The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-13
COVERING p gsNE.
Shameful Scandals in the Post
ofHce Department.

SstaGO 0OF0t SbaOnss
Washington, May 4.-The postofice
department scandal is rapidly assum-
ing more serious aspects. The reyela-
sions made by Mr.. Seymour W. Tul-
zoch are startling in their character,
involving IN the scandal, in greater
or less degree, former Postmaster
General Smith, former First Assistant
Postmaster General Perry Heath,
Postmaster Merritt, of the Washing
ton city postoRce, and former Assis-
sant Secretary of the Treasury Wander
Lip. Some Of these men were proba-
bly, led into doing things shat we're
irregnlar and illegal Wishont know
ING the true character of their actions,
relying on the advice Of others that
the matters were perfectly regular,
bat AIr. Tulloch makes It perfectly
clear that when an investigation was
set on foot by Comptroller of the
Treasury Tracewell that would have
brought out many of the Irregularities
Of the postal service, ssIld when an
ehcieIlt employee OF the comptroller's
Office began to uncover unpleasant
trushs, the whole matter was sudden
II stopped, and the employee OF the
comp5roHer's Office was transferred to
another bureau at reduced salary.
It will not do for the roen involved
IN MI. Tullochs' revelations to attempt
TO discredit them on the ground that
they come from a dismissed employee.
Such an attempt might have some
effect outside of Washington, but 1t
will have no weight with men who
know Seymour ". Tulioch. The stand
ing of the former cashier of the Wash
ingson postoffce in the basiness com-
mnnity Of this city is one that any
man might be proud to have. He
served for more than twenty years as
cashier Of the postofhce under Repub-
lican and Democratic administrations
alike. and never breath Of scandal
was attached to the conduct OF his
Office. It was only when, about the
time of the appointment Of Mr. Mer-
rift to be postmaster, an effort was
made to obtain mis- cooperation IN
certain irregularities in the Washing
ton postoice, that trouble began. Mr..
Tullech believed that if he made cer-
tain payments as cashier either he or
MS bonismen might be held response
bIe. In order to protect himself and
his bondsmen he made the simple re-
auest thathe have written instructions
from his superiors. 1t was then that he
was found to be a obstacle and was
removed from Office.
Even moro serious for the Roosevelt
administration, however, than the
Tulloch charges, or anything else that
has been brought out, is the fact, that
is becoming more evident every day,
that high officials of the a.dministra-
sion would be glad to have the whole
investigation dropped. The attitude of
the Postmaster General is such as to
indicate that he is not at all pleased
By the TACT that during his absence
Acting Postmaster General Wynne al
lowed the investigation to take such
wide scope, and that the public was
allowed TO learn something of the rot
Senness that was being uncovered. Ii
he could have had his way the whole
thing would have been secret. There
might have been some washing OF dirty
linen, but none of it would have been
hung ON the Line for the country to
see.
However, when Mr.. Wynne received
authority from the President in person
to make the Investigation he assumed
that it Was to be real Investigation,
and before the. Postmaster General
returned it was So well under way
and so much had become public that it
was impossible to call halt without
practically declaring TO the country
that the administration Of President
Roosevelt, the reformer,'' proposed
to conceal wrong-dong and protect the
wrong-doers. As a consequence Of Mr..
Wynne's zeal the realtions between
himself and the Postmaster General
have been somewhat strained ever since
the return of the later to Washing
ton, and there are indications that
Mr.. Payne would be delighted to get
rid of his first assistant Postmaster
General. If an open rupture occurs
between these two officials it will be
interesting to see which one Of them
will receive the support of President
Roosevelt.
The one lesson more Important than
any other tnat is taught by the pres
ent revelations in the postofice depart
mens is that IN selecting Postmaster
General man should be selected who
has ability to manage the greatest
business organization in the United
States, and who is willing to give ii
his personal attention. The existing
state of affairs in the department car
be ascribed almost entirely to the fact
that since early in the Mckinley Ad'
rninistration this rule has not been OBJ
served. No one accuses Mr.. Charles
Emory Smith of any personal wrong
doing, and yet, it is notorious that he
did not give the attention to the de,
partment that the magnitude of its
operations and the amount Of public
money expended by it required. BE
was absent from Washington much Of
the time, and when here his mine
was often engrossed with other matters.
In the same way Mr.. Heath was otter
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