Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-04
Senator Lodge Confers With
Postmaster General Today.
IMPORTANT Phi ASE
POST OFFICE INVESTIGATION RE
PORT BY JUNE /.
Only One Reply Regarding MI Tul-
loch's Charges-Mr. Smiths
Statement Of Case.

But one reply has been received by Post
master General Payne to his request ror
statement the charges of Mr. s. w.
Tulloch. This request was made to Mr..
Charles Emery Smith, Controller Trace
we'll Fourth Assistant Bristow and Post
master Merritt. From which one of these
four the reply has been received, Mr.. Payne
would not state.
II expect to have all of the replies within
the next twenty-four hours" he remarked.
land until they are received and considered
the course to be pursued regarding the
statements of Mr. Tulloch will not be de-
termined upon
Mr.. Payne stated further that Mr.. Tul-
loch had made no representation to the
Post Office Department in any way. Il
simply asked for the statements on motto
ing Mr.. Tulloch's published interview.
These statements by the Postmaster Cen
eral this afternoon state the news on the
surface in the post office investigation to-
day. A conference, which lasted for an
hour, took place between the Postmaster
General and Senator Lodge today.
At Its conclusion the senator said his visit
was largely political, that he did not discuss
the details of the investigation. With this
phase of the investigation in view. Mr..
Payne was asked when the final report on
the whole matter might be expected.
''Mr. Bristow informs me that his report
will be ready by June l." replied Mr.. Payne.
AS to whether it would be made public be
fore being submitted to the President on his
arrival in the city, June 8. Mr.. Payne did
not know.
From political point of view, 1t is evil
dent that the greatest expedition possible
in getting final conclusions regarding the
Investigation is desired. 1t is not unlikely
that Senator Lodge urged such expedition
in his call today, and that this is the po-
lffical phaSe of the matter which he says
was discussed.
Since Mr.. Tulloch made his sensational
statements which were printed in The Star
Friday, he has been quoted farther as say
ing that he was prepared to substanuate
everything he has said by papers and other
evidence.
Mr.. Merritt's Remarks.
Postmaster Merritt had an extended con-
ference with Mr.. Payne today. Mr.. Mer-
rift has not yet prepared his reply on the
Tulloch interview, but stated that he would
likely transmit it to the Postmaster Cen
eral today.
Everything contained In Mr.. Tulloch's
statement relates to the administration OF
the Office before 1 took charge, was MI
Merritt's comment to a Star reporter to-
day. He says, however, that regard him
an an obstacle and removed him for that
reason. AS matter Of fact had no con-
ference whatever with either the Postmas-
ter General or the first assistant postmaS-
ter general regarding Mr. Tulloch's re-
moval 1 have been asked to state to the
Postmaster General the reasons for my &C
ton in removing Mr.. Tulloch, and this
will do in the reply to his request
Mr.. Merritt on being asked to comment
on the seriousness of Mr.. Tulloch's allega-
tons said that he was not prepared TO
make statement; that from reading what
Mr. Tulloch had said he understood 1t to
refer to incidents and conditions In the
oRRo n his assuming office. 'llere
are no such conditions prevailing In the
Office now, nor have there been since l
have been postmaster" he concluded.
Mr.. Loud on Investigation.
Former Representative Loud of Califor-
MIA who for many years was chairman OIL
the House committee on post offices ana
post roads, was q caller at the Post once
Department today. Mr.. LIQUIDS name has
been frequently mentioned for an assistant
postmaster generalship, but he declared
emphatically that there was nothing In the
rumor. Asked regarding his impression or
the post Office investigation, Mr. Loud said
to Star reporter:
ut was something that had to come. The
department has been excessively lavish and
extravagant. If you will take the trouble
to look back in the Congressional Record
during the consideration Of the post office
appropriation bills, you will find that have
stated these very things on the floor of the
House many times. 1t was practically i'm
possible to scale down the estimates fur
nished by the department, for we have
prosperous Congress"
Asked if he believed a department could
investigate itself Mr. Loud replied that he
saw no reason why 1t could not THE or
ganization of the post office is such,' he
continued, that the different bureaus work
independently. Mr.. Bristow is entirely COM
petent to carry on the investigation and he
has force of trained inspectors under him
who will undoubtedly do their work without
fear or favor. The whole thing is some
thing that had TO come sooner or later for
the good of the service
Mr.. Smiths Statement.
While Postmaster General PAYNE would
not indicate from whom he had received the
single reply at hand on the Tulloch matter,
1t Is understood that the answer received is
from Mr.. Charles Emory Smith On receipt
of the request of Mr.. Payne Mr.. Smith
gave out the following interview in Phila-
delphla. which may indicate the tenor of
his reply:
II have received the letter of Postmaster
General Payne referring to the published
statement of Mr.. Tulloch, and shall reply
10 IL at once and gladly give the Postmas-
Ter General all the information on the sub
1ect IN my possession.
so far as Immediately relates 70 mo +ho
statement is that l was informed of irreg-
ularities In the Washington CITY post office
anu ~ ,ne connection OF the department
1t Is only necessary to say that the investi
eauon was made by the controller of the
treasury, who is an Independent officer and
the highest auditing officer of the govern
ment, and that could not have stopped It
II had wanted to. -
the SUBJECT came from his inquiry The
Son.i piief Iad the vouchers In question be-
lore MIN Tor months, and after as thor
oush an examination he could give he
concluded that there were irregularitie
wmch consisted largely, not altogether, OF
charging to one account what ouxht to ha
charged TO another. and others of that
character He finally allowed and passed
al OF the accounts except few with the
understanding that the things criticised
should be changed
am speaking from recollection. with
out the papers before me- but as I recall {,
these are the essential facts. All the state.
ments in the present publican ton wera
printed more in detail In Washington citv
paper three years ago and were fully look.
ed INTO at the time. reported the facts to
President nd ~