The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-17
CONRAD AND BONAPARTE GIVE REPORT TO PUBLIC
Some of the Actions of Heath, Beevers and Vancott Were Not Only Illegal, But Almost CriminaI-Smth
 Is Also Under Cloud.


 of Messrs. Conrad and Bonaparte on the charges made by S. W. Tulloch, formerly cashier of the Washington City postoffice, against the administration of this office was made public today. Under instruc- tions from the president, the report views the Tulloch charges from legal stand point.
 ''The tendency to evade answering these charges evinced by those replying to the postmaster generals request for such an- swers' the report says, fis illustrated \ very forcibly by the charges against Perry S. Heath, former assistant post Smaster general, which have been hereto fore made public, and his answers to them''
 ''We consider this answer" it continues, altogether insufficient and no less sat- isfactory in substance than in form
 Continuing, the report says the revision of Postmaster Willets' accounts, of itself, is sufficient to show that MT. Heaths official record is not so clear as to defy suspicion. It adds:
 Moreover, the confidential report of the inspector in charge, smith, and the
  to strongly sustain some of the most se- rious charges made by Mr. Tulloch against MT. Heath, that it is quite im- possible fo dispose of these charges by calling them lies, out of the whole cloth.
 Failed to Meet Charges.
 "The reasonable inference to be drawn from Mir. Heaths complete failure to meet fully and explicitly accusations which, as Postmaster General Payne very justly admonished him, charged him with many acts of doubtful propriety,' added to the facts appearing from the record evidence laid before us, oblige us to say that at least strong prima face case is presented, wilful and reckless dis regard by the late first assistant post master general of obligation imposed on him by the regulations of his own depart ment, well as by the statutes of the United States; and we feel 1t our duty to add that suspicion of his personal in- tegrity must be inevitably aroused in our judgment, by an impartial consideration of the facts submitted to us, and of his plainly inadequate explanations.
 The report takes up in detail the charges of improper appointments of subordnates and improper disbursements of public funds, as contained in the Tulloch charges and after analysis. concludes:
 Heath and Beavers Responsible.
 '.So far as indicated by the papers sub mitted to us, the persons directly respon- sble for these fraudulent empoyments were Mesrs. Pery s. Heath and George w. Beavers, neither of whom Is now in public service. It seems clear, however, that this responsibility extends in some measure to the late postmaster general, who appears to have at least tolerated the practice, after notice of it's existence, and to the late and present postmasters at Washington, each of whom appears to have accepted the transfer to his office of a number of persons thus employed without, so far as is known, any protest or exposure"
 The report comments on Auditor Cas- ties "a pparent readiness to disregard the usual safeguards against unauthorized expenditures" in passing accounts for em- ployes, the character of whose service could not be ascertained. and in allow ing Beavers illegal and fraudulent claim of s114S for expenses in connection with the court of claims. The report says:
 Expressly Forbidden By Law.
 We find it impossible to doubt that MT. Heath, MT. Vancott and MT. Beavers him self knew the payment of this additional compensation was expressly forbidden by law, and that 1t called expenses to evade the prohibition"
 The summary and conclusions Of the report are as follows:
 As a result of our inquiry in the charges and of the considerations herein before set forth, we have the honor to report that in our judgment
 q. The discussion of the Tulloch charges has revealed the existence of de- plorable and gravely discreditable abuses during the years 1898. 1899, and 1900 in the Washington postoffice, and the office of the first assistant postmaster general
 ''2. These abuses involved conduct on the part of the various public officials which was certainly often illegal and may have been sometimes crimnal but such offenses, if committed, were in all cases committed more than three years before we were ordered to investigate the charges and so far are clearly in- formed more than three years before Mir Tulloch's interview of May 1 last.
 May Have Existed Before.
 "3 The evidence laid before us suggests the possibility and even probability, but does not prove that abuses may have continued both in the department and in the post office subsequently to the early summer of 1900, when we lost sight of them. and that in connection herewith criminal acts may have been committed within the period of limitations
 A. The report of Inspector Crowell and the facts relating to the claim of George ". Beavers indicate possibility that sim liar conditions may have both existed within and beyond the period of limita- tions in the New York postoffice
 a. The persons primarily responsible for the above mentioned abuses and the resulting scandals appear to have been Perry s. Heath, then first assistant past master general, and George w. Beavers. then chief of the salaries and allowance division, neither of whom is in the service of the United States. s.6 Charles Emory Smith the late nnst-