The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-19
He Points Out the Difference Between
illegal and Irregular Acts and
Asks for Full Reports.
PLATT CALLS TULL0CH A LIAR
DECLARES HE HAD NO INTEREST IN
A BONDING COMPANY.
Says Tu1IOch Knew His Statement
Was False-Other Phases of the
POstOffice Investigation.

WASHINGTON, May 1S.-Postmaster
General Payne to-day sent letters to the
controller of the treasury, the auditor OF
the Postoffice Department and other off,
GERS Of the department calling their atten-
ton to statements made by former Cashier
Tulloch in his communication of last Satur-
day. The letters ask for any explanation
or further information that might throw
light on.the subject.
The formal charges of Mr. Tulloch, Mr..
Payne said, had been dissected and matter
relating to the particular branches of the
service had been referred to the bureaus
having jurisdiction. Mr.. Payne tonight
said that he regarded the charges against
the auditor and the controller the most
serious of the allegations. He said that if
those officers allowed improper accounts
to be audited or suppressed, what might be
called pay dirt had been found The
charges. he said, impugned their good faith
and integrity. Mr.. Payne pointed out a
difference which existed between charges
of irregularity and of actual violation of
law. "a government Official" he said, may
buy something which he has no authority
to purchase and no authority to pay for,
but the government gets the use of the
article, nevertheless Irregularities do not
necessarily mean anything unlawful. The
department may pay out of the wrong fund.
either by accident or design, yet that need
not be unlawful"
He said in this connection that the charge
regarding the disallowance by the con-
troller of between $4,000 and $4,000 was a
charge of irregularity and not of unlaw-
fulness, and he understood that practically
all OF this sum had been subsequently al
lowed. 1T is unfair" he suggested. Ito
ment has been cheated of such an amount
OF money when 1T was only question of
irregularity in accounting"
Regarding the charges against Perry s.
Heath, formerly first assistant postmaster
general, and George w. Beavers, formerly
chief of the division of salaries and allow
they were out OF service would have in the
condition of this case. Mr.. Payne said:
II have nothing to do with the personal re-
lat I.oi between Mr. Tulloch and Indiana
master at Washington, or others. If any
improper act was done by any one now in
office or by any one who is not now in
partment we will investigate 1t"
Discussing Mr.. Tullochs references to the
Porto Rican service. Mr.. Payne suggested
that Mr.. Tulloch was not charged with re-
sporsibility for the Porto Rican establish
ment and that the Porto Rican establish
ment had no more to do with the Wash
ington office than the Chicago office, for in
stance, except in name, which was for con-
venience in administration. He said it was
a physical impossibility for Mr.. Tulloch to
know whether the employees at Camp Alger
or in Porto Rico, or in the department, were
performing the labor for which they were
paid.
not know what work any set of clerks
was doing; only the postmaster general,
the assistant postmaster general or those
who had charge of that part of the work
would know. Some of these allegations
that no work was performed are now un-
der investigation. If any one has drawn
money without doing any service we will try
to get the money back. We Will demand
the recovery of the money. The response
BILE party is the postmaster at Washington,
who should have known whether they were
doing any work: l suppose the postmaster r
Speaking generally, the postmaster gen.
eral said the original letters of the officials
against whom Mr. Tulloch made accusations
were necessarily general in tenor, but now
that the Tulloch letters furnishes some
thing more definite in the way of charges
they will have an opportunity to make
definite replies. Mr.. Bristow," he said,
went carefully over Mr. Tulloch's charges
and he has selected such things as ought
to be considered and investigated"
August W. Machen. superintendent of the
free delivery division, who was given an
indefinite leave of absence pending the in
vestigation, called at the department to-
day for the first time since his summary
relief from office. He came for some per-
sonal papers he had left in his desk. Post
office Inspector Fosnes, acting superintend-
ent of the division, was present and in
spected all the papers before permitting
Mr.. Machen to take them from the office.
Postmaster General Payne to-day was
asked whether friends of Mr.. Machen had
asked that he be permitted to resign. He
said no one had requested such action. He
had reason to believe that Machen would
not resign.