New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-30
HITS BACK At TULLOCH.
Postmaster Merritt Makes Serious
Counter Charges.

Washington, May 29-Postmaster General Payne
to-day made public the reply of Postmaster Mer-
rift. of this city. to the Tulloch charges. The
Spouse makes serious accusations against S. W.
Tulloch, formerly cashier of the Washington Post
office saying that transaction in which Tulloch
was concerned in 1898 appears TO comprehend
the presentation OF false voucher, which is
made crime by the statutes" Mr.. Merritts reply
further alleges that receipts signed in blank
on the payrolls when TuIloch cashier, and
the files do not indicate that any complaint Of ir-
regularities against the Washington office was
fled by TuIloch while he in office. Mr.
Merritt also says the general practice Of giving
employees duties seemingly incompatible with their
positions is abuse, and that the practice Of
paying certain expenses Of the Postofice Depart
ment out Of the Washington City Postofice funds
always has existed and is proper. Mr.. Merritts
letter is in part follows
Before became postmaster one OF the employees
Of the postoftce was suspended from duty from
reason OF record. so far as I have learned and
the CASHIER retained this mans pay Tor the time
stated, amounting to $50, against his protest, am
OF payroll, however, and then sent the account to
the auditor for the Postofce Department as though
probably the postTnasters order to do this, and
moRsy Bnf the f9 Gi appears
to the OF fsse bs Bs
vised Statutes Of the United States The money
thus unlaw5uy taken was divided by te casnle
upon orders signed in the name OF the postmaster
been found until all q it was used up except 8 &C.
bureaus OF the Postofi1ce Department
WHY TULLOCH WAS DISMISSED.
Postmaster Merritt then speaking of his removal
of TuIIoch almost at once after he became post
master declares the removal no mistake and
gives the following reasons:
Take this incident related by James P.
Wiliett my predecessor, q few days after assumed
the postnastership ang fuiy c6nrb me by Is
H. last Ol1nr fa "
tangled condition; that he was very much worried
them in this condition. that he regarded it as the
cashiers duty properly arrange and close them
he 7uiioch absolutely refused to give it unless he
was PaG So i5d The offeF and Mr. Tuiioch
gave him any aid whatever The work was
Upon looking into the practice Of the cashiers
found that he had been in the habit for many years
in blank. getting the signatures, OF the employees
amounts paid do not charge that these amounts
were ever improperly filled in, but need nor say
presented an open door to fraud. In going over in
April 1899. the accounts prepared py MI % 4Sei
the conr RegO of the treasury discovered this
@ nd thus are sFned IN 81 Blank yo1r
nayrolls By what legal authority Is TINS Done
No person should be required TO sign vouchers IN
blank leaving amounts and dates 10 be filled In
over their Sgna 1ef1t IF little Vaue As soon
this practice brought to my notice dis
The Irregularities charged by Nj Tulloch-thougaa
am not informed as 10 me . oe - +be 51,+iee
of the office. while Mr.. Tulloch was hodlng me
them as wrong he should have oficallv called at
tention to them THIS ne eT19I letter some Of
the irregularities 70 Which ne calls aIeehno4 q ig
norance and all of them transactions which ne
had been habitually taking up for me pos oIIa
irregularites as Mr., Tulloch claims. think they
call led attention them
DEFENDS HIS MANAGEMENT
M. Merritt denies that the Washington office is
tending TO become bureau OF the department ana
says he has disbursed no money except on written
authority. He says that appointments promo .iOl
and transfers. with few exceptions nave "7eii
made on his recommendation. approved by the De
nartment He adds that there are no supernuous
employees in the Washington postofnce'
Mr.. Merritt says he had discretionary authority
N remove Tulloch, whom he charges with being
,,,+-a-- IN manner occupied much Of the time
with important private business. ana venture
some man in the field OF speculation. MI NAeii
zo,as that either the Postmaster General or f1rst
1fz-a,,+ Postmaster General Heath, directly or
= s-.I,- ,,Auenced TuIloch's removal He says
tis o47oe &c now regularly paying the employees OF
the third division Of the Railway Man 0eI'iSe' 'iV
,,,1oyee of the departments mall nag ahu hI@4i
-, na,- shops and making such other disburse-
&c outside Of its needs as the oepaF 'lleh'
- 80 m time orders. Many other large as
7,,rsing postofices. he says are DONG 'iie
thing. and there is no mDroprfety IN Ine az .Sn
- % avis+ad almost from the beginning OF lIle
osT3n1ent and is fully authorized by cuSloin anu
law. Of employees
z,H+ee Incompatible with their POSITIONS va tdg s
ota when he became postmaster and e1 i.t
afshy TO every large Postof1ce ana cons coeS
PL 1ai at11se He says he has repeatedly r.
t+n+ion 70 the present absurd ana imp
cIassifcation of postof1ce empI0Ses, the final
aIIaGa5 Porto Rican abuses ne says INT INC
ie was settled with the auditor without ii4
NJ Merritt says what Mr. Tuloch alleges WI in
bv the Controller or the S5a
L washington account for the quar- coo on or
September 90. 1898 amounting u Tsv We're merely
SSosIds made by him for explanaIons as ~ ey
oeLlat tt7,g IN the account which his expert
er mad some doubt about arnounlitls ~ itb
a.Iretle sum and the objections were nhaliy WIN
draWn. . - 1oOs+-oas+er General Charles
The r rpttt Ill he made public Sunday Fourth
Eheietant Postmaster General BT1ssGw +o Past
u he made public later ACCORDING 70 sIad
WIllC . eneraI Payne denies that ne eVer
Investigation OF the ONCE OF 'ie
I1oe+roester General
VALE GIVES GREEK 4 SETBACK