The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-17
Postmaster General Payne, After
Reviewing Fifty Pages of Allie
cations, Says They Are "Glit-
tering Generalities."
ADMITS SOMETHING IS WRONG.
Congress Will Be Asked to Inves.
tigate Alleged Irregularities
Under This and Preceding
Administration-Comp-
troller Involved.
The Republic Bureau.
18th St. and Pennsylvania Av.

18th st. and pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, May 16.-The Post-Of1ce De
partment has received the charges. carefully
drawn up by Seymour Tulloch against
the management Of certain divisions Of the
department and OF the Washington City
Post Office. They will be made public
within a few days.
Mr.. Tulloch has presented his complaint ir
a statement containing fifty typewriter
pages.
Postmaster General Payne continues his
policy of attempting to pooh-pooh at al
charges, but was forced to admit that a,
least several pages of the Tulloch state
ment deserve careful investigation
General Payne describes Tulloch's COM
plants as "glittering generalities," and finds
fault that 1t refers mainly 10 alleged irregu-
larities In the department under Paynes
predecessor. Mr.. Smith.
The spirit In which Tulloch's statement IS
received by the Postmaster General does
not promise the responsive and thorough in
vestigation which it was hoped would be
made.
In fact, the Postmaster Generals COM
ments and attempts TO belittle the Iulloch
statement and to oiscredit 1t without investi-
CATION shows there Is little prospect for
proper consideration of the complaints.
1t is believed that Congress will be asked
to take up the management OF the Post Of
flee during the present and preceding adj
mintStratlOn and make q thorough mVeSu-
cation Of the facts.
The manner in which the department Is
proceeding is regarded as peculiar, to say
the least. Bristow. the Republican Fourth
Assistant, Is making whatever examination
is to be made Of Irregularities charged in
the office of the Republican First Assistant
Postmaster General. and in the Washington
Post Office. which is now in charge Of Mer-
rift. who formerly served as Third Assistant
Postmaster General.
These three assistants have always been
in close political and personal friendship,
and 1t is pointed out that a more impartial
official than Bristow should be selected to
look into the alleged irregularities.
The tenor of General Payne's comments
to-day on the Tulloch charges Is proof
enough that he Is not favorably inclined
to any one who complains OF irregularities
under his management Of the department.
He said to-day:
Most of the statement Is an airing of
Mr.. Tulloch's own grievances. commenting
on his own removal and putting In a lot Of
letters. ETC.. concerning It
There are also included extracts from
newspapers around the country. published
in 1900. which deal in glittering generalities
in criticisms Of Postmaster General Smith,"
us there nothing specihc7' was asked.
"He refers to certain vouchers and pay
ments to certain people. which he claims to
have been Irregular was the answer. He
reflects severely upon Comptroller Trace
well Of the Treasury Department. but his
statements are very general. Referring to
the matter Of the investigation. he offers
no evidence or documents to substantiate
what he says. except to refer to certain
vouchers and people.
II would say that he makes no new
points. but covers the same ground he has
heretofore covered in a general way.
st am very greatly disappointed" re-
marked Mr.. Payne. "for I looked for
some help from Mr.. Tulloch.
''There are some Of these things in here
that need explanation" ne continued. still
look upon their faces as II there might be
something wrong and they will be made
tho basis Of an investigation"
Although General Payne was forced to
admit that some Of these things charged