The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-20
Bonaparte and Conrad Accuse
Tracewell of Being DereliCt in
Auditing POst-Office Account.
SHAW DEFENDS SUBORDINATE
Is Reported to Have Declared He
Would Resign if President
Dismisses Treasury Off
cial-Payne Also
Indignant.

Washington. Oct 1s-If President
Roosevelt follows the report OF Charles J.
Bonaparte and Holmes Conrad. he will
be compelled TO seriously consider the ad-
Visibility Of disInissing p J. Tracewell.
Comptroller OF the Treasury. because OF
alleged derelIction OF duty in passing post
al accounts in 1872 that have figured IN
the recent investigation Of the Post-Ofce
Department.
Former Cashier Tulloch OF the Wash
inEtcn Post Once. who knew something
OF the accounts that were passed. charged
Comptroller Traceweu six or seven
months ago with passing accounts that
ought to have been turned down. The op-
posing contentious Of Mr.. TullOch and Of
Mr.. Traceweu on this subject are well
known
I5y order OF the President. Messrs. Bon
aparte and Conrad-when they were en-
ployed as special counsel for the Govern
ment in the Post-Offlce cases-were as
signed 20 investigate the TuIloch charges
It IS the understanding that their report
TO the President severely criticised Comp
troller Tracewell for passing accounts that
he had originally held up.
These accounts previously had been
passed by Auditor Castle. but Comptroller
Traceweu held them up FOR investigation
and put a number OF experts to work look
ing into them. As a result OF this exam
nation a total OF about 500 OF the &C
counts were disaIlowed by Comptroller
Tracewell. and the others passed
REPORT NOT MADE PUBLIC.
At the same time. Mr.. TraceweI gave a
warning 10 Post-Odice officials that thelr
accounts were not being KEEP; as he
wished. and that there must be some
changes. Just how severe the Bonaparte
and Conrad report IS appears not 20 be
thoroughly known outside of official cir
cles. The report. IL is understood, has been
passed around among a few Cabinet off,
cials. but has largely been confined TO
Postmaster General Payne and Secretary
Shaw.
They have glanced over It with care
As result Of their perusal, II is said that
both are displeased with the tone OF the
report and feel that mistake was made
in going outside OF Government circles
in seeking men 20 handle phases OF The
PosJ-OfiiCe situation.
At the same time. President Roosevelt
Is confronted by the question whether
ne shall stand literally Uy the report or
Of his Cabinet officials. most OF whom are
familiar with the history OF the PUst-Oiiics
investigation. Should he accept the view
OF the Cabinet members, the President
viii not disturb Comptroller TractwglL.
SHAW'S ULTIMATCN.
Secretary Shaw anu Postmaster Gen
eraI Payne both are understood TO have
looked carefully into Comptroller Trace
wells connection with the accounts and
are satisfied that he made an effort 10 do
what Was proper and, SO fIr as lay within
ms view At that time, did do what was
proper Whether he made a mistake in
passing a few accounts. they do not say.
bUl secretary Shaw Is understood to have
told the President that his connection
with Comptroller Iraccweu had given him
every assurance OF the complete honesty,
Judicial ability and fitness Of the occupant
OF the ottlce OF Comptroller and that he
would stand by him.
RumorS have gone so far as TO declare
that Secretary Shaw so.emnly assured the
President that. II Comptroller TraceweIi
should be forced to resign. he unhesitat-
lnEly would do likewise. believing tGat
MeSsTS- BOnaparte and Conrad were sr-
roneous IN their conclusions and thar the
President had just as much right 10 sc-
cept the opinions OF his Cabinet Officers
as those Of special employees.