The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-18
CHARGES PREFERRED BY TULLOCH
In POSTAL AFFAIRS MADE PUBLIC
Continued from First Paael

----~----~-----~-~---~-~
General Smith, ex-First Assistant POST
master General Perry S. Heath and Comp
troller Tracewell in public interviews
about the exigencies about the military
postal service But did these exigencies
require the personal investigation of 50
many Indiana, Ohio and other politicians
and friends of the officials? To take fire.
uuent and extended vacations became the
fashion. All expenses were paid from the
time of leaving home. Pullmans, hotels,
etc, pleasant voyages upon transport;
a trip around one or more of the Islands,
expenses to Washington and hotel bills
friends and officials were Informed of
their observations; then Pullmans and
passage home This was a pretty good
thing itself; but the generous office of the
first assistant not only paid all the ex-
penses, but a good salary as well during
the period of investigation the salary
sometimes lasting for weeks and months
after the return of the recipient. while
no possible service was being rendered,
All this was charged to the military pos
tai service a fund to be used for those
accompanying the armies in the field.
Mentions Instances.
"A few instances may be mentioned:
William I. Clark, appointed September
10, 1898, at $140O and expenses paid up to
December 21, 1898; Frank ]. Claypool, ap-
pointed September 9, 1895 paid salary and
expenses to November 10. 1898, 1884; Oscar
Duranta, appointed September s. 1898, at
$l40O, and expenses paid until April 30,
~ 10
1899; A. A. Hill, appointed September IL,
1898 paid salary and expenses to October
2S, 1898, $167.7S; Winfield Scott Farmer, ap-
pointed August %, 1898 at $780, and af-
forwards increased to $14OO and expenses
paid to November, 1898; Hood p. Love-
land, appointed October II, 1898, at $780,
and expenses paid to January 81, 1892"
Mr.. Tulloch refers to the inspection of
the accounts of the Washington postoffice
late in April 1899, by T. w. Gilmer, an
expert accountant of the comptroller of
the treasury following which inspec-
ton the comptroller disaIiowed between
$4,000 and $4,000 for the quarter ended
September 30, 1885, The receipt of the let
ter was Immediately acknowledged and
certain action required was taken. The
postmaster was out of the city, but on his
return, being told of the action in his
absence was very much worried and
said he had strict orders from Mr.. Heath
to bring all papers received from the
comptroller to him, and that his office
would dictate all replies. 1.-The action had
come sooner than expected" said Mr.
Tulloch.
Answers to certain portions of the let
ter of the comptroller were prepared by
the different officials involved in the Of
flee of the first assistant, and the post
master requested me to prepare the COM
plete answer for the typewriter. did as
directed disclaiming all responsibility,
and telling the postmaster the answers
were incomplete, evasive, and In certain
cases untrue. The completed answer hav-
ing been approved by the first assistant,
was, after considerable delay, dispatched.
The receipt of this letter from the comp
troller brought about a crisis The posi-
ton of the cashier was rendered still
more difficult; payments were falling
daily which had been declared illegal and
Irregular by the comptroller.
Quotes a Letter.
May Q, 1899 ! received the following
command from the postmaster: You are
directed to continue to pay, in accordance
with letters of authority received from
the department making appointments
thereto such persons as are borne on our
several rolls, 1t being the purpose of the
department to have such payments of
salary made on the days when they fall
due, and without delay, and you will not
take action to the contrary unless directed
to do so by me- -
Mr.. Tulloch adds that enough irregu-
larities had been presented to the comp
troller TO warrant his continuing his in
vestigation into the quarters ending De-
cember 81, 1892 March 81, 1899, and June
30, 1899 to ascertain the continuance or
extent of these same Irregularities. Later
Mr.. Tracewell ordered: Mr. Gilmore, you
may take up for examination any post
masters account for fiscal year 1899. ex-
cept New York City and Washington,
d. c."
Subsequently Mr. Gilmer was removed
Mr.. Tulloch charges Postmaster Merritt
of this city with nepotism, and says that
during the past four years Mr. Merritt's
household had drawn for their services
about $4,000 from the local postal reve-
nues.