The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-02
SERIOUS CHARGES MADE
All Attempts to Uneart1
 Frauds Were Prevented. {
Alleged That Inspector Who Ufe covered Irregularities Was Tssns- ferred and Investigation Stop
 ped-Mr. Tracswsll Talk

Washington. May 1.--Postmaster 0en@ erai Payne today addressed letters to for mer Postmaster General Emory Smith Fourth Postmaster General Bristow. Pos1~ master Merritt of Washington and Coul trolier Tracewell of the Treasury, caIl- ing attention to a published interview with s. W. Tulloch. for many ysars ez4 up to three years ago. cashier of t1o. Washington postofice.
 The interview quotes Mir. Tulioch e4 saying that the whole tendency of thu Postofice Department Is to convert the Washington City postofiice into a uaere bureau of the Department. disburse its funds and appoint and promote its er7- ployes; that an investigation of the ac~ counts of the Washington postof1ce was begun by an expert of tho Comptrolier'e ofice. but was stopped, and the expert removed, presumably as . warning to others" Postoffice inspectors who wera aware of the existing conditions, the in- terview says, were threatened with re- moval if they presumed too much, but Mir. Bristow stood by his men and de- manded an investigation of the First An sistants office. which was refused. Mr. Payne was asked for a complete report from Postmaster Merritt, including lIst of all changes made in the Washington postoffice during his incumbency. and upon whose order they were made.
 Requests Made.
 The letter to Comptroller TracewoiI says that the publication is a direct ru- fection on his office and asks if any truth exists in the charges. Mir. Bristow is directed especially to report on any connection of himself and of the post office inspectors with the charges. Mfr. Smith is asked for information on the subject as a matter of s'courtesy."
 Comptroller Tracsweil said tonight that 1t was in the spring of 1900 that he de~ cided to look into the affairs of ths Washington City postoffice An expert from his office was put to work and flie papers in the case were brought to his office. They were there perhaps tNo months. The investigation led to the con- viction on his part. MT. Tracewell said, that there were many irregularities. he would not say frauds, in the expenses of the local postofilce. He called the at tention of the Postmaster General to them and disallowed many items. Matters were eventually strengthened out and on promise from the postal officials that the improper disbursements would not be continued he informed ,nem he said. that he should refrain from falling back on the disbursement officers.
 "That is exactly what was done" con- tinued he. NO particular personal prca- sure was brought to bear upon me. If such pressure had been brought 1t would have accomplished nothing. There were irregularities which took steps to check as papers on file In my ofice will show. z
 'sWas the exDert who tnveStfgated ff& postoffice accounts made an example off MT. Tracewell was asked.
 The Expert Reduced.
 ''TIe was transferred from my ofac4 to the sixth auditors office which amount- ed to a reduction" was the reply. That was brought about for other reasons as well as his manner of investigating the postoffice accounts. He was very ef- ficient and performed his work in satis- factory manner except that he was not sufficiently tactful in approaching persons and making requests for papers,"
 First Assistant Postmaster Heath. he added, had complained that the experts manner was offensive. Complaints of the experts offensive manner also had come from the Attorney Generals office.
 City Postmaster Merritt, another one Oe the officials to whom Mr. Payne sent 8 letter of inquiry was asked whether dis bursements had been made in his offiee without a written record of the sams being kept.
 No" he replied. mot 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 post office and had been detailed to work In the postofflce department.