The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-01
Thinks Evidence Adduced JuSti-
fled The Transaction
TEXT OF SECOND LETTER
Says IL Was Found ExpedIent to Treat
Camps and Offices In Porto Rico
as Branches of the WASH
lneton Office.

washington, May s1.-Postmaster Cen
eral Payne today made public the reply
of former Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith to the charges of former
Cashier S. w. Tulloch of the washington
city postoffice regarding the postal ad-
ministration.
Mr. Smith says that he Investigated the
allegations of Irregularities when they
were made and that the evidence adduced
in most cases was believed to be JUS
tification of the transactions complained
! of, adding that the criticisms betrayed a
lack of knowledge of conditions incident
to the Spanish war and the measures
necessary to meet the requirements.
Mr.. Payne said today that Mr.. Smiths
letter practically closes the Tulioch Incl
dent. although other documents on the
subject will be made public later. These
include the replies of former First Assist
ant Postmaster General Heath and of
Fourth Postmaster General Bristow, the
report on the former investigation of the
Tulloch charges. to which Mr.. Smith re-
fers, and the reports of the postoffice in
spectors and civil service representative
who investigated the washington post
office.
Owing to the great volume of the docu-
ments, Mr.. Payne said that all of the
documents except Mr.. Heath's reply will
be briefed. although the documents them
selves will be open to public inspection
If wanted.
philadelphia, Pa, May 27, 1903-Henry
C. Payne. Postmaster General, Washing
ton:
"Sir--I am In receipt of your letter of
the 10th instant inclosing a copy of a
letter addressed to you by Mr.. s. w. Tul-
loch respecting the conduct Of the post
|. office department and the Washington
= postoffice during the years 1898 and 1899
In reply / beg to say that the Allegations
OF Irregularities made by Mr.. Tulloch on
his retirement from the position of
cashier of the city postofflce, were duly
examined at the time They were taken
up item by item and the facts In each
case were ascertained. The result of that
examination was embodied in full ex-
hibit of the alleged Irregularities and the
explanations In each instance which is on
file in the department. To this exhibit 1
refer as embodying a particular and de-
tailed answer to Mr.. Tulloch's statements
Refers to Transactions.
without undertaking to repeat here
its specific and minute evidences, let me
1t presents what was said to be- justi-
7 fication Of the transactions complained of.
The transactions mostly grew out of the
conditions Incidental to the opening of the
Spanish war, and the criticism betrayed
want of knowledge both of the con-
ditions and of the methods adopted to
meet their requirements. The war was de-
clared April 21, 1893. Within a few weeks
an army of 25O.0O0 men was raised and
organized In camps. 1t became necessary
to provide at once for the prompt hand
ling of the mail In this large body of
soldiers and their millions OF friends at
home. Any II ilure to do 80 would Justly
have excited universal condemnation
''At the outset no special appropriation
was available, and the means had to be
provided from the general postal appro-
priations. Afterwards congress made
special appropriation for the military
postal service, to be expended entirely
at the discretion Of the postmaster gem
eral.
1T was found expedient as a matter Of
practical administration to treat camps,
and afterwards for a time the offices Of
Porto Rico were treated as branches of the
New York office. This involved the en-
rollment Of the men employed for Porto
Rico on the Washington roll. For a time
some of the extra help needed in the de-
partment was provided for In the same
way. Out of these facts ignorantly grew
some Of the allegations or irreguiarity.
During two years congress appropriat-
4 ed s500,00 for the military postol service,
/ to be expended at the discretion of the
postmaster general. c-f this amount $244 :
666 25 was spent, and the remainder, $780,
233. As, was covered back into the treas
ury.
"The examination of the alleged irregu-
larities in connection with the Washing
ton office as already stated, justified
most of them. l should not be altogether
candid II l did not say that In some cases
l was not convinced of the necessity or
propriety of the transactions. The ques-
tionable transactions consisted for the
most part of placing on the roll few
persons, the need of whose services was
not clearly shown. When these facts
developed, the proper officers were in
structed that every proceeding which
could not be justified should be remedied
and stopped.
Quotes Mr.. TuIIoch.
"It is proper for me to add that Mr..
Tulloch's allegations were the subject of
an independent and searching investiga-
i ton by the comptroller of the treasury.
the result of which was that his disal-
lowance on vouchers amounted to 1892
considerable part of which sum was af-
forwards allowed on further inquiry.
''Mr. Tulloch says: I was creditabiy in
formed at the time that the matter so
prepared, with perhaps other evidence.
was laid before Postmaster General Smith
by Fourth Assistant Bristow who re-
quested the appointment Of a commission
to investigate the office of the first as
sistant postmaster general This was re-
fused by Mr. Smith, who looked upon it
as another manifestation Of the relations
between Perry s. Heath and Mr.. Bris-
tow
I'm reply, refrain from making the
obvious comment and content myself
with the statement that General Bristow
made such request and that I refused
It. is entirely untrue. Very respectfully
yours,
"CHARLES EMORY SMITH"
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow has recommended to Postmaster
2 General Payne that the order directing
the posting Of names of residents on rural
free delivery routes in the postoffices on
those routes be rescinded. No action has
yet been taken on the recommendation.