New-York tribune., 1903-06-18
BRISTOW TO PAYNE.
Letter Transmitting Reports of
Inspectors.

washington. June 1.-THE documents made
public to-day show that on May 1 Postmaster
General Payne wrote letter to Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General Bristow. calling atten-
ton to the published interview with Mr.. Tul-
loch and asked Mr.. Brstow what truth, IL any,
there is in the statements. and particularly upon
that part which speaks Of your connection and
that of the postoffice Inspectors
Mr. Bristow's reply. dated three days later. IS
as follows:
In response to your inquiry of May 1, 1903,
as to the truth or falsity of the assertions of
Mr.. S. w. Tulloch that appeared in an inter-
view by him in The Washington POST of that
date. L beg to hand you herewith an abstract
of three reports made by the inspectors on the
condition of the Washington postoffice- The
first marked Exhibit A. refers to the trans
fer Of the postoffce to the Hon. John A. Merritt,
incoming. postmaster, by Mr. James P. Wilett,
retiring postmaster, which occurred on June ~.
1899. At the time this inspection was in prog
ress as nearly L remember. Chief Inspec-
tor Cochran and Inspector-in-Charge Smith
called upon me and advised me that the inspec-
tors in the investigation of the postoffce had
discovered many irregularities Of a serious nat
ure, which seemed to be authorized by the de-
partment. After discussing the matter at some
length of them. 1 directed that report relat-
ing in general to the transfer, be submitted In
the regular way, and copies of the same referred
to the various divisions bureaus of the de-
partment, as followed in other similar cases. and
that special report affecting the Irregularities
that seemed to be authorized by the department
be submitted.
During the progress of the inspection 1 was
advised by the chief inspector that Mr.. George
W. Beavers. chief of the salary and allowance
division, had suggested to OF the inspectors
that when he came to certain appointments in
some Of the stations that appeared irregular ne
had better make reference to them, they
had been ordered personally by the Postmaster
General l told the chief inspector to instruct
the inspectors to report the facts as they would
in any other inspection; that I did not believe
the Postmaster General had knowingly author
lied any irregularities.
Captain W. B. Smith, inspector in charge. sub
mitted a special report on July 8, as directed.
an abstract Of which is herewith submitted,
marked Exhibit b" This report disclosed
what seemed to me glarng Irregularities and
submitted It pr rsonally to the Postmaster Gen
eraI, suggesting to him at the time that 1t
tained matters 10 which L thought he would
want to give bis personal attention.
Referring to the statement that I had de-
manded thorough investigation of the office Of
the First Assistant Postmaster General, I beg
to state that Inspector in Charge Smith. in his
special report, heretofore mentioned as Exhibit
E." stated that he had discovered a condition
of affairs which, in his Judgment, required an
Immediate thorough and exhaustive invest1ga-
tion. I submitted this report to the Postmaster
General with my approval, but l did not con-
slider such approval as a demand on my part
that the office of the First Assistant Postmaster
General be investigated
The third report. dated July 81. 1900. an abb
strdct of which is herewith submitted, marked
Exhibit c." sets forth number of irregu-
larities that prevailed at that time in the
Washington Postofice. This inspection was be-
gun when l was absent from the department.
When I returned / informed by the chief
inspector that complaint was made to the Post
master General that Inspector Little, who was
engaged on the work, was asking unnecessary
questions and seeking information which was
not called for in inspection. advised him
to instruct Inspector Little to make the same
kind of an investigation of the Washington
Postofice that he would make of any other Of
flee under similar circumstances, and to sub
nit in a special report anything which he
thought should be called to the personal atten-
tion Of the Postmaster General. This he did,
and I submitted the special report to the Post
master General, stating to him that understood
from the chief inspector that complaint had been
made that Inspector Little asking unneces
sary questions. with the possible view of EN-
barrassing the department with regard to GER
tain conditions in the Washington Postofflce, but
that after inquiry clearly convinced that
the questions asked were not unnecessary or
improper and that believed he would hold the
same view after he had read his report. Very
respectfully, j. L. BR1STOW,
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General.