The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-02
USED AS SAFETY VALVE
FOR GOVT OFFICIALS
Trouble Arises Over Report of an Ex-
pert, Who Was Appointed BY Comp
trolIer TracewelI-Did His
Work Too Well.

washington, May 1.-Postmaster Gem
eral Payne today addressed letters to
former Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith. Fourth Assistant Postmas-
ter Bristow, Postmaster Merritt of Wash
ington and Comptroller Tracewell OF the
treasury calling attention TO a published
interview with S. w. Tulloch, for many
years, up to three years ago, cashier OF
the Washington postoffice. The interview
quotes Mr.. Tulloch as saying that the
whole tendency of the postoffce depart
ment Is to convert the Washington city
postoffiee into a mere bureau of the de-
partment, disburse Its funds and appoint
and promote its employees; that an inves-
tigation of the accounts of the Washing
ton postofhce was begun by an expert OF
the comptroller's office, but was stopped
and the expert removed presumably as a
warning to others
Postofhce inspectors who were aware
of the existing conditions, the interview
says, were threatened with removal IL
they presumed too much, but Mr.. Bristow
stood by his men and demanded an in
vc5tigation of the first assistants office
which was refused. Mr.. Payne has asked
for complete report from Postmaster
Merritt, including a list of all charges
made In the Washington postofice dur
ing his incumbency and upon whose order
they were made.
Direct Reflection.
The letter to Comptroller Tracewell says
that the publication is a 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 postofhce inspector
with the charges Mr.. Smith is asked for
information on the subject as a matter of
courtesy"
Comptroller Tracewell said tonight that
1t was in the spring of 1900 that he de-
cided to look into the affairs of the
Washington city postofflce. An expert
from his office was put to work and the
papers In the case were brought to his
office. They were there perhaps two
months. The investigation led to the
conviction on his part, Mr. Tracewell
said, that there had been many irregu-
larities, he would not say frauds, In the
expenses of the local postoffice. He called
the attention of the postmaster to them
and disallowed many Items. Matters
eventually were Strengthened out, and on
a promise from the postal authorities
that the improper distributions would
not be continued he informed them, he
said that he should refrain from falling
back on the disbursement officers.
No Pressure Brought to Bear.
THAT is exactly what was done' con-
tinued he. mo particular personal pres
sure was brought to bear upon me. II
such pressure had been brought it 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 accounts made an example OFF,
Mr.. Tracewell was asked.
HE was transferred from my office Ia
the sixth auditors office, which amount
ed to reduction, was the reply. THAT
was brought about for other reasons as
well as his manner of investigating the
postoffice accounts. He was very efficient
and performed his work In satisfactory
manner, except that he was not suf-
ficiently tactful In approaching people
and making requests for papers"
First Assistant Postmaster Heath"
he added, had complained that the ex-
perts manner was offensive. Complaints
OF the experts offensive manner also had
come from the attorney generals office.
City Postmaster Merritt, another one of
the officials to whom Mr.. Payne sent a
letter of inquiry, was asked whether dis
bursements had been made in his office
without written record Of the same be-
ing kept.
:" No, he replied. not during my in
cumbency"
He admitted there had been some In
stances where clerks and others had been
borne on the rolls of the city postoffice
and had been detailed to work In the
postoffice department.