Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-18

car fare and incidental expenses. Smith
drew pay from November %, 1897, to No
,vember 80, 1898, making his compensation
for one year approximately $1,34S.6O. The
inspector reports mo one has certified to
the actual time Smith was employed nor
has any statement been attached to his
pay vouchers showing what particular
service he rendered. He was continued in
the dual capacity of clerk and mechanic
until April l. 1899, when he was promoted
to be finance clerk at 81, 700 per annum."
The inspector says he knows OF no au-
thority of law for his appointment or pro-
motion. The inspector calls attention to a
letter of the cashier of the Washington
office addressed to the postmaster. dated
December 20, 1898 to the effect that on
that day Smith and Mr.. Towers called;
that Smith asked for his per diem as
mechanic and was Informed by the cashier
he had no authority to pay him and that
1T would be necessary for him to obtain
the usual letter from the department; that
Smith stated that General Heath said no
authority other than that given was need
ed; that Towers remarked, That Is your
answer then. General Heath wants to
know why you do not pay Mr.. Smith,"
and the cashier replied that he would fur
nish General Heath with a full statement of
the case, but that such request should
come through the postmaster.
When Towers replied: Shall 1 report to
General Heath that you refuse to give him
the information" To which the cashier
replied that he was under no obligations
cate with the department through him, but
would write a statement and deliver it to
the acting postmaster the postmaster hav-
ing left the building; that Towers then
made effort to telephone the first as
sistant postmaster general without effect;
that Towers then said he was in General
Heath's room at the department when
Smith called and said he could not get
his money; that General Heath then called
up the salary and allowance division and
was informed that no further authority
was needed; and told him (Towers) to go
down with Smith and see why he could not
get his pay.
Travelling Expenses.
Attention is next called by the inspector
to certain vouchers, authorized to be paid
by the first assistant postmaster general,
such as July %, 1893, expenses of Perry S.
Heath and George w. Beavers, incurred in
visiting Philadelphia and New York on
official business, 1925; September 80.
penses of George w. Beavers, travelling on
official business, $17.75; July %. expenses OF
M. w. Louis and Blain w. Taylor, travel
ing official business. $JO.15 The in
spector states that these vouchers do not
appear to have been itemfzed in the proper
manner, nor is the necessity for the ex-
penditure of this money by the Washing
ton post office apparent and that full
and complete explanation should be made.
especially as many of the parties drawing
money on these accounts are officials or
clerks receiving money from the depart
ment.
Attention is called to seven cleaners,
placed on the pay roll of the Washington
Office under authority of the first assistant
postmaster general, to be charged to the
appropriation for miscellaneous expenses.
The names of these cleaners-all females
are given.
The inspector states that neither the post
master nor any one connected with the
Washington office was able to give any
information as to where they were en-
ployed or the nature of their work, and the
Inspector is of opinion that practically no
service whatever has been rendered for
the money expended.
The inspector says that by the overlap
ping of a lease executed July %. 1897 by
the Union Building Company of Was, dng-
ton and the Postmaster General, September
Is, 1897, the government lost $625, and that
the building was paid for one month be-
yond its occupancy.
Payments Under Protest.
The inspector reports that when the
cashier of the Washington post Office, on
letters from the controller. suspended pay
ments to certain persons mentioned, he
was required to continue these payments
upon direct written order from the post
master, who states he was verbally In
structed in his action by the first assistant
postmaster general The payments were
made under the cashiers protest.
In conclusion the inspector states that
the files of the cashiers Office show full.
direct and positive orders from superior
authority for the disbursement of all the
questionable items mentioned In the In