Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-19
SITTING TULLOCH CHARGES
Payne Asks Reports on Allegations Made by
Di,missed Cashier
OFFICE IRREGULARITIES NOT ILLEGAL
Postmaster General Pointa Out that
Many Cases Adduced Simply Imply
that Wrong Funds Were
Used to Pay for GOods.
OFFICE IRREGULARITIES NOT llLEGA

WASHINGTON, May 1s-Postmaster
General Payne today sent letters 10 the
comptroller Of the treasury, the auditor of
the postofiice department and other Off
oials calling their attention TO statements
made by Mr.. Tulloch.
The formal charges have been dissected,
and the matter relating to particular
branches Of the service referred 10 the
bureaus having Jurisdiction.
Mr.. Payne said tonight that he regarded
the charge against the auditor and the
comptroller as the most serious of the al
legations. He said 'if these officials al
lowed improper accounts to be audited or
suppressed, what might be called pay dirt
has been found in the charges impugning
their good faith and integrity
Irregularities Not Illegal.
However he pointed out a difference he.
tween charges of irregularlty and of actual
violation Of law.
"A government official" he said, may
buy something which he has no authority
to purchase and no authority to pay for,
but the government gets the use of the
article. Irregularities do not necessarily
mean anything unlawful. The depart
ment may pay out of the wrong fund,
either by accident or by design yet that
need not be unlawful"
Speaking generally, the postmaster gem
eral said the original letters OF the officials
against whom Mr.. Tulloch made accusa-
tions were necessarily general in tenor,
but now the Tulloch letter furnished some
thing more definite they would have an
an opportunity TO make more definite re-
plies.
"Mr Bristow," he said, went carefully
over Mr. Tulloch's charges and has
selected such matters as ought to be in
vestigated."
August w Machen, the superintendent
Of the Free Delivery division, called at
the department today for the first time
since his summary relief from ofi-e He
came for some personal papers he had left
in his desk. Postoffice Inspector Fosnes,
the acting superintendent OF the division
was present and inspected all the papers
before permitting Mr.. Machen TO take
them.
Postmaster General Payne was asked
whether friends of Mr.. Machen had sug
gested that he be permitted to resign and
denied the report.
'Twnl Mr. Machen be permitted TO re-
sign?" he was asked
'Mr. Machen will not resign" he ans
wered, "at least l understand so. 1t is
safe to assume that he viii not ask to-. l
have reason to believe he will not resign
or ask to be permitted to resign"
Plat Denies TuIIOch Charge.
NEW YORK, May 1S-senator Thomas
c. Platt today denied the statement made
by Seymour w, Tulloch, formerly cashier
of the Washington postofice that Ex-
Superintendent Beavers OF the salary al
lowance division OF the postoffice depart
ment had requested a high official to use
his influence TO get bonding business for
a bonding company which Senator Platts
son is interested in, saying that Senator
Plat would appreciate it,
"The statement is an absolute lie and
Tulloeh knew II was a lle," said Senator
platt. 'I have no interest direct or In
direct in any bonding company"