The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-07
Investigation to BE Undertaken with
the View of Correcting Abuses and
Initiating New Methods.
TYNERs NOT TO BE PROSECUTED
SAFE OPENING AFFAIR REGARDED
AS CLOSED INCIDENT.
Case Not Presented to the Grand Jury
COLOMBIAN Congressman Not I'm
Favor OF Canal Treaty.

Special &c the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 6.-Postmaster Cen
eral Payne has received replies from
Charles Emory Smith, Robert j. Trace
well. controller OF the treasury, Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General Bristow and
Postmaster Merritt, of the Washington
postoffice. relative to the charges made by
Seymour Tulloch, former cashier Of the
local postoffice. He awaits a formal
statement from Mr.. Tulloch. 1t was learned
to-day that IL is the purpose OF the post
master general to inaugurate inquiry
supplemental to the one now going on in
the department, into the business methods
of all hrst-class pOstoffices in the United
States. This will embrace the Indianapolis
postoffice. The purpose OF this inquiry is
to ascertain what changes for the better
may be made in the various postoffices
throughout the United States, and II is
the direct result of a conference between
Postmaster General Payne and former
Representative Loud. of California, held just
before Congress convened last winter.
Nothing will be done in this direction, how
ever, until the present investigation in the
department Is completed.
An Associated Press dispatch says: An
extension of the investigation of affairs of
tie Postosfice Department, to include the
overha ulirg of most OF the large postoffices
in the country. is in contemplation. This
statement was made to-day by Postmaster
General Payne. Mr.. Payne said the in
crease Of 5000 in the appropriation for the
contingent expenses Of his own office had
been made for the purpose Of investigating
the affairs of the department along these
htrf he aHu hof ua
that time anticipated the investigation
would prove so sensational. The details of
the proposed general investigation, he said,
have not yet been formulated. owing to the
fact that all efforts are now being concen-
trated on the investigation now In hand.
He announced that Ii might be necessary
TO employ at various places men outside
of the government to look into local post
Office conditions.
Mr.. Payne said that 1T was large un-
dertaking and at present he was not pre-
pared to say just what form this whole
sale investigation OF postoffices would take.
1t will cover all first-class postoffices whose
annual receipts aggregate half-million
dollars. Mr.. Payne said to-day that the
present administrative methods of the post
al service were put In operation by former
postmaster General Wanamaker fourteen
the Department had trebled. He said 1t
might be that some of the methods were
faulty anc the practices irregular and that
the investigation would be made in the
hope of Irritating new and better methods
well correcting abuses.
Postmaster General Payne has now re-
ceived replies from ex-Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith. Controller of the
Treasury iTracewell. Postmaster Merritt,
of this city, and Fourth Assistant Post
master General Bristow regarding the
charges made by ex-Cashier Tulloch, of
the Washington postoffice.
The abstraction OF papers from the safe
of the office of the assistant attorney gen.
eral for the Postofice Department by Mrs.
James N. Tyner wife of the then assistant
attorney general. is now regarded as prac-
tically closed incident. The papers were
taken on April q and the case was re-
ferred to the United States attorney for
the District OF Columbia a week later. The
matter has not progressed further. 1t has
lot been presented to the grand jury and IL
Is generally believed the grand jury would
not be likely to take action because of lack
o. proof that the papers taken were gov
eminent property.