The St. Louis Republic., 1903-05-18

as IollOWS 10 tHe W
~ have this day allowed you $50 per
annum to provide for the appointment of
Oliver H. Smith as a laborer at the sew
Mr. Smith Will act in a dual capacity serv-
ing both clerks and carriers The free de-
livery division will also make an allowance
ciGental expenses for Mr. Smith. who is. i
believe TO report to you on the morning of
the 2lst. This is the gentleman whose
appointment has been frequently recon-
mendeti by YOU
Mr. Heath used the expression at your
request or in connection with your recon-
pointments concerning which the Postmas-
ter was entirely ignorant. and for whose
services, If he received them at ALL he had
"'Mr oliver H. Smith has been detailed
to assist in repairing, painting ard erecting
your Office at the rate OF 81 per day for
every wor.ilg day. commencing Novenl-
Der 23.' r9 n
HAD A SOFT PLACE
Thus. he is appointed a laborer and paid
from the allowance for. clerk hire a fund
under the salary and allowance division: on
the second he is paid as per diem mechanic
from the allowance for repairing street let
service and audited by different clerks in
the Treasury Department. A person faith
fully performing the duties of the one
other. Mr.. Smith did very little of either.
During the summer OF 1925 Mr. Smith
was in service al Camp Alger. Va. in con-
nection with the military postal service. A
clerk in my office Charles ". McWhorter,
informed me that an employe in the mailing
division whose name he gave me at the
time. had told hin, he had been approached
by another employe. recently transferred
from the office who made the statement
that he had been used to pick out seven
men from the mailing division for promo
tion July l. 1899. providing those promoted
would divide with high otrlcials in the Post
Office Department.
NAMES NOT ON ROLLS
The Postmaster one day brough, me an
allowance OF the first Assistant Postmaster
Generals salary and allowance division:
July q. lsss appointing Emma James and
Fannie r. Winans as cleaners or char
women for one year from July /. 1898. at
$500 per annum. Handing me the allowance
he stated that II was the intention of the
department that the names OF the women
should not appear on any pay roll: that the
parties designated should not know that the
other was In receipt OF any money or had
any connection with the office.
He also stated that neither OF them was
expected to report for any duty. This COM
plimentary roll was added to later
Ny: Tulloch says that the classification act
Of March 2. 1892 was ignored by First As,
sistant Postmaster General Heath and
that sundry persons designated finance
clerks :, auditors, @ etc, were paid Illegally
from $9n to 500 each per anrium over their
lawful salaries. With only one or two ex-
ceptions the appointments as cleaners char
women. laborers, etc. he says. were eva
sions Of the Civil Service and the parties
did no: perform the duties implied in their
Official designations, often no service what
The Transfers were made by the
outside Offices without any request or de-
pand from the loca! ster.
to provide man facilities during the Spanish
War presented grounds for favoritism and
Irregularities.
He says that j. W Whitney. said to be
tho fafher-tn-1nw Of Harrison 7
the late law CLERK rof the Post Office De-
pertinent. was appointed PostmaS5er I for one
IS statea %as csed down
sharply by the office with reference TO ir-
regularities in his money-order account. he
wro.e back Perhaps II you knew who no, my y
such a manner" -. .-. .... 49,. ,
His postal account became 50 confused
salary I u IN order to make good as IA far as as pos
sible. He surprised me ones day. By calling
and demanding his back pay. This was re-
USED m ,Isd until his account mad been snasd eans
fence; have been appointed TO si,4o0 posi-
ton in the Land Office.
TANGLE IN PORTO RICO.
AT the time of my removal most of the
Of them for a considerable amount. and the
accounts were very much confused. The
records of the department should show
, whether these balances were collected in fun
or not and IL not, may 1t not be asked why
the department did not proceed against the
parties in arrears upon their bonds, paid
ment itself by order of the First Assistant
Much has been said by ex-President
General Smith. ex-Ffrst Assistant Post
troller Tracewell in public interviews about
the eXisenc!es OF the military postal
vice
HOLIDAYS FOR POLITICIANS
But did these exisencies require the per-
Ohio and other politicians and friends of
the officials? Free trips to Porto Rico.
Cuba and return became the fashion.
"All expenses were paid from the time of
leaving home. Pullmans. hotels. etc. then a
pleasant voyage upon transport trip
around one or more of the Islands. eX-
while friends and officials were informed
of their observations; then Pulimans and
passages home.
This was a pretty good thing in itself.
but the generous office of the First Assist
ant not only paid all expenses, but a good
salary as well. during the period of in
for weeks and months after the return of
the recipient while no possible service was
being rendered: All this was charged to the
Military Postal Service. a fund to be used
for those accompanying the armies in the
field. A few instances may be mentioned:
WI William 7; Clark. appointed September 10.
cember q. lSss: Frank j. CIaypool. appoint
ed September 9. 1895. paid salary and ex-
penses to November 10. 1899. 1854; oscar
81 400. and expenses paid until April 30.
1899: no service known from January I.
1899; A. A. Hall. appointed September L.
1898. paid salary and expenses to October
2s, 1855. s1ss.7s; Winfield Scott Larner. APP
wards increased to 400. and expenses paid
land, appointed October II. 1898, at 81 600 and
expenses paid to January 81. 1882"
Nr,fc st he a fpU m
late in April. 1889. by T. W. Gilmer. an ex-
pert accountant Of the Comptroller of the
Treasury, following which inspection the
Comptroller disallowed between $4,000 and
1898 The receipt. of the letter was imme-
diately acknowledged and certain action re-
quested was taken. The Postmaster was
out of the city. but on his return being
told of the action In his absence. was very
from General Heath to bring all papers re-
ceived from the Comptroller Immediately to
him and that his office would dictate all
replies.
pected." says Mr.. Tulloch.
Answers to certain portions Of the letter
Of the Comptroller were prepared by the
different officials involved in the office Of
the First Assistant. and the Postmaster re-
for the typewriter did as directed, dis
claiming all responsibility and telling the
Postmaster the answers were incomplete,
evasive and in certain cases untrue. The
completed answer. having been approved by
delay, dispatched.
troller brought about a crisis. The position
Of the cashier was rendered ss,5n still more dif-
which had been declared Illegal and irreg;i.
lar BY the Comptroller. This was especially