF the
democratic congressional campaign COM
mittee; Mr. Cowherd of Missouri and Mr..
Swanson of Virginia. both clever politi-
clans. well as Mr.. Little Of Arkansas
and Mr.. Moon Of Tennessee. All these
democrats would be likely, it is said, to
give the republicans trouble In the investf-
cation and able to make political capital
out of it.
The appointment of Mr.. Overstreet as
chairman would be regarded in congress
sional circles, 1t is said, as evidence that
the majority are convinced that politics
will play an important part before the COM
mittee at the coming session. and that they
want ofe ef their cleverest politicians at
the front