The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-18
Fouler Depths of the Cess
pool.
Continued from First Page.)

-
of irregularities that prevailed at that
time in the Washington postoffice | was
informed by the chief inspector that COM
plant was made to the Postmaster Gen
eral tina inspector Little. who was en-
gagged on the work, was asking unneces-
sary questions, and seeking information
which was not called for in inspection
advised him to instruct Inspector Little
to make the same kind of an investigation
of the Washington rostoffice that he would
make of any other office under similar
circumstances and to submit in q special
report anything which he thought should
be called to the personal attention of the
Postmaster General. This he did"
| In the first of the inspect
ors report submitted by Mr.. Brstow
it appears that Robert r. Willett, a son
of the then postmaster, drew two sal
aries from July list to December 10th,
1898, one as a laborer at the city post
office at $500 a year. and the other as a
mechanic at s. per day for each working
day on what appears to have been a
special roll of the free delivery service,
and that N. H. Baker likewise was desig-
mated as a laborer on the postoffice roll
April 20, 1899, at $700 per annum and
on the same date as mechanic on the free
delivery roll at 81 a day. The inspectors
continuing, say that on June 30, 1892,
twenty two employees were borne on the
rolls and paid on what has been known
as the military roll" while the military
roll" shows thirty-four names as having
been paid by the cashier of the Washing
ton office.
xxyac nlcn GpaaIaI roll IA
employees, paid from miscellaneous allow
ance said appointments being under the
control of the Postoffice Department. This
roll consists of nine cleaners" with
salaries ranging from s40O to $500, IND
one physician" at a salary Of $1,700
Some of these cleaners" appear to have
performed very little service and others
none at all.
The most important exhibit is the
confidential report of Smith, postoffice in
spector in charge Of the Washington di-
vision made in July. 1899, setting forth
irregularities which he urged should be
investigated. He names four employees on
the military roll who appear not to have
performed any service in connection with
military postal matters, and for whose
original appointment of continuance on
the rolls no good reason exists The
payment to ". S. Larner, military pos
tai clerk under protest, by the cashier.
Of s11S.93. subsequently disallowed by the
Auditor of the Treasury on January 4.
1899, is gone into at length, and it Is
shown that this matter was entirely lr-
regular and that payments were directed
without proper vouchers.
Attention is called to certain items CT
expenditure authorized for the military
postal service of supplies, furniture, tray
cling expenses, aggregating $S,75070, with
the statement that the price paid for
some of the articles Enumerated, such as
wash stands at forty dollars each, appear
to have been highly excessive.
Attention is called to additional irregu-
larities in connection with pay rolls OF
clerks and laiborers, and to charging
premiums on the bonds of military pos
tai clerks notwithstanding such expenses
are not chargeable to the United States
An interesting feature concerns irregu-
larities in the appointment compensation
and promotion of Oliver H. Smith. On
November 20, 1897. the First Assistant
Postmaster General authorized an allow
ance of $500 per annum for his appoint
ment as laborer, stating that the free
delivery division would also allow 81 per
day to cover car fare and incidental eA-
penses Smith drew pay from November
%, 1897 to November 80, 1898, making his
compensation for one year approximately
1886 The Inspector reports, mo one
has certified to the actual time Smith was
employed, nor has any statement been at
tached to his pay vouchers showing what
particular service he rendered He was con
tinued in the dual capacity of clerk and
mechanic until April J.. 1892 when he was
prompted to be finance clerk at ZOO per
annum." The inspector says he knows of
no authority of law for his appointment
or promotion.
Attention is next called by the inspec-
tor to certain vouchers. authorized to be
paid by the First Assistant Postmaster
General. such as expenses of Perry S.
Heath and George w. Beavers travelling
OIL different business. The inspector states
that these vouchers do not appear to have
been itemized in the proper manner, nor
is the necessity for the expenditure of
this money by the Washington postoffice
apparent.
Attention is called to seven cleaners,
placed on the payroll of the Washington
office under authority of the First AS
sistant Postmaster General, to be charged
to the appropriation for miscellaneous ex-
penses. The names of these cleaners-all
! female-are given.
The inspector states that neither the
postmaster nor any one connected with
the Washington office was able to give
any information as to wnere they were
employed or the nature of their work
and the Inspector is of the opinion that
practically no service whatever has been
rendered for the money expended.
The inspector says that by the over
tapping of lease executed in 1897 the
government lost $125, and that the build
ing was paid for one month beyond its
occupancy.
The inspector reports that when the
cashier of the Washington postoffce on
letters from the comptroller suspended
payments to certain persons mentioned he
was required to continue these pay
ments upon direct written order from the
postmaster who states he was verbally
instructed in his action by the First As
sistant Postmaster General" The pay
nents were made under the cashiers pro-
test.
The inspector cites payments to Gather
inc Endsley. Charles A.. tMachen. A. B.
Hurt II IornuZ John S. Leach and