New-York tribune., 1903-05-02
POSTAL SCANDAL GROWS
NEW CHARGES M4DE.
Craze Irregularities IN Connection
sith Washington Office Alleged.

WASHINGTON May 1.-Postmaster General
Payne to-day addressed letters 70 ex-Postmaste-
General Charles Emory Smith. Fourth As
sfstant Postmaster General BristOw. Postmaster
Merritt of this city and Controller Traeewen OF
the Treasury. calling attention TO a published
interview with s. W. TulIOch. for many years
I'D TO three years ago cashier OF the Washington
postoff1ce The Interview quotes Mr. TullOch as
saying that the whole tendency Of the Postofics
Department is TO convert the Washington city
postoffice into a mere bureau OF the depart
rnent disburse its funds and appoint and pro
mote it's employees: that investigation OF the
accounts Of the Washington pOstOffice was be-
gun by an expert OF the Controllers Office. but
was stopped and the expert removed pre-
suuably as warning 20 others" Postoffce In
spectors who were aware OF the existing condi-
tions the interview says. were threatened with
removal il they presumed too much. but Mr.
Bristow stood by his men and demanded an in
vestigation Of che First Assistants Office. which
was refused"
Mr.. Payne has asked for complete report
from Postmaster Merritt. including a list oc all
changes made in the Washington Office during
his incumbency. and on whose order they weTe
made The letter 70 Controller Tracewau says
that the publication IS a direct reflection on MS
Office, and asks II any truth exists in the
charges. lr. Bristow is directed especially 70
postofice inspectors with the charges Mr.
Smith Is asked for information on the SUBJECT as
a matter CT courtesy"
| Controller Traceweu said tonight that tt was
| In the spring OF 1900 that he decided TO look
| into the affairs Of the Washington city postor-
| fee An expert from his office was put 70 woFA-
and the papers in the case were brought to his
| Office They were there perhaps two months.
| The investigation led to the conviction on ms
zf- Trzr
many irregularities. he would not say frauds N
/ the expenses OF the local pOstOfhce- He called
/ the attention Of the postmaster 10 them, anu
disalIowed many items. Matters eventually
were Strengthened out. and on a promise from
! the postal officials that the improper disourse,
ments would not be continued, he informed
| them he said that he should refrain from fall
| Ing back the disbursing officers
That is exactly what was done, he con-
/ tinued mo political or personal pressure was
| brought to bear on me. II such pressure had been
/ brought IT would have accomplished nothing
There were irregularities which took steps 70
| check as papers file in my Office viii show
Was the expert who investigated the post
/ Office accounts made an example or MI trace
/ well was asked
| sixth auditors Office. which amounted TO a
| reduction was the reply That " as brousHr
| about for other reasons, as well as his manner
| OF investigating the pOstofllce accounts. he
| was very efficient. and performed MS Work Hi
| p satisfactory manner except that he was Eot
| sufficiently tactful in approaching people and
i making requests for papers
/ First Assistant Postmaster General Heath. he
! added had complained that the experts manner
| was offensive Complaints of the experts OF
| fensive manner also had come from tne AZ
| torney Generals office.
| Postmaster Merritt was asked whether dis
bursements had been made In his ONCE Wltnour
l a written record of them being kept
4 ''No." he replied. not during my incuW-
bency.''
! He admitted there had been some instances
| where clerks and other employees had been
| borne on the rolls Of the city postofhce and
| had been detailed to work IN the POstodice De-
4