Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-05-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandra Gazette.l
Washington, ID, c., May 70.

Inc HOStudSlcI- OchCioi 'hio
made public the statement of Comptroller
of the Treasury Tracewell, +. A. Van
derIip. former Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury, and ex-Attorney General
Griggs, bearing upon the charges made
by Seymour w. Tulloch that they were
instrumental in having transferred and
later removed as a result Of political in
huence, a treasury expert, I. W. Gil-
mer, just as the postofice investigation
he had in charge was becoming interest
ing. Mr.. Vanderlip and Mr.. Griggs
enter at length into the charges OF inso-
lence of the expert and his petty inter-
ference with accounts. Comptroller
Tracewell denies that any review OF the
accounts we're suppressed, but that the
investigation was thorough, and that all
of the accounts in question were allowed
with the exception of 1890. He denies
ever having talked with Mr.. Tulloch; OF
having detected any dishonest practices;
and says that, although he transferred
the expert on the charges of insolence
made by Deputy Auditor Lawshe, he
had ever found Gilmer a faithful worker,
and not afflicted with the unpleasant
characteristics of which complaint was
made. Comptroller Tracewell states
that the accounts in question in the local
postoffice were reviewed under his in
structions; that Eat no time before,
during or after the commencement OF
the revision, was any political or other
pressure brought to bear upon him, or
attempted to be brought to bear. :"
Postmaster General Payne gave out
for publication this morning the reply OF
Auditor Castle of the Postoffice Depart
ment to the charges of maladministration
recently fled by S. W. Tullock, ex-
cashier of the city postohice. Mr.. Cas-
tie dismisses certain charges of irregu-
larities in certifying accounts by dis
claiming any authority under the law to
revise. alter, or review items of expen-
ditures made upon the judgment and
discretion of other officials charged with
such duties. Further he declares that
an accounting officer has no means OF
knowing whether employees carried on
the rolls are required to perform services.
ave trust to the scrutiny of department
officials and the honesty of the post
masters" he says. Concerning the
matter of alleged irregularities in the
military postal fund, he denies that
$50, 900 or more was held up as ques-
tionable. He admits that many of the
items were unusual and that a few OF
them were irregular "Whether the
service was necessary or the compensa-
ton extravagant," he says, 'the depart
ment was the sole judge. But it is
significant that of the 5000, 600 appro-
priation for the military postal funds,
the expenditure of which was left en-
tirely to the discretion of the Postmaster
General, only $249, 666. 50 were actually
expended in two years" He declares
that the expenditure of local funds for
departmental uses is not illegal, but that
| irregular accounting may result.
The Army and Navy Register, semi
official journal of the two services, this
morning says editorially: "There are
persistent rumors that Secretary Moody
intends to retire from President RoOse-
velt's cabinet at the end of the term if
not before, and cOincident with this
gossip comes the interesting statement
that Mr.. Roosevelt has anotion to appoint
Mr.. Moody to the Supreme Court, or, at
least, to make him a circuit court judge.
Representative Dayton, Of West Vir-
ginia, and Senator Perkins, of California,
are mentioned as his successor as Sec
rotary of the Navy.
One thousand sets of the new Philip
pine coins that have recently been made
at the United States minis have been re-
served for sale in this country to collect
ors and others. There are seven coins
in each set, a peso, so, 20, and 10
centavo pieces in silver, nickel five
centavo piece and two and one-half
centavos in copper. There has been
considerable demand for these coins from
collectors who regard them as among the
handsomest pieces of money ever minted.
The price is two dollars per set The
proceeds will be turned into the Philip
pine treasury.
Mr.. Park Agnew, chairman of the
republican committee of Virginia, has
issued a call for meeting in Richmond
June IL, of both the State committee
and the executive committee. The
purpose is to decide which Of the two
Richmond factions is the "real thing
and also to consider the establishment
of a republican newspaper somewhere
in the State.
The Secretary of War has determined
to issue to all officers and men who
served in the Spanish war, the Philip
pine war and the Chinese campaign,
bronze medals to be struck off at the
national minis.
Alexander Melville Bell, the venerable
father of DR.. Alexander Graham Bell, of
telephone fame, lies in extremis at his
summer home at Colonial Beach, in
Westmoreland county, Va. There would
appear to be very slight hopes of his re-
cOvery.
What is said by the Chicago police
to be the most mammoth get-rich-quick
scheme ever set in operation was nipped
/ l. h., 1afao