Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-08
PAYNE MAY NOT ACT
Unless Tulloch Makes Charges
Over Signature.
LATTER WANTS COPIES
OF REPLIES RECEIVED FROM
SMITH AND OTHERS.
Attempt to Bribe Bristow Results in
an Arrest in Mississippi-In-
vestigation Continues.
LATTER WANTS COPIES

Postmaster General Payne at the noon
conference with newspaper men today said
he presumed the letter from Mr.. Tulloch,
former cashier of the city post office re-
lating to charges involving the Post ONCE
Department and the city post office was
in his morning mail but he had not seen it.
When asked If he would give to Mr. Tul-
loch copies of the letters received from
former Postmaster General Charles Emory
Smith, Postmaster Merritt. -Four tn Assist
ant Postmaster General Bristow and Mr..
Tracewell. controller Of the treasury he
laughed and turned the matter by relating
a story. which had little bearing on the
question asked. but which amused his
listeners.
Persons about the Post Office Depart
ment who could be induced to express an
opinion today We're of the feeling that Mr..
TullocE. in not making to the Postmaster
General official statement Of the charges
embodied in his interview printed in the
newspapers a week ago, was weakening his
case. and that the Postmaster General, in
the absence OF statement over Mr.. Tul-
lochs signature, would pay little attention
to MI Tulloch's letter.
Regards Letters as Confidential.
Mr.. Payne said he had read Mr. Tul-
loch's letter. which appeared in print ask
above. but declined to say whether he
would or would not comply with Mr.. Tul-
loch's request. 1t is understood that the
Postmaster General regards these letters as
of a private nature, and that they will not
be given out for publication.
Former Representative Loud of Caiifor-
MIA who was chairman of the House COM
mittee post offices and post roads was
again a caller at the department today.
He saw the Postmaster General, and later
was for an hour or more closeted with
Fourth Assistant Postmaste' General Bris-
tow. He also called on Third Assistant
Postmaster General Madden.
Mr.. Rristow said this afternoon that the
general investigation of the affairs of the
Post Office Department, which was begun
two months ago, was moving along SatiS-
factorily. 1t is understood that 'the inves-
ugation will be far enough along by the 1st
of June for him to arrive at some definite
understanding. and that report will be
made by him soon after that date to the
Postmaster General.
Attempt to Bribe Bristow.
No additional Information was received
today regarding the arrest at Okalona,
Miss, of Ferdinand Baker, who is charged
with having attempted to bribe Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General Bristow. Baker
is a prominent young man in his district.
He wrote to Bristow Offering him $500 for
an appointment as postmaster at one Of
two places in his state.
The second letter that Mr.. Bristow re-
ceived contained the information that
Bakers former offer still held good, and
that he was anxious to be appointed. The
last letter said that if Mr.. Bristow would
come in person the money would be ready,
or, if it were found inconvenient to come
in person. the money would be delivered
to a representative of the fourth assistant
postmaster general. Mr.. Bristow sent q
representative. who placed Baker under
arrest. A dispatch from Mississippi con-
tains the information that Baker confessed
when confronted with the letters