The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-19
WORTH AN EFFORT
PAYNE SEEMS To- THINK MORE OF
TULLOCH'S CHARGES.
HE ORDERS INVESTIGATIONS
IN THE DEPARTMENTS SPECIFIED
IN THE CHARGES.

Letters Addressed by the POstmas-
ter General to Chiefs of Depart
ments Directs Their Attention to
TuIIOch's Statements-If TuIIOch's
Charges Can Be Substantiated,
Payne Says That ''Pay Dirt" Will
Be struck in the POstOffice Inves-
legations.
Washington, May 1S.-Postmaster
General Payne to-day sent letters to
the controller of the treasury, the
auditor for the Postoffice Department,
and other officials, calling their atten-
ton to statements by ex-Cashier Tul-
loch in his communication of last Sat
urday. The letters ask for any expla-
nation or further information that
might throw light on the subject. ~
The formal charges of Mr.. Tulloch,
Mr.. Payne said, have been dissected
and the matter relating to particular
branches of the service referred to the
bureaus having jurisdiction, for re-
port. Mr.. Payne said tonight that he
regarded the charge against the audi
tor and the controller as the most Sc
rious of the allegations. He said that
if those officials allowed improper ac-
counts to be audited or suppressed,
what might be called pay dirt" has
been found. The charges, he said, i'm
pugn their good faith and integrity.
Mr. Payne said a difference existed
between charges of irregularity and of
actual violation of law
"a government official" he said,
may buy something which he has no
authority to purchase and no authority
to pay for, but the government gets the
use of the article nevertheless Irregu-
larities do not necessarily mean any
thing unlawful. The department may
pay out of the wrong fund, either by
accident or by design, but that need
not be unlawful
Irregularity, Not UnIaNvfulness.
He said in this connection that the
charge regarding the disallowance by
the comptroller of between 100000 and
$4,000 was a charge of irregularity, not
of unlawfulness, and he understood
that practically all of this sum had
been subsequently allowed.
1T is unfair" he suggested, ito
make the public believe that the gov
eminent has been cheated out of such
an amount of money when it was only
a question of irregularity in account
ing
The Postmaster General was asked
regarding the charges against ex-First
Assistant Postmaster General Perry S.
Heath and George w. Beavers, former
ly chief of the division of salaries and
allowances and as to what effect the
fact that they were out of the service
would have in the consideration of
their cases.
Il have nothing to do replied the
Postmaster General, with the personal
relations between Mr.. Tulloch and In
diana politicians, nor with his hatred
for the postmaster of washington or
others If an improper act was done
by anyone now in office or by anyone
who is not now in office so far as 1t
might reflect on the department, we
will investigate it."
His Scope Was Restricted.
"Mr. TulIoch, as cashier he contin-
ued "did not know what work any
set of clerks was doing; only the Post
master General, the assistant postmas-
ter general or those who had charge
of that part of the work would know.
Some of these allegations that no work
was performed are now being investi-
gated If anyone has drawn money
without doing any service we will try
to get the money back. We will de-
mand the delivery of the money"
Speaking generally, Mr.. Payne said
the original letters of the officials
against whom Mr.. Tulloch made
aIo ril
terms, but now that the Tulloch letter
furnishes something more definite in
the way of charges they will have an
opportunity to make more definite re-
plies.
Mr. Bristow,'' he said, went very
carefully over Mr.. Tulloch's charges
and he has selected such things as
ought to be considered and invest1-
gated"
August w. Machen. the superin-
tendent of the free delivery division,
who was given an indefinite leave OF
absence pending the investigation, call
ed at the department to-day for the
first time since his summary Keller
from office. He called for some per-
sonal papers he had left in his desk.
Postoffice Inspector Fosnes, the acting
superintendent of the division, was
present and inspected ali the papers
before permitting Mr.. Machen to take
them from the office.
Postmaster General Payne was asked
to-day whether friends OF Mr. Machen
had asked that he be permitted to re-
sign. He said no one had requested
such action.
"Will Mr.. Machen be permitted 10
resign?" he was aked.
Mr.. Machen will not resign" he
answered. at least I understand so.
1t is safe to assume that he will not
ask it. / have reason to believe that
he will not resign or ask to be per-
TO low