Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-07-01
SMITH MAKES HIS REPLY.
Ex-Postmaster General Explains His
Official Actions in Connection with
Post Office Investigation.
ANSWERS STATEMENT OF GEN. BRIS1OW
Says He Desires to Assume Largest
Measure of Responsibility Which
Belongs to Him-Can Find But Lit
tie for Him to Account For-His
Explanation Lengthy.


tie for Him to Account For-Hts
Explanation Lengthy.
Philadelphia, June 29.-Charles En-
ory Smith, who was succeeded as post
master general by. Mr.. Payne, made
public on Friday his reply to the
charges made by Mr.. Tulloch, in con-
nection with the post Office investiga-
ton. Appended to the reply, and
which Mr.. Smith asks shall be treated
as a part of it, are, first, a complete
copy of the itemized statement of the
Smith at the time they we're made; Sec
ond, complete copy of the confiden-
tial report of Inspector in Charge
Smith, which is the main document
accompanying Gen. Bristow's letter.:
third, complete copy of the report
which came as result of the exam
ination made when the Tulloch
charges were submitted, and which en-
bodies the answer, and the explanation
of the transactions referred to. Mr..
Smith then says:
ut will be seen that the Tulloch
statement and the inspectors report
are practically identical. At many
points the language is exactly the
same. It is as if they were written
by the same hand. The Tulloch state
ment was submitted to me. The in
spaatOr's report was submitted to the
fourth assistant. 1t was the business
of the inspector to find whatever
seemed to call for explanation; it was
left to the postmaster general to find
the explanation and the truth. This
was done by probing the Tulloch state
ment when it was presented. All of
the transactions described as irregular
were examined and a report was made
to me which took them up item by
item and groups of items and gave
the facts and explanations in each
case. To this report direct particu-
lar attention. If its statements are
correct, then on most points its ex-
plantations are satisfactory. It's &C.
curacy in all it's special averments has
never been impeached in any quarter.
On the main points it is believed to be
beyond successful challenge.
Main Points Summed Up.
= "These main points may be thus
summed up, each in sentence: First,
names of military postal clerks were
put on the general roll till the mill
tary appropriation became available;
then they were transferred to the
military roll. Second, the bond premi-
ums of military clerks were paid for
good reasons which are plainly set
forth and which had the approval of
the comptroller. Third, the purchases
of Porto Rican supplies were made
from the regular department. con-
tractors named under competition and
at regular contract prices. Fourth,
the vouchers for expenses of depart
ment officials travelling on official busi-
ness were made as required by the
auditor. Fifth, the lease of the Wash
ington post office was shown to be
entirely justified. Sixth, the appar-
emily double payment of those en-
ployed in examining letter carriers
claims is fully explained. These points
embrace all that are specified in the
charges, except the items relating. to
appointments, including the individu-
al cases of Larner and O. H. Smith,
and thus the matters open to question
are reduced to the appointments
which all told involve 10 clerks and
seven cleaners. Even this is not an ir-
reducible minimum, for several of
these appointments were perfectly
right and beyond any question.
Of all the appointments referred to
in the report of the post office inspec-
tor on the Tulloch charges Mr.. Smith
declares he had personal knowledge
of only one, and that was in the mat
ter of Washington young woman,
formerly engaged i'm journalism, whom
he found in dire need and appointed
on the roll of laborers, and who, he
says, took her place and did her work
until he made better provision for her
wants. His letter goes on as follows:
Accepts Responsibility.
II wish to accept the largest meas
u10 VI "AASh oOAOASS "
me in connection with all these mat
ters, but it seems due to fairness to
state certain facts. The war against
Spain, declared three. or four days
later, was dated back to April 81, 1898.
That was the very day on which was
sworn in as postmaster general. My
first duty, before even familiarizing
myself with the department, was to
make immediate provision for the Lett
tiers Of the scattered army of 100000
men which was so promptly raised,
followed by provision for the full mail
Of the islands. The administration
had been installed for more than q
year. The department. force had been
organized, and, of course, it was prop
erly accepted as it was found. When
the immediate duty in hand was taken
up, it was discovered, curiously
enough, that there were absolutely no
records of the military postal service
In the civil war. There were no known
80 II. =