The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-06-24
Significant Facts About the Hail
Scandals Being Unearthed.
BRIsToW's REPLY TO CHARGES.
Many Irregularities Arc Shown b,
the OMcial Papers Being En-
amincd Dv the Govern
ment Officials

mour w. Tulloch, former cashier O
the Washington city postoilice, re
garding the irregularities in the poSta
administration, and also reports o
of inspection and Investigation OF tn
Washington postotlice by inspector
between June 80, 1899, and July y
1900, together with the transcript o
the Tulloch charges some years ag
and the conclusion thereon then reach
ed by Postmaster General CharIe
Emory Smith. These papers con
stitute BY far the most signiiican
documents yet made public as resul
of the sweeping postal investigation
The reports show the existence o
many Irregularities during the perlot
involved. The inspector who inveStl
gated the irregularities reports tina
the files of the poStoilice cashier SHOW
direct orders from sueprior authority
for the disbursement of ali the QueS
tionable items cited. The inSpecto
urged that the responsibility for tn
many illegal appointments, the pay
ment CT two salaries to one and the
same person and the disbursement o
thousands of dollars for which practl
cally no service was performed, shoult
be placed where it properly belongs
and the many abuses corrected.
In a summary Of the several report:
the postmaster general says:
'"rhe charge of Mr.. Tulloch is in it
essence against President Mckinley
and Postmaster General Smith. Prcsi
dent Mckinley is no longer living
Postmaster General Smith, who car
r;ed out President Mckinley's policy
has answered for himself. With re-
gard to the present management o.
the Washington postollice and the
conduct of any and all men charged
with wrong doing who have been IL
the postal service under the present
administration, a thorough and
searching investigation is now being
made"
The postmaster general also says:
1T will be seen that the whole sub
iect was taken up by Postmaster
Gneral Smith and investigated by
him. All expenditures referred t.
were allowed by the auditor and comp
troller, with the exception OF Sl60.
The documents made public We'd
nesday show that on May last, Mr..
Pavne wrote a letter to Mr.. BristoW
calling attention to the published in
teryiew with Mr.. Tulloch, and asked
Mr.. Bristow what truth il any there
is in the statements. !"
Mr.. Bristow's reply dated t1ree days
later transmits reports of ihree in
spectorS relating to the Washington
postofice.
Mr.. Bristow says that after the in
spectors had reported irregularities he
directed that reports be made in the
regular way.
During the progress of the inspec'
tion I was advised by the chief in
spector that George W. Beavers, CHIEF
of the salary and allowance division.
had suggested to one of the inspectors
that when he came to certain ap-
pointmentS in some Of the stations
that appeared irregular he had better
make no reference to them as they
had been ordered personally by the
postmaster general. l told the chlel
Inspector to instruct the inspectors tC
report the facts as they would IN any
other inspection; that did not be-
lieve the postmaster general had
knowingly authorized any irregulari-
ties.
capt. W. B. Smith, Inspector in
charge, submitted a special report.
This report disclosed what seemed tc
me glaring irregularities, and | sub,
mitted it personally to the postmaster
general. suggesting to him at the
time that it contained matters to
which I thought he would want tC
give his pesonal attention.
1.-THE third report sets forth a mum.
Der Of irregularities that prevailed at
that time in the Washington post
office. I was Informed by the Chief
inspector that complaint was made
to the postmaster general that inspec'
tor Little, who was engaged on the
work, was asking unnecessary Ques.
tionS and seeking to obtain lnforma'
tion which was not called for on In
spection. advised him toinstruck IN
soector Little to make the same kind Of
an investigation of the Washington
postoflice that he would make OF any
other Office under similar circumstan.
ces, and to submit in special report
ANYTHING which he thought should of
called to the personal attention OF tine
postmaster general. This he did. "
In the first of the inspectors reports
submitted by Mr.. Bristow it appears
that Robert V. Willett, a son OF the
then postmaster, drew two salarle:
from July l to Dec. 10. 1878
one as a laborer at the city postotllcf
at 5000 a year, and the other as
mechanic at s. per day for each work
ing day on what appears to have beer
special roll of the free delivery ser
vice. and that \. II. Baker likewise
was designated as Il laborer on tn
postotlice roll April %, 1899, at S'o'
per annum and on the same date as
mechanic on the free delivery rol
at 81 day The inspectors contlnu
! ing say that on June 30, 1899, % EN-
ployes were borne on the rolls and pal(
on what has been known as the mill
tary roll" while the military roll,
shows 81 names as having been palt
by the cashier of the Washington
office.
There was also found "specia
roll of employees. paid for mlscellan
eols allowances, said appointment
being under the control OF the post
office department" This roll con
sists OF uine cleaners" with salarle
from $500 to $500 and one physl
clan" at a salary Of 81, 100. Some Q
P! thnco cleaners 3nnp3r to have per