The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-17

master general; James P Willet, late postmaster of Washington, now deceased; i; John A. Merritt, his successor in the said office and it's present incumbent: Robert J. Tracewell, comptroller; and Henry A. Castle, auditor for the postoffice depart ment, all appear to have shared in some measure their responsibilities, the late postmaster general for his seeming fail ure. notwithstanding repeated warnings to appreciate the gravity of their miscon- duet, and the consequent necessity for it's prompt and adequate punishment; the two postmaster for toleration af these abuses and obedience to plainly improper orGers witlout exposure. or apparently protest, anl the auditor and cOnatc Iller fer ac ting upon lax and d t''"nry nrin- cip -s in the administration ce their le- sreetivc ,ff,ces, whereby the "tynent If illegal and seemingly fraudulent claims Ly the [: casIry was rendered pos''ni..
 Case of Fraud.
 ''7. The employ of subordinates in post offices to become classified for the purpose of thus securing their admission without examination into the classified service, was a pracice in frauden legis and off- cials guilty of it thereby established their own unftness for public employment.
 IS. The employment of so-called la borers' to do classified work was clearly illegal and under the express directions Of the civil service rules, to be punlShed by dismissal from office.
 "9. An agreement by any public officer. or with any person whether in or out of the public service at the time that the latter shall receive the emoluments of public employment under pretense of be- nia employed without rendering any ser vices to the government constitues q conspiracy to defraud the United States.
 TO The detail of I'hos Gilmer to diff of Q org 1 1 reduced compensation by F. A. Vanderlip, then acting secretary of the treasury, un- der all the circumstances attending it, was apparently unjust and oppressive and certainly disastrous to the public in- terest. since it would be generally and naturally understood by those cognizant of it as a punishment inflicted on a faith full public servant, who had by the honest discharge of his duty incurred the enmity of active and influential politicians. It seems to have been preceded by no suf- ficient inquiry on the part of Acting Sec retary Vanderlip and would render prop CT an investigation of the latter's conduct were he still in the public service.
 Tulloch's Removal Unfortunate.
 '11. While we express no opinion as to the propriety of Seymour w. Tulloch's removal from the office of cashier by Postmaster Merritt his removal was clearly regrettabie Tn the pubic interest," as leading naturally to the belief that the cashier had been in fact removed for his failure to comply with irregular and even illegal demands upon the funds in his custody.
 "We very respectfully recommend:
 ''1. That a thorough investigation be or dered if it has not been already ordered (A) of the administration of the Wash ington postofffice (B) of the administra tion of the New York postoffice, and co of the administration of the office of the first assistant postmaster general within the past three years.
 ''2. That a carefully chosen, small com mission be appointed by the President to report plan whereby the work of the of- ficers of the comptrolleg and of the sev- eral auditors may be removed from all political, personal or other extraneous in- huences."