The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-05-28
The National Capital.
Especial Correspondence to the HERALD
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 25.

Heretofore the Minnesota con-
tingent has had no more interest in
the shake up in the post Office de-
partment than the citizens of other
states, but the publication of the state
ment of Mr.. rulloch, a former cash
Ter of the Washington post Office,
which implicated the we'll known
Minnesotan, Captain Henry A.
Castle, auditor for the department,
aroused much concern and provoked
a great deal of discussion.
Postmaster General Payne in his
comment on the Tulloch statement
stated that in his mind the most
serious part of the charges related
to the auditor of the post office de-
partmcnt and the controller of the
treasury, the charge being that they
suppressed an investigation at the
moment when "pay dirt" to use
the postmaster generals words, was
to be turned over. eff what is al
legged is true those officers ought to be
impeached," the postmaster general
is quoted as having said.
Captain Castle, when asked to
furnish a statement concerning the
charges said: 81 expect to have a
consultation with Mr.. Tracewell,
controller of the treasury, before
submitting my statement to the
postmaster general. | welcome the
opportunity to reply to the charges
rejecting upon administration Of my
office. for I have had special salts
faction in the record of this bureau
in settling the accounts of the Span
ish war. We now have 600 en-
ploves, of whom more than 400 are
themselves auditors, settling an av-
erage of more than 1900 accounts
every working day. lsee but few
of these accounts, but l did care
fully review the work which in
volved the Spanish war episodes,
and l assumed responsibility for the
settlements made. Under a deci-
sion of the supreme court of the
United States, the accounting Of
ficers are not judges of the necessity
or the extravagancies of the expendi-
lures. They are only concerned
with the legality under some avail
able appropriation, and the suffi-
ciencv of the vouchers. Some of
Mr.. Tulloch's statements are reck-
less, and others are absurdly false.
There has been the utmost harmony
- 49, ,.c'"+;one between the expert
clerks of NY Office and those of the
Captain Castle spoke of the ne
cessity of allowing little latitude
in time of war, and said he had him
self taken the authority in certain
cases to place accounts that did not
seem to come entirely within the
letter of the law. although the ex-
penditure might be fully justified.
AS the investigation proceeds it
becomes more and more evident
that it must take very wide range
before the end is reached. Experts
will probably be sent to all the large
Offices, and careful scrutiny will
be made of all their records. Post
master General Payne has evidently
his mind in regard to the
serious nature of the charges pre-
tered by Mr.. Tulloch. and his lat
est actions indicate that he will
probe postal affairs to the bottom.
There will be no whitewashing.
Commissioner w. A. Richards of
he general land Office returned this
week from trip to Cass Lake. |
lad little chat with him, found
him exceedingly enthusiastic over
hat section of the state. He ex-
pressed himself very grateful for
he cordial reception accorded him
~ the citizens, and expects to give
Ill the matters pertaining to the new
and Office up there very careful
n. n. b.