Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-30
THE POSTAL INVESTIGATION
Being Carefully Made by the Author
. ,.. ties at v ashington.


General Payne, today, made public the
reply of Postmaster Merritt Of this city,
Ito the Tullnth charges. The Merritt
rcSpor-c makes serious accusations
against Former Cashier S. w. Tulloch
.Cf the Washington post office, saying
that {. transaction in which Mr.. Tulloch
WAS concerned in 1898, appears to, com
rrchcndf the presentation of a false
voucher. which is made Il crime by the
statutes
Mr.. Merrilts reply further alleges
that receipts were signed in blank on
the pay rolls during Mr. Tulloch' s
regime as; cashier and that the files do
ECt iirlicatc amy complaint of ilregu-
.laritics against the Washington post
iqfiicc fled by Mr.. Tulloch while he was
in Office. M. Merritt says the general
practice of giving employees duties
seemingly Incompatible with their po-
'sitiOns is no abuse and that the prac-
itice of paying certain expenses of the
post office department out of the Wash
,in%tQn city post office funds always has
EXISTED and is proper.
|, The postmaster general today, an
'nounCcd the completion of the investi-
%at;on Of the salary rolls of all the first
and sctondclass post, offices in the
country. The only irregularities re
ported, all of which have been ordered
to be corrected Immediately were the
payment to Il assistant pCstmastcrs Of
81 larger salary thun they should re-
ccivc under the department policy:
payments TO a few clerks Of more than
No. law al ,C
designations unknown to the law for
positions in II post offices. Mr.. Payne
said that none of these items indicated
any wrong Going, and he regards this
net result Of the ovcrhauling of the
rolls of upwards of 1900 Presidential
post Offices as gratifying
AS Il result Of thorough overhauIing Of
the rosters of the post Offices throughout
thc country. Postmaster General Payne
announced his approval Of instructions re-
hucing the salaries of assistant pastmas-
torS ut Il number Of sccond-cla post Of
ilrcs to % per cent. of the salaries of the
respective postmaSterS. They include til,
oplccS at Portsmouth n. H., ana Siam
ford. CT.
He has found 50 officials in the postal
IScrVicc who hold Offices under dCsigna ton
~ 'tli1 ! ~" ny Ia" ana 'dlrccted tha'
th'lI poSlti"n ne changed to conform t.
the other Offices thus affected.
The investigation disclosed eight post
"'hccS at Wnich IN all - clerks receive
tliNrc tnah ne salaries to which their d"S-
ignatcd positions as assistant stlpcrntcn-
u'htS tntit'" them, and in these cases
gre postmaster general has directed tina;
= W. S'lallrS DC accordingly. reduced, This
IPrder affects among olhels two positions
in Boston. "
NpSt "l thtSG excessive allowances wrre
lnddr during the administration Of GCorg,
fN i}cdNcrS, WI" suddenly resigned his
Il"Sltl"n Us SupcInt' hdcnt of sa larieS and
Hi'"WanceS immediately after the inVcS-
4tii,L uol 81 aidllS 81 the post ONCE dc
lPil hnent began.
samuel a. Gron, who was arrested
! v, WnndlHSdaE, lor colnphcity in the Mdchr
1hllbery case. appeared. today, before Unit
acd states Commissioner Taylor and reno y
81 nus hond Oh GOWN Tor his appearing"
II uh" >, When ne ana his brother Will De
given Il hearing:
| The rolls OF the third class post Offices
Elh" lowest OF the PrrSid grades, ~,
[noW under investigation and the authorit y
| f"r the compensation Of the employees ol
| tNcrN third-cllSS post office in the Cuun
Try Is being clfciullN examined
postmaster General Payne made III" fol-
loving statement REGARDING the change,
l'imh'nnced' tod"E'
| In the case OF tn IT offices where tho
FaSSi slant postmaster is paid in excess oi
I 81 per cent. OF the salary Of the pustmaS
( yer tie actloi was taken to secure Uni
i"ImltN ana pettcr administration. Tn.
{ law provides that in tirst-claSS post ofllca.
! the assistant post1nastcr's salary shall il,
/ n TO exceed >" per cent. Of the salary q