Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-26
SMITH STRIKES BACK
Former Postmaster General
Prepares Letter.
SUGGESTS COLLUSION
DISCUSSES INVESTIGATION WITH
THE PRESIDENT.
Assistant Attorney General Robb
Favors Awarding Money Order
Blank Contract to Herman.

Charles Emory Smith, who served as
Postmaster General in President McKin-
! President Roosevelt until about fifteen
months ago. spent several hours with the
President today discussing the post office
| investigation and the facts so far as he
| knew them during his administration of
| the Post Office Department.
Mr.. Smith took breakfast with the Presi-
dent, and later in the day called uron
| him at his Office. Mr.. Smiths answer to
| the report of Mr.. Bristow will be published
| throughout the country tomorrow morn
| ing.
Mr.. Smith discussed with the President
| his statement. 1t is learned on excellent
authority that the answer consists Of ex-
hsblts "a" "B" and &C." and that Mr
Smith will make the showing, which will
have to be explained, that the Tulloch
charges and the ieport of Inspector Smith
are almost Identical at some points being
| in such similar language to suggest the
possibility of their having been prepared
| by the same person.
Wants an Explanation.
Mr.. Smith practically makes the charge.
| by parallel column at least that there was
| some collusion in the matter and by i'm
plication, If not in word. asks for an ex-
PLANTATION.
new sensation may be injected into
| the whole investigation by this showing
of the former Postmaster General. and
| further statements will probably have 10
| be made by somebody.
Mr.. Smiths statement deals, Ii is un-
| derstood, with the Tuloch charges, which
| were the only things coming before his
depaItmen when he was in charge on
which an investigation could be made.
ha Trr1l nh IL
nutely than ever before, are given AZ ex-
hibit "a" In fact. the entire charges as
made by Mr.. Tulloch at that time are
gwen in the answer.
Inspector Smiths Report. :
Mr.. Smith then presents exhibit b.
| the report of Inspector Smith, who was de-
| tailed to look into the charges and report
upon them. This is the report that Mr..
| Smith sees fit to draw the parallel on as
showing that the Tulloch charges and the
| inspectors report are in one and the same
| handwriting and in manner of description,
| a fact which Mr.. Smith regards as most
curious.
Exhibit "C'' contains Mr. Smiths expla-
nation and remarks upon the whole thing
as it came before him. 1t is understood that
he points out that after Controller Trace
well, the highest reviewing officer In the
matter of accounts in the country. had
passed upon the charges and examined IN
detail for a period of four months, there
was little else to be done. and when the
inspectors report was presented to him he
gave consideration to the fact that the
man who had the final word in all such
matters had already had his say.
1t will be pointed out, it is stated. that
Mr.. Bristow called the inspectors report to
the attention of Mr.. Charles Emory Smith,
and that the latter did not enter into the
details then because of the investigation in
progress by the controller.
The report of Mr.. Bristow a few days ago
1 l1,r NArfr 10 In lU
Inspector Smith and Mr.. Charles Emory
Smith has no ground upon which TO base
his answer except the report of Mr.. Bris-
tow few days ago to the Postmaster Cen
eral. Therefore, 1t is declared. Mr.. Charles
Emory Smiths answer will fully cover
every feature of which he was cognizant
when in Office
Favorable to Herman.
Assistant Attorney General Robb this
afternoon submitted to First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne his opinion on
the legality of the bid made by Paul Her
man of Rutherford, N. j., for the printing
of money order blanks for the Post Off1ce
Department. The opinion is understood to
be favorable to the letting of the contract
to Mr.. Herman.
The action of Mr.. James T. Metcalf su-
perintendent of the money order system. In
the matter of letting this contract, was the
cause of his summary removal from the
service by the Postmaster General about
ten days ago.
II was charged that Mr. Metcalf was un-
duly interested in having the contract go to
the Wynkoop-H -Hallenbeck-Crawford COM
pany of New York. which firm employs Mr..
MetcalfS son.
Mr. Herman was a caller on the first as
sistant postmaster general this forenoon.
Mr. Drake, representing the Wynkoop-Hal-
lenbeck-Crawford Company, also called on
Mr.. Wynne in the interest of staving or
giving the contract to Mr.. Herman
The first assistant postmaster general had
not seen the opinion of Assistant Attorney
General Robb at the time, and he told Mr..
Drake if he had any further statement TO
make it would be proper for him to file It
with the assistant attorney general.
A committee representing the Allied
Printing Trades Council having jurisdiction
in this district waited on First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne. shortly before
3 O'Clock this afternoon. and formally reg
istered an objection to having the contract
for the printing of money order blanks
awarded to Paul Herman on the ground
that Mr.. Herman is not member of the
Allied Printing Trades Council.
Mr.. Wynne received the committee and
assured the members that their objection
should have due consideration.
Gen. Payne Not to Resign.
Postmaster General Payne was not at his
office this forenoon. He went directly from
his apartments in the Arlington Hotel to
the White House to attend the last cabinet
his home at Oyster Bay. He was on hand
with the other cabinet officers at IL o'clock
and looking in better health than in some
time Some Of Mr.. Payne's friends con-
graduated him his improved appear
ance, and be jocularly remarked, "Oh, I'm
not dead yet.
1t is stated on the authority of friends
close to Mr. Payne that he has no thought
of resigning at this time, and that the
President would not permit him to do 50
unless it were case OF life or death.
1t has been known for years that Mr..
Payne's health was In more or less seri-
ous condition BY reason of stomach
troubles of chronic nature Mr.. Payne
has at different times travelled all over
Europe and this country seeking restora-
ton. His trouble is not one of a fatal nature.
but it wears upon its victims and often
units them for severe mental or physiea&
work Mr.. Payne has been going through
some exceedingly difficult work and the
strain has aggravated his troubles In such
a way that he has recently been feeling
worse than in a long time. Under the
same circumstances most men would have
left the cabinet before this. 1t is pointed
out, but under the goading that he has
been receiving Mr.. Payne. 1t is declared.