The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-06-26
Facts About the Mail
Scandals Being Une earthed.
BR1sTow's REPLY TO CHARGES
Many Irregularities Are Shown by
the Onicinl Papers Being Ex-
a,nincd by the Govern
Oent ONicfnIs
lnent Officials.

IL
cral Bristow to the charges of Sey-
mour w. Tulloch, former cashier Of
the Washington city postollce, re-
garding the irregularities in tho postal
administration, and also reports Of
Of inspection and Investigation Of the
Washington postoilicc by inspectors
between June 30, 1899, and July 81,
1900, together with the transcript Of
the Tulloch charges some years ago
and the conclusion thereon then reach-
cd by Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith. These papers con-
stitute by far the most significant
documents yet made public as a result
OF the sweeping postal investigation.
Tho reports show the existence OF
many irregularities during the period
involved. The inspector who invcsti-
gated the Irregularities reports that
the files OF the post0ifice cashier show
direct orders from superior authority
for the disbursement Of all the uucs-
tionable items cited. The inspector
urged THAT the responsibility for the
many Illegal appointments, the pay
illc;it of two salaries to- one and tho
same person and the disbursement Of
thousands Of dollars for which practi-
cally no service was performed, should
be placed where 1t properly belongs
and the many abuses corrected
In summary If the several reports
the postmaster general says:
"rhc charge OF Mr. Tullocl is in It's
and Postmaster General Smith. PrcS-
dent Mckinley is no longer living:
Postmaster General Smith, who car
ricd out President Mcl[inlcy's policy,
has answered for himself. With re
gard to the present management of
the Washington pOStOilice and the
conduct Of any and all men charged
with wrong doing who have been in
the postal service under the present
administration, a thorough and
searching investigation is now being
made"
The postmaster general also says:
1T will be seen that the whole sub
jcct was taken up by Postmaster
Gncral Smith and investigated by
him. All expenditures referred to
were allowed by the auditor and comp
trollcr, with the exception of $780,
Che Documents made public Wed
nesday show that on May last, Mr..
Payne wrote letter to Mr.. Bristow
calling attention to the published in
tervicW with Mr. Tulloch, and asked
Mr.. Bristow what truth if any there
is in the statements"
| MIR. Bristow'S reply dated three days
later transmits reports Of three in
spectors relating to the Washington
postoilice.
Mr.. Bristow says that after the in
Spectors had reported Irregularities he
directed that reports be made in the
regular way.
During the progress of the inSpcc-
tiOn l was advised by the chief in
spector that George w. Beavers, chief
OF the salary and allowance division,
had suggested to one Of the inspectors
| that when he came to certain ap-
pointmcnts in some Of the stations
that appeared irregular he had better
make no reference to them us they
had been ordered personally by the
postmaster general. | told the chief
inspector to instruct the inspectors to
report the facts aS they would in any
other inspections; that did not be-
lievc the postmaster general had
knowingly authorized any irreguari-
ties.
Capt. w. T,. Smith, inspector in
charge, submitted Il special report.
This report disclosed what seemed to
me glaring Irregularities, and sub
mittcd it personally to the postmaster
Unnnr01 n
time that it contained matters to
which | thought he would want to
give his pesOnal attention.
The third report sets forth num-
Der OF irregularities that prevailed al
that time in the Washington post
Office. | was informed by the chief
Inspector that complaint was made
TO the postmaster general that inSpcc-
tor Little, who was engaged on the
work, was asking unnecessary qucs-
tionS and seeking to obtain informa-
tion which was not called for on in
spection. advised him toinsLruck in
spector Little to make the same kind Of
an investigation OF the Washington
pOStOtllce that lie would make of any
other Office under similar circumStan-
ces, and to submit In special report
anything which lie thought should be
called to the personal attention OF the
postmaster general. This he did"
In the first or the inspectors reports
submitted by Mr.. RriStow it appears
that Robert V. Willctt, son of the
then postmaster, drew two salaries
from July to Dec. 10. 1898,
one as Il laborer at the city postoncc
ut $500 Il year, and the other rs a
mechanic at 81 per day for each work
ing day on what appears to have been
a special roll Of the free delivery ser
vice, and that N. II. Baker likewise
was designated as IL lahorcr on the
postoilicc roll April % 1899, at $7O0
per annum and on the same date as 81
mechanic on the free delivery roll
at " a day. The inspectors continu-
ing say that on June 30, 1899, % en-
ploycS were borne on the rolls and paid
on what has been known as the "mili.
tary roll" while the military roll"
shows 3l names as having been paid
by the cashier Of the Washington
Office
There was also found q IS pccial
roll Of employees, paid for misccllan-
cols allowances, said appointments
being under the control OF the post
Office department" This roll con
sists OF nine cleaners" with salaries
from S400 to 5000 and one "physi-
clan" at salary OF Sl,700 Some of
..l,.,