The Dickinson press., 1903-12-26
OFFICIALS CRITICISED
REPORT OF MEssRs. CONRAD AND
soNAPARTE ON THE TuL.
LocH CHARGES.
Former Postmaster General Smith,
Ex-First Assistant Heath and Audi.
tor Castle Accused Of Negligence.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
6ristew Adds Another Sensational
Chapter to His Former Report.

Chapter to His Former Report.
Washington, Dec. 1s.-"No improper
official act on the part OF any public
ofticia! or employe is alleged which
did not occur more than three years
before July II, 1908, and as all posi-
BILE prosecutions are barred we are led
therefore to interpret our instructions
to report on these matters from a
legal standpoint in a broader sense
than we might otherwise venture to
ascribe to them, and understand that
our views are desired as to the legal
propriety of the official action dis.
closed and not merely whether ID may
or may not have been criminal"
With this statement Messrs. Conrad
and Bonaparte begin their report on
the charges made by S. w. Tullocn,
formerly cashier of the Washington
city postofice, against the administra.
tion Of that office.
Continuing, the report says the Tul-
loch charges have never been, prop
erly speaking, investigated at all, nor
have the accused officials, particularly
Perry Heath, made satisfactory replies
to them. Concerning Heath the report
says:
"The reasonable inference to be
drawn from Mr.. Heath's failure
To Meet Fully and Explicitly
accusations which, as Postmaster Gen.
eral Payne very justly admonished
him, charged him with many acts of
doubtful propriety, added to the facts
appearing from the evidence laid be-
fore us, obliges us to say that at least
a prima facie case is presented of
willful and reckless disregard by the
late first assistant postmaster general
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 it our duty to add
that suspicion of his personal integrity
must be inevitably aroused in our
judgment by an impartial considera-
tion of the facts submitted to us and
of his plainly inadequate explana-
ticns."
Heath and George w. Beavers are
charged with direct responsibility for
improper appointments and fraudulent
disbursement of funds, both to them
selves and others. including an allow
ance to George W, Beavers OF $1,148
"for expenses in assisting special at.
torneys in the court Of Claims" al.
lowed by Captain Castle.
Former Postmaster General Smith
and Captain Castle, auditor for the
postoflce department, are accused of
negligence in failing to put stop to
these transactions.
Bristow Adds Another Chapter.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen.
erar Bristow, in addition to the mat
ters made public in his report some
time ago, presents evidence showing
that former Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Heath ordered pneumatic cancel
ing machines installed in the depart
ment without reference to their mer-
its.
Edward s. Alien, now a clerk at the
Cleveland (O.) postoffice, testified that
reports he made on the merits of the
Hampden canceling machines were
not satisfactory to First Assistant
Postmaster General Heath, and said
was Mr., Heath's desire that these ma
SuIHGo UC AUSIoAICu dAu IuS u0SlAO VI
Mr.. Beavers "and the general that
he do less talking derogatory to the
machine. He says he was forewarned
Of this by his brother, then chief clerk
to the first assistant postmaster gen.
eral, and thereafter, Allen testified, he
simply installed machines and refrain
ed from any comment, The machines
proved worthless.
The report says that H. G. Truesdell
of Binghampton, N. Y, Of the canceling
machine company, told inspectors that
before the order of June 80, 1900, was
given for 100 Doremus canceling ma
chimes, 200 shares ($20,000 worthy of
the stock Of the company was trans
ferred to First Assistant Postmaster
General Heath, Heath promising to
order not less than 300 machines at
fAn