The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-17
CONRAD AND BONAPARTE
SUSTAIN CHARGES MADE
AGAINST PERRY HEATH

to the former Postmaster General. who
appears to have at least tolerated the
practice after notice of its existence.
and to the late and present postmasters
at Washington, each of whom appears
IN have accepted the transfer to his
office OF a number of persons thus en-
ployed without. so far as is shown. any
protest or exposure, facts substantially
admitted as to himself in Mr.. Merritts
letter of June %.
Captain Castle Attacked.
Captain Castle is attacked in his po-
sition as Auditor. for having passed
the account OF George w. Beavers. for
$1,14S as expenses. when in reality, the
account was an attempt to draw the
money on an increase in salary which
he expected. but had not received. In
spector Crowell discovered the incident
and when the attention Of the office
was called to It, payment on the ac-
count was stopped.
The employment of persons in small
postoffices about to be classified in order
that the persons might be classified with
the office is strongly condemned, and
Messrs. Conrad and Bonaparte declare
that an official adopting the device.
known as the creased route" estab-
fishes his unfitness for public office. AS
some Of the highest-priced clerks in
Washington obtained the start on me-
teoric public careers in this manner. il
is thought that there may be important
Developments if the recommendation is
acted upon.
Removal of Tulloch.
The investigators refuse to discuss the
propriety of Postmaster Merritt in sum-
marily removing from Office Seymour
w. Tulloch. but they say that Mr.. Mer-
rift was unnecessarily precipitate and
discourteous. The public service was in
Jured by the manner of the removal, as
il was attributed to the fact that he re-
fused to countenance Irregularities and
was punished by dismissal.
The practice of employing ''laborers'
on classified work is strongly con-
demned. Captain Castle is called 10 ac-
count for paying the salaries Of many of
these laborers and charwomen who
never performed any service. but drew
their money with great regularity.
Punished Faithful Servant.
The transfer and reduction OF Thomas
w Gilmer, the Auditors clerk, who was
investigating many of the financial w
Irregularities which subsequently caused
the Tulioch charges. is commented upon
In the following caustic language:
The detail of Thomas w. GiIner to
different work OF lower grade and ar
a reduced compensation by F. A Van
derlip, then Acting Secretary of the
Treasury. under all the circumstance
attending IL, was apparently disastrous
to the public interest. since il would be
generally and n8 uTally understood BY
those cognizant of it as a punishment
inflicted on faithful public servant.
who had, by the honest discharge of his
duty, incurred the enmity Of active and
influential politician 1t seems to have
been preceded by no sufficient inquiry on
the part of Acting Secretary Vanderlin.
and would render proper an fnvestiga-
ton OF the latters conduct were he stib
in the public service"
SERIOUS Charges Fall"
Serious charges" against Mr.. TuIIocb
by Postmaster Merritt are referred u ia
/ the supplemental report, but the conclu.
sion Is reached that they are not sufi-
cient to cause a change in the language
or opinions expressed in the main re
I port.
The letters Of the late Civil Service
Commissioner Proctor and Of ex-Post.
master General Smith are also consid
cred in the supplemental report
The Smith Letter.
Mr.. Smiths letter shows, 10 our
minds" the investigators say, mot only
that there was, as we said. failure on
his part while in Office TO appreciate
the gravity of the situation disclosed by
the warnings he received, but that he
yet fails TO appreciate this situation"
Appended to the report are letters to
the President from Secretary Shaw.
Postmaster General Payne, and former
Postmaster General Smith. Secretary
Shaw states thilt as soon as the Tul-
I loch letter was published he had inves-
tigated the connection of Judge Trace
well with the matters involved, and the
/ Secretary adds:
Il then reached t1e conclusion that
he had passed a few improper pay
ments. 1 was convinced, however, that
ii was an error in judgment, and the
amounts were very small"
After reviewing further his investi-
cation of Gilmer, the Secretary con-
cludes:
Exonerated Comptroller.
| las nearly all the criticisms of Mr..
Traceweu relate to differences between
him and Mr.. Gilmer. and as Mr. GiIner
is manifestly an unsafe custodian of any
mans official reputation, ] think the
/ Comptroller should be exOnerated"