The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-08
MAINTAINS HIS
ACCUSATIONS
PostOffics Cashier TuIIoch Ans
wlrs Counter Charges.
TELLS OF REGULkRITIES.
Says He WauId Accspt No Office Wit hin
the Gilt Of the Postottlce
Department.
TELLS OF IRREGULARITIES.

Washington, June S-Seymour W. Tul-
loch, formerly cashier OF the Washing
ton city postoffiee. under date OF June 3,
has written a letter TO Postmaster Gen
eral Payne in response 10 replies receiv-
ed from Postmaster Merritt OF the
Washington postoffice and others to the
charges OF maladministration made by
Mr.. Tulloch against the management OF
the local postoffice.
A large part OF Mr. Tulloch's letter Is
Elm defense OF counter-charges made by
Mr.. Merritt against MIR. Tulloch.
Mr. Tulloch says that the charge that
under his (Tullochs) regime as cashier
OF the Washington postoffice quarterly
pay rolls were required 10 be signed In
blank. even II true would but produce
a smile in Washington, where probably
the greater portion of governmental en-
pioyes sign pay rolls in blank"
But he says the fact is that this GUS
tom, usual elsewhere was prohibited IS
years ago by the then postmaster and
the only pay rolls signed In blank were
when postal clerks at distance or 9TH
er employees expecting TO be absent
were. at their request and as personal
favor, given the privilege OF signing in
advance, the law requiring the voucher
going to the auditor to be personally
signed by the employe.
lie says that at the time OF payment
all figures had been previously filled In,
and that false payments could not but
have been detected easily and fraud was
impossible
The charge that false voucher had
been put In while Mr.. Tulloch was cash
Ter. he says. was only on attempt TO dis
credit him. and even Mr.. Merritt admits
that the transaction was directed by the
postmaster, recognized by the assistant
postmaster. and the money. retained paid
TO persons duly designated.
PAYMENT OF SUBSTITUTES.
The facts, however, he says. are that
substitutes named by the Civil service
commission serve In the post office with
out pay. except when they fill temporarily
the places of clerks and receive their pay
As some clerks failed TO pay their SUBJ
stitutes the postmaster directed that pre-
vlous 10 payment OF clerks who had been
absent the signed receipts In full OF the
substitute should be put in the clerks
pay envelope and the amount called for
retained and paid to the substitute by his
division superintendent.
The particular instance cited by Post
master Merritt he says. was where an
employe, after q drunken spree. was fined
rather than dismissed and the money
divided by his superintendent among sub
stitutes for services rendered. the post
master. by written order directing the
cashier to do this
Mr.. Tulloch declares that while in Of
| flee he did report Irregularities to his i'm
mediate superiors, and the inspectors
He denies the charge that he was mer.
cenary with the late postma ster, Mr. VII
let, says Mr.. Willet himself suggested
payment 20 the writer for settling hi.
accounts. and that he CTulloch) Offered
TO do II for Mr.. Willet personally 10,
nothing. but later Il was arranged som,
Of the clerks should do the work, which
relted chiefly to Porto Rico
| Mr. Tulloch's letter then continues: I'll
closing may | state that II has not bee,
shown to the contrary in any OF the re
plies you have published that irregula
payments have been made from loca
funds instead OF by the proper disburs
ing officer OF the department.
A LETTER BOX DEAL.
Further he states: That an attemp
was made 10 cause all employees to bon,
under a single blanket bond with som
favored company: that the regulation
OF the department were violated In forcin,
n letter box In which prominent official
were said TO be interested upon the pub
lic even to the unauthorized use Of tn
| postmaster dutHolily anu uEdlnsl III
protest.
That payments were directed for arti
cles not delivered; that persons were pai
two or three salaries anu performed littl
or no service; that physician was II
legally appointed whose position was
! sinecure.
have been told that a $500 operating
table was purchased for private use an
charged TO the department as postal fur
niture: that promotions were suggeste
upon provision OF division with high of
ficials OF the department. that person
were appointed from whom no servic
was required. upon a complimentary rol
Also that arrears in Porto Rico were no
fully recovered that useless junkets wer
frequent TO Porto Rico and Cuba tina
persons paid from the military posta
service had their salaries continued 10
months after ceasing all service. and tho
salaries were also continued after ser
vice had ceased. TO take up irregular ex
penses.
AS to the reply of former First Assist
ant Postmaster General Heath. Mr.. Tul
loch SAYS: IAN that Is necessary is {
compare my specific charges with hi
general denial
He then reafirmed that his representa-
tions remain in all essential particular
true and not disproved. and closes wit
n denial that there Is any office With
the gift OF the postofflce department tha
he would accept or that he ever author
ICED his friends to seek his reinstate
ment.
DynxzzuUVYuuU