Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-18
tells Of CORRUPTION
Seymour w. Tulloch's Letter to
Postmaster General Payne
Is Made Public
REVEAL ROTTEN SITUATION
4 Detailed Statement of Many Cases of
Irregularities in the Purchase of Sup
plies and Employment of Labor
Women Carried on Pay Rolls Who
Never Reported for Work.

Washington, May lS.-The full tex
of the formal charges of Irregularities
IN the administration Of postal affairs
i preferred by Seymour w. Tuiloch. for.
merly cashier of the Washington city
postofiice, was made public yesterday
| by Mr.. Tulloch. The charges are en-
bodied in letter to Postmaster Genera
Payne, in response to the latter's re-
quest to be furnished information that
| would substantiate published state
ments of Mr.. Tulloch. Some of the
matters complained of will be investi-
gated Immediately by the inspectors.
Mr.. Tulloch in his letter says that he
is at the service of the postmaster gem
eral In rendering any further assistance
that may be desired. Mr. Tulloch says
that in all cases of irregularity and ia 3.
voritism the proper allowances, records,
vouchers. ETC., We're most carefully exc
cuted and kept, as rule, and little in
formation can be ascertained by their
| investigations; that the real facts be-
hind the allowances and vouchers, are
not of record and are known to few
those interested who will not, and
others. clerks, who dare not talk"
For upwards Of nineteen years." the
letter receipts, 1.-THE conduct of affairs
between the Washington city postoffice
and the postof1ice department was regu-
lar; then came the first break, the pre-
cusor of system of allowances to the
Washington postotfice on account of
departmental expenditures, which at
forwards led to Irregularities. abuses,
extravaganza, and my removal as an
obstacle on June 80, 1899, Mr. Shep-
herd, then chief of the salary and al
loWance division. of the postoffice de-
partment, desired a file case for the use
OF ms office. His acquisitions were
turned down by his superior officers
Later vouchers We're presented to me
for file case. accompanied by an all
lowance for its payment. out of the
funds of the Washington office made
by Mr.. Shepherd, and signed by the
first assistant postmaster general. di-
rected the contractor to obtain CERT
ficate of delivery of the goods, fearing
exposure during the audit OF the vouch-
ers and refused to pay for the case
until some one was willing to father thu,
same. Soon after the Mckinley adj
ministration came into power the first
assistant postmaster general sent his
clerk down to me with a voucher for
lump sum for travelling expenses, ac-
companied by an allowance for their
payment from the funds of the Wash
ington office. Such a demand was ir-
regular on its face. but the officials be-
came very angry at the idea of a mere
cashier attempting to make any sug-
gestions to him. and refused to amend
and itemize his voucher. ?The postmas-
ter explained to him that / had only
asked for what was required by the
auditor and according to precedent The
postmaster upon his return stated the
official had said look here, now, this is
new administration, and a new crowd.
and we intend to make our own prece-
dents Tie auditor of the postoffica
department finally sent word thru the
postmaster, that on account of the feel
ing shown in the matter, If l would en-
close the voucher in my next account,
Its informality would be overlooked.
An inspection of the Washington ac-
counts, will show many similar subse-
quent payments, of travelling and other
expenses on account of departmental
officers, without the usual department.
al checks.
Scheme to Aid Bond Company.
The Washington office was surpris-
ed one day to receive from the salary
and allowance division of the first as
sistant os.master generals office a
printed circular stating that it was in
tending to require all employees at post
offices to give a blanket bond direct to
the department, said bond to be fur
nished by single, recognized bond
company, irrespective of the fact
such employees could furnish |
good personal bonds, or might desire to |
avail themselves of competition in |
premiums between other bonding COM
panies. A similar bond, was l believe. |
to be required of the letter carriers |
The postmaster had a conference with |
George w. Beavers, then chief of the |
salary and allowance division, and re-
ported that Mr. Beavers had said. |
Senator Plat, of New York, would APP. |
preciate the fact il he would select the
company The original circu-
lar was subsequently modified by al |
lowing employees to select their own
bond or bonding companies.
Considerable feeling was manifested |
towards me in the office of the first as
sistant postmaster general, because l |
would not pay vouchers for seven cases |
Of supplies upon personal requirement |
Dr. by direction over the telephone j.
Holt Livingston presented numerous
vouchers, for payment, one afternoon,
to several hundred dollars
or postal furniture. / refused to pay
until the allowance had been reviewed
was informed that 1T would be sent
Town by private messenger, as soon as
t was signed by the postmaster gener-
Il. l again refused. Mr.. Livingston
departed quite angry and returned
some time later with the allowance
properly executed, and still damp from
he copying press. 1t was for ship
nent of furniture, as / remember, to
cuba or Porto Rico. No one had GER
flied as to the receipt of the goods, and
called the attention of Mr.. Livingston
o the omission. He explained that it
would be all right and that he needed
he money. / declined to pay unless
ONE responsible official would ac-
the receipt of the goods,
Mr. Livingston became con-