The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-05-22
TULLOCH MAKES HIS
CHARGES SPECIFIC
Former Cashier of Washington
Postoffice Writes to Mr..
Payne.
A IN PERRY HEATH
Tells of Methods Employed in Getting
Public Moneys Without Duo
Equivalent-People Paid
Who Didn't Work.

Washington. May 1.-THE full text
Of the charges Of Irregularities in
postal affairs by Seymour w. Tulloch,
formerly cashier of the Washington
postoffice was made public in a letter to
Postmaster General Payne in response
to the latter's request to ~substantiate
Matters complained Of will be investi-
gated Immediately.
MI. Tulloch says hat in all instances
Of i~rregularity n favoritism the
proper allowance records, vouchers,
ETC., were most carefully executed and
kept, as a rule, and little information
caH be ascertained by their ~investiga-
ton; h a the real facts behind the
record are known to few-''those inter-
ested, who will not, and others, clerks,
who dare not, talk
For upwards of nineteen years the
conduct of the Washington postoffice
and the department was regular; hen
came the first break, the Of
q system of allowances on account Of
departmental expenditures, which aft
awards led to irregularities, abuses,
extravaganza II my removal as an
obstacle on June 80, 1885,"
Soon after the Mckinley admins
tration came into power the first as
sistant postmaster general sent his
clerk down to me with a voucher for a
lump sum for travelling expenses ac-
companied by an allowance for their
payment froE the funds of the Wash
lngton Office. Such a demand was ir-
regular on Its face, but the official be-
came very angry at. the idea of the
mere cashier attempting to make any
suggestions to him, and refused to
amend n itemize his voucher. The
postmaster explained to him mat he
had only asked for what was required
e The postmaster upon his re-
turn stated that the official had said:
Look here, now, this is a new admin
tstration and a new crowd, and we in
tend to make. our own ~precedents.'
The auditor Of the postofice depart
ment finally sent word through the
postmaster that on account of the feel
Ing shown in the matter If I would en-
close the voucher in my next account
Its ~informality would be overlooked.
An inspection of the Washington ac-
counts will show many similar subse-
uuent payments of travelling and other
expenses on account of departmental
officials without the usual departmental
checks.
Senator PIatt's Little Graft.
1.-THE Washington office was surprised
pne day to receive from the salary and
q Ill 0yxyl roon III Syfcinn. ne tha R~C<a n ccyc%op 4
postmaster generals office a printed
circular stating it was Intending to re-
luire all employees at postoffices to give
q blanket bond to be furnished by a
single recognized bonding company, ir-
respective of the fact whether such en-
ploye could furnish good personalbonds
or nigh desire to avail themselves of
competition in premiums between 9TH
sr bonding companies. A similar blan-
ket bond was, l believe, to be required
Of the letter carriers. The postmaster
had a conference with Geo. w. Beavers
then chief of the salary and allowance
division and reported that Mr.. Beavers
had said. Senator Plat, of New York,
would appreciate If he would select the
senator's company"
1.-THE original circular was subse-
quently modified by allowing employees
to select their own bond or bonding
companies.
Considerable feeling was manifest.
ed towar me in the office of the firsi
assistant postmaster general because ]
would not pay vouchers for service OF
supplies up0n personal requets or BY
direction yer the telephone. ]. Hol
Livingston presented vouchers for pay.
ment amounting to $1O0 for postal fur.
niture. I refused to pay until the al.
lowance had been received. I was in,
formed that it would be sent down b.
private messengers as soon as it wa!
signed by the first assistant postmaSte,
general. I again refused. Mr.. Livings
ton departed quite angry, and som
time afterwards returned with the al
loWance properly executed and still
damp from h copying press. 1t wa
for a shipment of furniture, as I re
member, to Cuba or Porto Rico. No on
had certified as to the receipt of tn
goods, and l called the attention of MI
Livingston to the omission. He ex
planned 1T would be all right, and tina
he needed els money.
Paying in Advance.
Il declined to pay unless some RESPONSE
Bile official would acknowledge the receip
of the goods, whereupon Mr.. Livingsto
became confidential and told me his com
pany did not have very much capital. tina
work had not yet even begun Upon tn
furniture, but that George had agree
NS AoAAS III Jay ~ i
Is needless to add no payment was made.
MI. Tulloch says payments were au
thorized to Mr.. Livingston amounting t
about 81, 500 OF May 5, June s and Jun
Is, 1899. of June 10 was for 81, 1925 fo
Porto Rico. and was rendered in a lum
sum. An intimate friend of Mr.. Heath;
NJ. D.. Hem, was the vice president of tn
company. 1t is stated the compan
shipped $500 to SO, 600 worth of supple
to Cuba on orders from Mr.. Rathbone an
Mr.. Neelcy. and fitted up the America
postoficc at the Paris exposition. NJ,
Livingston was also in charge of tn
Washington Office Of the Keyless Loo
company.
Extensive purchases of furniture fc
Porto Rico, amounting to over 81, 800, an
Involving some w~ashstands at very hig
prices, Mr.. Tulloch say were purchase
by order OF the first assistant postmaste
general April Is, and May %, 1899, fro
: George ". Cobb. jr., No. 70 Nassau stree
New York city.
r Mr. Tulloch says that Postoffice tnspe,
! tor In Charge William b. Smith, of tn
city, made an inspection Of the Washin,
, ton postoffce and during that ~inspectic