Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-22
THE POST OFF|CFCASES
An Hours Conference with
the President.
ACTION in THE FUTURE
FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO BE
MADE
Suggestions in the Bonaparte-Conrad
Report-Methods Rather Than Men
Criticised-Sensation Expected

Charles j. BOnaparte and Holmes Conrad
special government counsel in the prosccu-
ton of those persons indicted for criminal
irregularities in the Post Office Department,
had a long conference with President
Roosevelt this afternoon. The conference
continued from about 1880 until after. 30
O'Clock
The conduct of the prosecution of some OF
the cas es in which indictments have been
returned were carefully considered at q
long conference at the Department of JUS
tice before the Attorney General and the
special attorneys went to the White House
Mr.. Morgan H. Beach. United States at
torney for the District of Columbia: Assist
ant Attorney General Ropb and several
other officials were also present II was
stated that the precise nature of the mat
tiers discussed will not be made public at
this time.
All the persons present at the White
House conference at it's conclusion were
reticent. but it is known that the mat
tiers under discussion related particuiai ~
to phases of the post office investigation
which have not been developed thoroughly
in any reports vet presented to the Presi-
dent or Post Office Depa rtment
The Eonaparte-Ccnrad Report.
1t WAS learned that the Bonaparte Conrad
report recently submitted to the President
was prepared after a careful investigation
by the attorneys of papers and documents
containing information relating to the
charges made by Seymour Tulloch, former
cashier of the Washington post office. The
report it can be said dealt with things
rather than with persons. The President
did not request recommends tons from the
two special attorneys as to the retention in
Office or dismissal therefrom of any official
officials. He desired from them merely
that they should report upon the accuracy
of the Tulloch charges.
1t is known that the report did contain
two three recommendations. however,
but these We're to methods and not as to
men, 1t likewise contained several sugges-
tons as TO the development of phases OF the
charges which the attorneys had been in
vestigating. These suggestions were under
consideration at the conference today.
Messrs. Bona parte and Conrad will under
the Presidents orders, continue the inveSti-
cations along the lines of their suggestions
1t Is quite likely that their future Investi-
cations will relate to men as well as to
met hods, but at this time the names of the
men whose records to be investigated,
for obvious reasons, cannot be disclosed.
Report to Be Made Public.
The report of the attorneys will be made
public probably at an early date. Quite
naturally portions of the report will not
be given Immediately to the public mas
much as it is known that these portions
contain Information that would be valua-
BILE TO the attorneys for the defendants in
the post office cases. AS thirty or more in
dictments are pending against the former
officials and contractors of the Post Office
Department II is deemed wise not to disclose
any part of the governments iand in the
prosecution of those cases.
Later on the President will transmit to
Congress all reports made to him concern
| ing the postal Investigations that Congress
may be fully informed of the results
achieved by those who have conducted the
Investigate ton.
Those portions of the Conrad Bonaparte
report to be made public will contain the
hndings of the attorneys regarding those
persons who have not been indicted but
whose official actions have been irregular,
If not criminal.
1t has been discovered by the attorneys
that cases against these persons canno. be
made because of the statute of limitations
which bars prosecution at this time. The
punishment of these men. nevertheless. will
be by publicity as nothing relating to them
and their offenseS. as discovered by the at
torneys, will be suppressed. In fact the re-
port goes fully into all phases of this ella So
| of cases.
Prominent Men Involved.
1t is stated on good authority that a
number of men of prominence are involved
| in the class of those whose prosecution is
barred by the statute of limitation but who
| will be held up to the public as having
| committed grave tndiscretions. if not
! crimes Inc report, IL is known, does not
withhold facts nor deal with these men
| leniently. and it is possible that in this
| respect the report will prove one of the
| big sensations of the Investigations so far.
As to Merritt and Tracewell.
| 1t is now well understood that the Con-
! rad-Bonaparte report does not enter into
direct criticism of Controller Tracewell
of the treasury and Postmaster Merritt of
! the city post office by names, but that 1t
| does deal with their offices and the meth
DDS pursued there. 1t is in one or both
of these cases that the attorneys suggested
further investigation, and on which the
President has determined that there shall
be further investigation. The President
it is declared. will not leave anything I'M
certain when the investigation has been
finished, and he is following every clue
that promises results without stopping at
the prospects.