The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-15
PROPOSES to Go to Asia While His
Official Career Is Under
Investigation.
EMBARRASSING TO HIS PARTY.
Postmaster General Payne's Prom
Use of Revelations to Come
Believed to Relate to For
mer Assistants Case.
The Republic Bureau.

WASHINGTON June 14-There are indica-
tons that some very surprising develop
ments will occur in the Post-Ofice Depart
ment Investigations during the next week.
From remarks by leading officials, the pub
lie will soon be in a position to judge
whether or not former Postmaster-General
Smith suppressed an official investigation
of First Assistant Perry 8. Heath's de-
partment in 1900 in connection with opera
tions of the Washington City Post Office.
The Postmaster General has yielded to
the pressure of public opinion and has de-
cided to make public early next week the
report of the Fourth Assistant on that in
vestigation. Mr.. Payne had expressed the
hope that he might receive the report of
the inspection of the Washington Office. re-
Gently completed. in time to make public
salient points in two or three days.
He has decided that, il there Is any delay
In receiving this report. the other papers
OF the case will be given out without it.
TO WHAT DID PAYNE REFER?
These papers will be comprehensive in
character. They will cover the reply of
General Bristow to the letter of the Post
master General asking for information con-
corning the charges of rnaltreatment made
by 6. W. Tulloch, eX-cashier OF the local
Office, together with the report of the IN
spectors made at the time of the transfer
of the Washington office from Postmaster
Wilett to Postmaster Merritt. July l. lsss,
and also the report of the inspection OF that
Office made July l. 1900.
port of the inspectors during the Smith
administration reflected SO seriously upon
First Assistant Postmaster General Heath
that the papers in the case were treated as
confidential matter and placed In possess
sion Of the Fourth Assistant.
Mr.. Payne may have had in mind this re-
Informed a close friend that the most as
founding phase of the Post-Office investiga-
ton would develop In a few days.
HEATH GOING TO ASIA.
There is a good deal Of comment on Perry
Heaths plan to visit Asia at this particu-
lar time. 1t is looked upon as coinci-
dence that he should go so far from WASH
ington. and his friends think the character
of the report made by the Civil-Service
Commission would in1pel any self-respecting
public man whose record is involved to re-
main at convenient call until Investigations
are completed.
department. he is not a private citizen. He
is a director in one or two national banks
and also is secretary of the Republican Ma
tional Executive Committee,
The Republicans admit that 1t Is now
most important for Mr.. Heath to explain
the serious charges against his official con.
duct as Assistant Postmaster General. and
that his absence from the country until
this is done will be decidedly embarrassing
to the administration and to the Repub-
lican Executive Committee, Of which Mr..
Heath Is a leading member.
SMITHS INEVITABLE POSITION.
Recently Charles Emory Smith visited
Washington and had a long conference with
his successor, Postmaster General Payne.
Upon his return to Philadelphia, Mr.. Smith
in his paper made number of mysterious
references to knowing a thing or two"
about which he would enlighten his readers
from time to time.
The purport of Mr. Smiths editorials APP
parently was that the agitation of Post Of
flee corruption was warranted, and that in
due time he would expose the plot
Inasmuch as the Civil Service Commits
sion's report bears especially hard upon
the administration of Mr.. Smith himself,
mis- friends in Washington suggest that
If he has any important information to
divulge, it would be well to furnish it at
this time.
content with the investigation made by the
postal officials. Although Mr.. Payne lately
has offered no obstructive suggestion to
the e, investisation alton. his attempt in the be-
serious disclosures which have been made
since, leave the result of any searches
made under him unsatisfactory
IT is believed that Congress will appoint
commission to inquire into the thorough
ness of the departments administration
mains untold. The reports are given out
by the department in just such manner as
it. pleeses. and it Is impossible to tell
whether any important facts have been
suppressed or understated.
The Civil Service Commission found that
every charge made by Mr. Tulloch was
absolutely true. But Mr.. Tulloch knew only
of the department officials crookedness as
1t affected the Washington Post Office. How
much other corruption exists in other
branches Of the service could best be dis
closed by an outside nonpartisan commits
sion and there is little doubt that Congress
will provide for this, in order that the full
extent of the postal scandals may be made
known.
RURAL DELIVERY AT STAKE.
One consideration which will impel Con-
gress to sift the postal frauds Is that in
the general exposure the rural free-de-
livery system has suffered This service
has grown in popularity in every part of
the United States. and the Congressman