The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-06-05
Postmaster Merritt, of Washington,
in His Own Defense.
DENIES TRUTH OF CHARGES
In Turn He Presents Complaints of
Serious Wrong-Doing Against Ex-
TullOch, Author of Ac-
cusatfOns Against Him.

~ w plS iul1oSA Ibu SSSs liz III
phatically denies the truth of Tulloch's
statements regarding his administra-
ton of affairs of the Washington Office.
The Merritt response makes serious
accusations against former Cashier S.
w. Tulloch of the Washington post
office, saying that a transaction in
which Mr.. Tulloch was concerned in
1898 appears to comprehend the
presentation Of a false voucher, which
is made a crime by the statutes Mr..
Merritt's reply further alleges that
receipts We're signed in blank on the
pay rolls during Mr.. Tulloch's regime
as cashier and that the files do not
indicate any complaint of IRREGULAR
ties against the Washington post Office
filed by MI. Tulloch while he was in
office. Mr.. Merritt says the general
practice of giving employees duties
seemingly incompatible with their po-
Isitions is no abuse, and that the prac-
etice of paying certain expenses of the
post office department out of the Wash
ington city post office funds always
has existed, and is proper.
The reply of Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith will be givenout
Sunday. Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow's reply, which will be
made public later, according to Post
master General Payne, denies that he
ever asked investigation of the office
OF the first assistant postmaster gen
eral. It is probable that some tempo
rary arrangement. will be made with
the cancelling machine contractors, in
case the Investigation continues be-
You'd July J.. The contracts have been
held UP and the manufacturers are
making inquiries on the subject.
No Indication of wrong-DoinE.
The postmaster general
h completion of the Investigation OF
the salary rolls of all the first and
second-class post offices in the coun-
try, The only irregularities reported,
all of which have been ordered to be
corrected Immediately, were the pay
ment to IA assistant postmasters of a
larger salary than they should re-
ceive under the departments policy;
payments to a few clerks of more than
the law allows, and the existence of
designations unknown to the law for
positions in II post offices. Mr.. Payne
said that none of tI.es e items Indicated
any wrong-doing, and he regarded this
net result of the ,overhauling of the
rolls of upwards Of 1900 presidential
post offices as gratifying.
al Salaries Reduced.
Washington, May 3o.-As a result
of the thorough ov~erhauling of the
rosters of the post Offices throughout
the country, Postmaster General
Payne Friday announced his approval
of instructions reducing the salaries
of assistant postmasters at the fol-
lowing second-class post offices to SO
per cent. of the salaries of the re-
spective postmasters:
Cairo, Ill, Clarinda, Ia, East St.
Louis, Ill. Flushing, Fredonia and
Geneva, N. Y, Freehold, N. j., War
rem Pa, Hagerstown, Nd, Ports
mouth, N. H., Stamford, Conn, Stew
ems Point, Wis, and Ponce and San
Juan, Porto Rico.
Must Conform to Law.
He has found So officials in the
postal service who hold offices under
designations not authorized by law
and directed that their positions be
changed to conform to the law gov
erning them. They were in the fol-
lowing Offices: New Orleans, New
York, Boston, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Gin
cinnati, Detroit, st. Louis, Washing
ton, Chester, Pa, Los Angeles, Louis
vile, Nashville, Newburgh, N. Y,
Utica and Chicago.
Will Correct Violations.
Among these designations not au-
thorized by law are '.superintendents
of stations" (although there is a
superintendent for each seefpaT sta
flon); auditor of stations 2 s.inspec-
tor of stations" etc. Violations of
the law which fix the maximum sal
airy of clerks in second-class post
Offices at $1,000 a year, except in the
case Of assistant postmasters, will
be corrected at L%eadville, Col, New
Brighton, N. Y, Tarrytown, N. Y,
! San Juan, Porto Rico.
I TO edu Salaries.
The Investigation disclosed eight
post offices ut which In all 10 clerks
receive nor than the salaries to
which their designated positions as
assistant superintendent entitle
them, and IN these cases the post
master general has directed that the
! salaries be accordingly reduced.
This order affects two positions in
louisville, Ky, two in New York
city, one in Brooklyn, one in Phila-
l delphia and Detroit, four in ST. Louis
and two in Boston. The maximum
salary Of these positions by law is a
q stated percentage IS the sniary OF
q 1.-THE postmaster.
Operative July 4.
The postmaster general has direct.
ed that such OF these changes as in
volve corrections of the violation of
law shall take effect next Monday
andsShanges made to conform to the
rules and practice Of the department