Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-05-21
THE TUQlI'H EXPOSURE.
Formal Charges Against the Post
Office Department Made by
aFormer Official.
THE LATTER NOW READY TO TESTIFY.
Seymour w. TuIloch. Formerly Cashier In
the Washington City Post Office. Lays
His Charges Directly Before the Post
master General and the Publie-A Few
Instances.

His Charges Directly Before the Post
master General and the Publie-A Few
Instances.
Washington, May 1s.-The full text
of the formal charges of irregulari-
ties in the administration of postal al
fairs preferred by Seymour W. Tul'
loch, formerly cashier of the Wash
ington city post office, has been MADE
public by Mr.. Tulloch. The charges
are embodied in letter to Postmas-
ter-General Payne in response to the
latter's request to be furnished IN
formation that would substantiate
published statements of Mr.. Tulloch
Some of the matters complained OF
will be investigated Immediately by
the inspectors.
Mr.. Tulloch. in his letter, says he
is at the service of the postmaster
general in rendering any further as
sistance that may be desired. MI
Tulloch says that in all instances OF
irregularity and favoritism the prop
er allowances, records, vouchers. etc,
were always carefully executed and
kept. as a rule, and little informa-
ton can be ascertained by their in
vestigation; that the real facts be-
hind the allowances and vouchers are
not of record and are known to few
"those interested who will not, ana
others, clerks, who dare not talk
The First Break.
"For upwards of nineteen years.
the letter recites, "the conduct of az
fairs between the Washington city
post office and the post ofnce depart
ment was regular; then came the first
break, the precursor of system OF
allowances to the Washington post
office on account of departmental ex-
penditures which afterwards led to
irregularities, abuses, extravaganza
and my removal, as an obstacle, on
June 80, 1899.
"Mr Sheppard, then chief of the
salary department, desired file case
for the use of his office. His requisi-
tions were turned down by his SUI
perior officers. Later vouchers were
presented to me for a file case, ac-
companied by an allowance for its
payment out of the funds of the
Washington Office made by Mr.. Shep-
hard and signed by the first assist
ant postmaster general. | directed
the contractor to obtain a certificate
of delivery of the goods. Mr.. Shep-
tr-r1l v,.f,aessI = saalr., ,a..la.3era tho re-
during the auditing of the vouchers,
and refused to pay for the case until
some one was willing to father the
same.
An Irregular Voucher.
"Soon after the Mckinley admins
tration came into power the first as
sistant postmaster general sent his
clerk down to me with a voucher for
lump sum for travelling expenses,
accompanied by an allowance for
their payment from the funds of the
Washington Office. Such a demand
was irregular on its face. But the
official became very angry at the idea
of a mere cashier attempting to make
any suggestions to him, and refused
to amend and itemize his voucher.
The postmaster explained to him that
I had only asked for what was re-
uuired by the auditor and according
to precedent. The postmaster, upon
| his return. stated that the official had
said: Look here, now, this is new
administration, and a new crowd and
| we intend to make our own prece-
| dents The auditor of the post office
department finally sent word through
the postmaster that on account ol
the feeling shown in the matter if
would inclose the voucher in my next
account its informality would be
overlooked. An inspection of the
Washington accounts will show many
similar subsequent payments of trav
cling expenses on account of depart
mental officials without the usual de
| partmental checks.
Reference to Senator PIatt.
! "The Washington office was sur
nrised one day to receive from the
| salary and allowance division of thu
first assistant postmaster generals OF
| fee printed circular stating it wal
| intending to require all employees a
post offices to give blanket bono
direct to the department, said bont
to be furnished by single recognized
bonding company, irrespective of th'
fact whether such employees coult
furnish good personal bonds or nigh
desire to avail themselves of competi
! ton in premiums between other bond
| ing companies. A similar blanke
bond was, believe, to be required o
the letter carriers. The postmaste
had a conference with George "
Beavers. then chief of the salary an
/ allowance division, and reported tina
Mr.. Beaver had said Senator Plat
of New York, would appreciate tn
fact if he would select the senator
company The original circular wa
subsequently modified by allowing
employees to select their own bond o
, bonding companies.
i considerable feeling was manifest
i ed towards me in the Office of tirs
| assistant postmaster geneTdI ptcdus
would not pay vouchers for service
for such places on personal reques
or hy direction over the telephone. .
Holt Livingston presented voucher
for payment one afternoon. amount
ing to several hundred dollars, fo
postal furniture. / refused to pa
until the allowance had been receives
/ was informed that it would be ser
down by private messenger as 500
, as 1t was signed by the first assistaf
, postmaster general. / again refuse'
, Mr.. Livingston departed quite angr
and some time afterwards returne
, with the allowance properly execute
and still damp from the copyin
press. 1t was for shipment of fu
niture, as / remember, to Cuba
!. Porto Rico No one had certified