Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-05-06
CONTINUES TO
INVESTIGATE
Postmaster General Payne Still Prob
ing for Truth Of Charges Made
Against the Department.
FORMER OFFICIALS ADDRESSED
TulIoch Interview Causes a Thorough
overhauling Of Old Depart.
mental Affairs.

Washington, May l.-tPostmaster
General Payne today addressed let
ters to former Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith. Fourth Assist.
ant Postmaster General Bristow,
Postmaster Merritt, Of this city, and
Comptroller Tracewell, of the treas.
ury. calling attention to the publish
ed interview with S. w. Tulloch, for
many years and up to three years ago,
cashier of the Washington postoffice.
The interview quotes Mr., Tulloch
as saying that the whole tendency Of
the postoffice department is to con-
vert the Washington city postoffice
into a mere bureau of the department
disburse its funds and appoint and
promote its employees that an inves.
tigation Of the accountants Of the
Washington postoffice was begun by
an expert of the comptroller's Office,
but was stopped and the expert re.
moved, presumably as warning to
others"
PostofIice inspectors who were
aware of the conditions, the interview
says, were threatened with removal
If they presumed too much, but Mr..
Bristow stood by his men and de-
manded an investigation of the first
assistants office. which was refused.
Mr.. Payne has asked for a complete
report from Postmaster Merritt. in
Guiding list of all changes made in
the Washington postoffice during his
incumbency and upon whose order
they were made. The letter to Comp.
troller Tracewell says that the publ
cation is direct reflection on his
Office and asks II any truth exists in
the charges. Mr.. Bristow is directed
especially to report on any connection
of himself and OF the postoffice In.
spectors with the charges.
Comptroller Tracewell said tonight
that It was In the spring Of 1900 that
he decided to look into the affairs OF
the Washington city postoifice. An
expert from his office was put to work
and papers In the case were brought
to his Office. They were there per.
haps two months. The investigation
led to the conviction. on his part. Mr..
Tracewell said, that there had been
many Irregularities, he would not say
frauds. in the expenses OF the local
postoffice. He called the attention
Of the postmaster to them and disal-
lowed many items. Matters eventu-
ally were Strengthened out and on
promise from postal officials that i'm
proper disbursements would not be
continued. he informed them. he said,
that he should refrain from falling
back on the disbursing officers.
That Is exactly what was done, "
he continued. mo political or per
sonal pressure was brought to bear
upon me. II such pressure had been
brought II would have accomplished
nothing. There were irregularities
which took steps to check. as papers
on file in my Office will show"
Was the expert who investigated
the postoffice account made an ex-
ample Off" Mr.. Tracewell was asked.
HE was transferred from my office
to the sixth auditors office, which
amounts TO reduction" was the re.
ply.
THAT was brought about for other
reasons as well as his manner Of in.
vestigating the postoffice accounts.
He was very efficient and performed
his work In very satisfactory man
ner, except that he was not suffi-
ciently tactful in approaching people
and making requests for papers"
Postmaster Merritt admitted there
had been some instances where clerks
and others had been borne on the
rolls Of the city postoffice and had
been detailed TO work in the postoffice
department