The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-19

Washington, June 17--Postmaster
General Payne today made public the
reply of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General BristOw to the charges of Sey-
mOur w TuIloch former cashier of
the Washington city postoffice regard
ing the irregularities in the postal ad
ministratiOn and also reports of in
spectiOn and investigation of the Wash
ingtOn pOstohice by inspectors between
June 80, 1899 and July 81, 1900 together
with the transcript of the TullOch
charges made some years ago, and the
conclusions thereon then reached by
Postmaster General Charles Emory
Smith. These papers constitute by far
the most significant documents yet
made public as a result of the sweeping
postal investigation. The reports show
the existence of many Irregularities
during the period involved.
The inspector who investigated the
irregularities reports that the files of
the pOstOffice cashier shaw direct orders
from superior authority for the dis
burSerent of all the questionable items
cited. The inspector urged that the
responsibility for the many illegal ap-
pOintments, the payment of two sal
arises to one and the same person and
the disbursement of thousands of dol
lars for which no service was perform
ed, should be placed where it properly
belongs and the many abuses correct
ed
In a summary of the several reports
the postmaster general says:
The charge of Mr.. TulloCh is in its
essence against President Mckinley
and Postmaster General Smith. Presi-
dent Mckinley is no longer living;
Postmaster General Smith who carried
out President McKinley's policy has
answered for himself. With regard to
the present management of the Wash
ingtOn pOstOffice and the conduct of any
and all men charged with wrong doing
who have been in the postal service un-
der the present administration a thor
Ough and searching investigation is now
being made"
The postmaster general also says:
1T will be seen that the whole sub
ject was taken up by Postmaster Gen
eral Smith and investigated by him. All
the expenditures referred to were allow
ed by the auditor and controller with
the exception of 1850
The documents made public today
show that on May l last, Mr.. Payne
wrote a letter to Mr.. Bristow calling
attention to the published interview
with Mr.. Tulloch and asked Mr.. Bris-
tow What truth if any there is in the
statements
Mr.. Bristow's reply dated three days
later transmits reports of three inspec-
tors relating to the Washington post
office. Mr.. Bristow says that after the
inspectors had reported irregularities
he directed that the report be made in
the regular way.
During the progress of the inspec-
ton I was advised by the chief inspec-
tor that George W. Beavers, chief OF
the salary and allowance division had
suggested to one of the inspectors that
when he came to certain appointments
in some of the stations that appeared
irregular he had better make no refer
ence TO them, as they had been ordered
personally by the postmaster general
the Inspector to report the facts as they
would in any other inspection: that I
. did not believe the postmaster general
had knowingly authorized any irregu-
laritieS.
Captain ". 3. Smith, inspector in
charge, submitted a special report. This
report disclosed what seemed to me
giaring irregularities, and 1 submitted
1t personally to the postmaster general.
suggesting to him at the time that it
contained matters to which I thought
he would want to give his personal at
tentiOn.
The third report sets forth a num-
Der of irregularities that prevailed at
that time in the Washington postof6ce
l was informed by the chief inspector
that complaint was made to the post-
master general that Inspector Little
who was engaged on the work. was ask
ing unnecessary questions and seeking
information which was not called fol-
in an inspection. I advised him to in
struct Inspector Little to make the
same kind of an investigation of the
Washington postmaster that he would