The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-19
Henry A. Castle Of Minnesota Talks
Of the Tulloch Charges
Freely.
Says the Statement, That His 40
counts Were SAC, 900 Wrong
Is Untrue. rs
From The Journal Bureau, Room IS Post Build

From The Journal Bureau, Room 40 FoeS buald-
ing, Washington. H3& We I
washington. May 1s-.I5 have mere
ceived the postmaster generals letter
asking for an explanation of the Tulloch
charges, = said Captain Henry A.. Castle,
auditor for the postoffice department., to-
day. But when it comes to me shall
be pleased to give him all the information
have on the subject. altho am an of
| fetal of the treasury and not Of the post
office department" The charge referred
to by Captain Castle was one that he
had approved the accounts of the Wash
ington postoffice, Of which the Porto
Rican service was a branch during the
four months of military occupation. in
volving extravagance; and that when the
controller OF the treasury reviewed Cap
tain Castles auditing he disallowed $40, 00o
of the total expense approved by the audi
tor 5ls4& 8H
AS to my approving extravagant ex-
penditures." continued Captain Castle
that is something with which I have
nothing to do. All that I have to pass
on Is the question Of whether there is al
appropriation for a certain expenditure
and the legality Of vouchers furnished BY
the officers who disburse funds. Perhaps
there were extravagances in connection
with the Porto Rican postal expenditures
That would be only natural considering
| n eunsettled state Of affairs and the new.
ness OF the service the postoffice depart,
ment was called upon to perform in the
islands over which we had assumed juris
diction."
Coming to the actual facts OF the al
legged rejection OF $4,000 allowance made
by myself, I will say that when these
accounts passed thru my Office personal
| ly examined them and passed upon them
They covered four months of sedvice
! while Porto Rico was under the military
control of the United, States. Severa,
| months after Ihad concluded my ex.
animation Controller Tracewell took w
the accounts and reviewed them, as he il
authorized to do. under the law, and wher
$4,000 between us. That was because
his office did not fully understand the
/ postoffice methods Of accounting.
Upon having everything explained to hin
that difference was reduced to 5000 ant
of this $3.50 had been paid for bonds o
postal employees who had ben sent to Port
Rico and then made postmasters with
out any increase Of compensation. TIL
law required that they should be bonded
not allowed an increase of salary the post
office department authorized payment 70
the bonds from the government funds
That was finally allowed, however, by in
)creasing the compensation Of these post
masters to the extent Of the amount re
quired to pay for the bonds.
This anowance reduced the differenc,
to about $3.50, which was finally disal
lowed. and somebody lost that amount
Who lost it do not know, but presume
1t was the postmaster at Washington, thr,
whom the disbursements were made
There is the whole explanation of tn
Tulloch charge, which will gladly fur
nish to Postmaster General Payne whel
get his request for information
w TerY,4a