The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17
Dir. TuIIoch's Disclosures Are Not as
Important as the Department
Was Led to Believe.
LITTLE EVIDENCE is ADDUCED
TO SUPPORT THE SERIOUS CHARGES
FIRST PREFERRED.
Mattkr of Rural Mail Route Supplies
Answers to the Allegations Are
Made I'm Detail.

SpecIaa 70 the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. May 16.-'.No develop
ment.in the present investigation in the de-
partr.ent will be suppressed. as all of the
evidelce viii be given TO the public at the
propdr time. If any wrongdoing is discov-
cred the guilty will be punished. no mat
ter who may be involved. We propose to
so toi the bottom of the matter, and when
the r.turns are all in L feel sure that the
publiS viii be satisfied with whatever ac-
tion ;he disclosures may render necessary"
Thia statement was made to-day by Mr..
Paynf, the postmaster general In the man
ner - delivering this brief address to news
papef correspondents who called him.
rathe,- than in the statement itself was the
absolute sincerity OF Mr.. Payne made man.
fest The postmaster general expressed
empIiatically his intention to make the in
vesufatiOn as Thorough as possible. that
nothing would be withheld from the pub
lie and that if any evidence of corruption
was discovered the guilty officials would be
turnsd over TO the officers of the law
The utterances of the postmaster general
prObSbly were brought out by the strong
criticisms of the department heard in some
quarters. 1t has been repeatedly alleged
that, the whole affair would be white
wouai be given to the public. The post
mas FER general has kept every promise in
the formal statement that he made at the
time OF his return from Porto Rico. He
said then that the inquiry would be pushed
withput fear or favor, and that if any Off
cial WAS found to be corrupt prosecutions
wou<d follow. He dismissed General Tyner
as the result of the afe-burglaring Incl
dentt he relieved Mr.. Christiancy, acting
assistant attorney general. and on the rec
Omnsendation cf nIr. Bristow. fourth as
sistssnt, he gave A. w. Machen, superin-
tendsnt of free delivery. an indefinite leave
of absence. He has conducted the inquiry
witk energy and TO a considerable extent
has disarmed his critics by the p.omptness
with which he has made every charge,
anot ymous or otherwise, part of the Off
cial inquiry.
AS near as can he learned the statement
| OF Seymour TullOcn formerly cashier of the
Washington city Hostoffice, falls far short
of Chat was reasonably expected in view
OF ihe serious charges preferred by him.
The5 postmaster general to-day read a por-
tions OF the Tulloch statement Mr.. Tulloch
4 submits no proof TO support his allegations
and IL is understood merely gives a lengthy
recital OF vague rlImors and incidents hav
ling mo connection, whatsoever with the in
quify in the local Office few years ago
land; without any bearing on the present in
Investigation In the department. Ii Is known
&*thas Mr.. BrlStOW. at the direction of the
Zp0ss smaster general. has already dug deep
intC the charged allegations contained in
<1he5 Tuiioch document and IL has been dis
|Covsred that there is very little ground for
Xthe iinsinuations or Mr.. Tulloch against the
ID rO.ninent men he. tried 10 involve.
Tsere is one portion Of the TullOch state
merit to which some attention will be given.
il relates to several vouchers. which were
Thoroughly scrutiniZed, ii is understood, by
the: controller of the treasury. The allega-
tiOIts of Mr. Tulloch in this connection are
OF such a serious nature that they will be
| carifuuy inquired into. "I had hopes"
Mr' Tulloch would throw q great deal of
/ lglst on the situation. He has sadly disap-
pohted me- concluded the postmaster
general. with a smile.
Ttlcre has been considerable gossip dur
ing; the past few days to the effect that un-
der the jurisdiction of General Bristow, the
foTFth assistant. radical changes might be
expected in the administration of the rural
/ free delivery service. 1t is learned on ex-
permanent charge OF rural free delivery.
no radical changes will he made in the
present system Of establishing and main
taf3ing the service, except that the depart
me 1T will not be so liberal in allowing sup
Pills in the future as il has been in, the
past. 1t is realized by the administration
that serious consequences might follow any
move that in any way retarded the de-
veopment of rural free delivery This new
estimation. especially aniOng the farmers
Postmaster General Payne has paid a
great deal of attention to II and he is con-
viT;eed that rural free delivery will i'm time
griW into one Of the most important fea-
a tukes Of the whole service. j. E NJ