Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-18
FALSE RECORDS SAID TO SE READY
Vouchers and Other Papers Prepared to
MiSlssd Official Inspectors
FURNITURE AND CASH WRONGLY ASKED
Demand Made for Travelling Expenses
UnacCOmpanied by Account
CASHIER REMOVED AS AN OBSTACLE
Asserts He Opposed Abuses and was
Consequently Let out of the
Service, where He Could
Do Nothing.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE full text OF
the formal charges of Irregularities in the
administration of postal affairs preferred
oy Seymour w. Tulloch. formerly cashier
OF the Washington city postofice, was
made public today by Mr.. TulIoch. The
charges are embodied in a letter to POST
master General Payne in response to the
latters request. Some of the matters
complained Of will be investigated immedi-
ately by the inspectors.
Mr.. Tulloch says he is at the service of
the postmaster general in rendering any
further assistance that may be desired
In all instances of irregularity and favorit-
ism he says che proper allowances, records
and vouchers, were executed and kept,
so but little information can be ascertained
by investigation; the real facts be-
hind the allowances and vouchers are not
on record and are known to few and there
fore, being interested. cannot talk.
Harvest for Nineteen Years.
For upwards OF nineteen years." the
letter reads 'the conduct of affairs be-
tween the Washington City postofice and
the Postofnce department was regular;
then came the first break. the precursor of
a system of allowances to the Washing
ton postofice on account Of the depart
to irregularities, abuses, extravagances
and my removal as an obstacle on June 30
1899
Mr.. Sheppard. then chief of the Salary
and Allowance division OF the Postoflce
department desired file case for the use
of hts offico. His requisitions were
turned down by his superior ofacer
Later vouchers were presented to me for
file case, accompanied by an al
lowance for its payment out of the
funds of the Washington ONCE made by
Mr.. Sheppard and signed by the first
assistant postmaster general I directed
the contractor to obtain a certificate of
delivery Mr.. Sheppard refused to acknow-
ledge receipts, fearing exposure during the
audit Of the vouchers and refused to pay
for the case until some one was willing
TO father the same
soon after the Mckinley adSninistra-
ton came into power the first assistant
postmaster general sent his clerk down TO
me with voucher for a lump sum for
travelling expenses accompanied by an al
iowanoe for their payment from the funds
of the Washington office. Such a demand
was irregular on its face, but the official
became very angry at the idea OF a mere
cashier attempting to make any sugges-
tions to him and refused to amend and
itemize his voucher. The postmaster ex-
planned to him that had only a schedule
for what was required by the auditor and
according to precedent.
The postmaster upon his return said
the oficiaI had said: Look here now, this
is new administration and a new crowd
and we intend to make our own pre-
cedents."
THE auditor Of the postofiice department
finally sent word through the postmaster
that account OF the feeling shown in
the matter II would enclose the voucher
in my next account its informhlity would
be overlooked. An inspection OF the Wash
ington accounts will show many similar
subsequent payments OF travelling and
other expenses on account OF departmental
officials without the usual departmental
checks.
Favors Bonding Company.
The washington once was surprised
one day to receive from the salary and al
lowance division OF the nrst assistant
postmaster generals ONCE a printed cir
cular stating II was intending to require
all employees at postoffices to give a
blanket bond direct to the department and
furnished by a specified company irrespec-
tive OF the fact whether such employees
could furnish good personal bonds or might
desire to avail themselves of othed bond
ing companies.
Considerable feeling was manifested to-
wards me in the office OF the first assistan
postmaster general because l would not
pay vouchers for services or supplies upon
personal requisition or by direction over
the telephone. j. Holt Livingston presented
vouchers for payment one afternoon,
amounting to several hundred dollars for
postal furniture. I refused to pay until
the allowance had been received. was
Informed that It would be sent down by
private messenger as soon as II was siRned
by the first assistant postmaster general
again refused. Mr.. Livingston departed
quite angry and sometime afterwards re.
turned with the allowance properly ex.
ecuted and still damp from the copyins
press. 1t was for shipment of furniture
as l remember, TO Cuba or Porto Rico
No one had certified to the receipt OF
the goods and l called the attention OF
Mr.. Livingston to the omission. lie ex
planned II would be alright and that h,
needed the money. l declined TO nay un
less some responsible official woult
acknowledge the receipt OF the goods
whereupon Mr.. Livingston became conn
dent and told me his company did no.
have very much capital. that work ha.
not yet even begun ON the furniture, bu
that George" had agreed to advance hin
the money In payment IL is needless I,
add that no payment was made"
Mr.. Tulloch says Ayments we're author
lied TO Mr.. Livingston amounting to abou
1850 on May 5, June and June 49, 1899
That OF June 10 was for 81 725, for Port,
Rico and rendered in a lump sum
An intimate friend of Mr. Heath's, NJ. ID
Helm, was the vice president OF the com
pany. Il is stated the company shippe,
sou TO $4,000 worth of supplies to Cub,
on orders from Mr.. Rathbone and Mr.
Neeley and atted up the American post
ONCE at the Paris exposition. Mr. Living
ston was also in charge OF the Washing
ton ONCE OF the keyless Lock company.
Extensive purchases OF furniture 10
N Porto Ricl. amounting to over a.O) an,
Il involving some wash stands al very hlEl
prices, Mr. Tulloch says were purchase
by order OF the frst postmaster general