The San Francisco call., 1903-12-17
Continued From Page 1, Column 4

the inspectors could not find cut from
the postmaster or any one else (as to
these il is possible. although hardly
probable. that he may have been mis-
led. but actually allowed Mr. Beavers
The illegal and fraudulent claim for
expenses which. as Mr. Castles own
memorandum says. really constituted
salary salary of an Office which
Bea vers did not and could not legally
hold and which no one. not even the
President. could have promised him so
as 20 bind the United States, either
legally or morally. 10 keep the promise
We find il impossible TO doubt that
0Ir. Heath. Mr.. Van Cott and Mir Beav-
srs himself all knew the payment Of
Ehis additional compensation was ex-
grossly forbidden by law and that it
vas called expenses TO evade this pro-
hibiton.'
SUMMARY OF THE REPORT.
The summary and conclusions of the
report are as follows:
AS a result II our inquiry the Tul-
loch charges and 0f the considerations
hereinbefore set forth we have the
honor to report that. in our Judgment:
-First-The discussion of the TUllOch
charges has revealed the existence of
deplorable and gravely -disereditable
abuses during the years 1898. 1899 and
1900 in the Washington posUofice and
the Office Of the First Assistant Post
master General
Second-Thcse abuses involved con-
duct on the nart Of the various public
officials which was certainly often IL
legal and may have been sometimes
criminal. but such offenEes, if COM
mitted, were in all cases committed
more than three years before we were
ordered to investigate the charges. and.
50 far rs we are clearly informed. more
than three years before Mr. Tulloch's
interview of May last
"Third-The evidence laid before US
suggests the possibility. and even prob
ability. but does not prove. that abuses
have continued both in the department
and in the Postofflce subsequent to the
early summer OF 1900. when we lose
sight of them. and that in connection
herewith criminal acts may have been
committed within the period OF limita-
tions.
"Fourth-The report Of Inspector
Crowell and the facts relating to the
claim of George ". Beavers above set
forth indicate the possibility that simi-
lar conditions may have existed both
within and beyond the period Of limita-
tions i'm the New York postofice
"Fifth-The persons primarily re-
Ep0nsible for the above mentioned
abuses and the resulting scandals ap-
pear 10 have been Perry S. Heath. then
First Assistant Postmaster General,
and George w Beavers. then chief Of
the salaries and allowance division.
neither Of whom is now in the service
of the United States.
SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY.
"sixth-Charles Emory Smith. late
Postmaster General: James P. WTlett,
late Postmaster at Washington. now
deceased. John A Merritt. his sue
cessor in the said Office and its incum-
bent; Robert J. Tracewell. comptroller,
and Henry A. Castle, auditor Of the
.POstOf6ce Department. all appeared to
have shared 81 some measure the re-
spOnsibility-the late Postmaster Cen
eTal for his seeming failure notwith-
standing repeated warnings to appre-
Ciate the gravity Of their misconduct
and the consequent necessity for its
prompt and adequate punishment; the
two POstmasters for toleration OF these
abuses and obedience to plainly i'm
proper orders without exposure. or. ap-
parently. protest. and the auditor and
comptroller for acting upon lax and
arbitrary principles in the administra-
tion Of their respective Offices. whereby
the payment Of illegal and seemingly
fraudulent claims by the treasury was
rendered possible.
Seventh-The employment of subor-
dinates in postofices about 10 become
ciassed for the purpose Of securing
their admission without examination
into the classified service was a prac-
tice in fraudem legis and officials
guilty Of it thereby established their
own unftness for public employment
"Eighth-The employmentof so-called
Iaborers' TO do class work was clearly
illegal, and under the express direction
Of the civil service rules to be punished
by dismissal from office
AMENABLE UNDER THE LAW.
"Ninth-An agreement by any public