The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-18
TULLOCH'S STORY
His Formal Charges Of Irregu-
larities in 2. 0. Department.


of the formal charges of Irregularities
in the administration of postal affairs
preferred by Seymour ". Tulloch.
formerly cashier of the Washington city
postohice. was made public today by
Mr.. Tulloch. The charges are embodied
in a letter to Postmaster General Payne
in response TO the latter's request to be
furnished information that would sub
stantiate published statements of Mr.
Tulloch. Some of the matters COM
planned of will be investigated by the
inspectors.
Mr.. Tulloch in his letter says he is at
the service Of the postmaster general in
rendering any further assistance that
may be desired. Mr.. Tulloch saws that
in all instances OF. irregularity and IA
Voritism the proper allowances. records
vouchers. etc. were most carefully ex-
ecuted and kept, as a rule, and little in
formation can be aScertained by their
investigation; that the real facts behind
the allowances and vouchers are not of
record. and are known to sfew-..those
Interested who will not and others
clerks, who dare not. talk"
For upwards of nineteen years. the
letter recltes, the conduct of affairs be-
tween the washington city pOstoffice
ana the postOffice department was reg
ular; then came the first break. the pre-.
cursor Of q system of allowances to the
Washington DostOfflce on account Of de-
paftmental expenditures which after
wards led to irregularities, abuses ex-
traVagance and my removal as an
obstacle on June 80, 1899
Mr. Shepherd, then chief of the sal
aIy and allowance division of the post
office department, desired a file ease
for the use of his office His reo11isi-
tions were turned down by his superior
offlcers. Later vouchers were present
ed to me for file case. ACCOMPANIED
by an allowance for its payment out of
the funds of the Washington office
made by Mr. Shepherd and signed by
the first assistant postmaster general
directed the contractor to obtain a
certificate Of delivery of the goods AIr
Shepherd refused to acknowledge the
receipt OF the goods, fearing exposure
during the audit of the vouchers and [
refused to pay for the case until some
one was willing to father the same
Soon after the Mckinley administra-
ton came into power the first assistant
postmaster general sent his clerk down
10 me with a voucher for a lump sum
for travelling expenses accompanied by
an allowance for their payment from
the funds of the Washington office
Such a demand was irregular on its
face. But the official became very
angry at the idea of mere cashier at
tempting to make any suggestions to
him and refused to amend and itemize
his voucher. The postmaster explained
to him that I had only asked for what
was required by the auditor and ac-
cording to precedent. The postmaster
upon his return stated the official had
said. Look here, now. This is a new
administra ton and a new crowd and
we intend to make our own precedents.'
The auditor of the postOffice department
finally sent word through the postmas-
ter that on account of the feeling
shown in the matter, if I would inclose
the voucher in my next account its
informality would be overlooked An
inspection of the Washington accounts
will show many similar subsequent pay
ments of travelling and other expenses
on account of departmental officials
without the usual departmental checks.
THE Washington Office was surprised
one day to receive from the salary and
allowance division of the first assistant
postna ster generals office a printed cir
cuIar stating it was intending to re-
quire all employees at postomces to give
blanket bond direct to the depart
ment said bond to be furnished by
single recognized bonding company, ir-
respective of the fact whether such en-
ploye could furnish good personal bonds
or might desire to avail themselves of
competition in premiums between other
bonding companies. A similar blanket
bond was I believe, to be required OF
the letter carriers. The postmaster had
a conference with George W. Beavers.
then chief of the salary and allowance
division, and reported that Mr.. Beavers
had said Senator Platt, of New York.
would appreciate the fact If he would
select the senator's company The origf-
by allowing employees to select their
own bond or bonding companies
considerable feeling was manifested
toward me in the office of the first as
sistant postmaster general because
would not pay vouchers for services or
supplies upon personal request or by
direction over the telephone ]. Holt
Livingston presented vouchers for pay
ment one afternoon amounting to sew
eral hundred dollars, for postal furni-
ture I refused to pay until the allow
ance had been received. L was inform
ed that it would be sent down by pri-
vate messenger as soon as it was signed
bv the first assistant postmaster gem
eral. I again refused. Mr.. Livingston
departed quite angry. and some time
afterWard returned with the allowance
properly executed and still damp from
the copying press It was for ship
ment of furniture, as I remember, TO
Cuba or Porto Rico No one had certi-
fed as to the receipt of the goods and
called the attention of Mr. Livingston
to the omission. He explained it w0ul'l
be all right and that he needed the
money. 1 declined to pay unless some
responsible official would acknoWl-
edge the receipt of the goods. where
upon Mr. Livingston became cOnf3den-
tial and told me his company did not
have very much capital, that work had
not yet even been begun upon the fufn-
iture, but that George had agreed to
advance him the money in paymen-- It
is needless to add no payment was
made.
Mr.. Tulloch says payments were au-
-