The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-30
Postmaster Makes Charges
Against the Cashier.
MORE OF POSTAL SCANDAL
Salary Roll Investigation Reveals More "Iregu-
Iariies, but P. NJ. Gen is Gratlfi d.
That There We're Not More
Other Details.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, May 29.-Postmaster Gen
eral Payne today made public the reply
of Postmaster Merritt, of this city, to the
Tulloch charges The Merritt response
makes serious accusations against former
Cashier S. w. Tulloch, Of the Washington
postoffice, saying that a transaction IN
which Mr. Tulloch was concerned in 1898
appears to comprehend the presentation
of a false voucher, which is made crime
by the statutes" Mr.. Merritt's reply
further alleges that receipts were signed
in blank on the pay rolls during M.
Tulloch's regime as cashier and that the
files do not indicate any complaint of IT.
regularities against the Washington post
office filed by Mr.. Tulloch while he was
in office. Mr.. Merritt says the general
practice of giving employees duties seem
ingly incompatible with their positions
is no abuse and that the practice Of pay
ing certain expenses of the Postoffice De-
partment out of the Washington city post
office funds always has existed and is
proper.
Mr.. Merritt says the removal of Cashier
Tulloch was no mistake, that the accounts
were in a tangled condition and that Tul-
loch refused to straighten them out un-
less paid $500. Mr.. Merritt asserts that
number of the irregularities to which
Tulloch called attention were due to Tul-
loch's own neglect or ignorance. Mr.. Mer
ritt says he had discretionary authority
to remove Tulloch, whom he charges with
being arbitrary in manner, occupied much
of the time with important private bust
ness, and ''yenturesome man in the field
of speculation"
Concerning alleged Porto Rican abuses.
Mr.. Merritt says the final account there
for was settled with the auditor without
material loss. Mr.. Merritt says that what
Mr. Tulloch says We're disallowances by
the Comptroller of the Treasury in the
Washington account for the quarter end
ed September 30, 1898, amounting to some
thirty or forty thousand dollars, were not
such in reality They were merely DC
mands made by him for explanation as to
certain items in the account which his
expert examiner had some doubt about,
amounting to a very considerable sum.
and the objections were finally withdrawn.
The reply of Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith will be given out Sunday.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow's reply, which will be made pub
lie later according to Postmaster General
Payne, denies that he ever asked inyesti-
CATION of the office OF the First Assistant
Postmaster General
The Postmaster General today announced
the completion of the investigation of the
salary rolls of all the first and second
class postoffices in the country.
The only Irregularities reported, all of
which have been ordered to be corrected
Immediately, were the payment to four
teen assistant postmasters of a larger
salary than they should receive under the
departments policy payments to a few
clerks of more than the law allows, and
the existence of designations unknown to
the law for positions in seventeen post
offices. Mr.. Payne said that none of
these items indicated any wrong-doing
and he regards the net result Of the over
hauling of the rolls of upwards of 1900
presidential pOstoffices as gratifying.
The Postmaster General has directed
that such of these changes as involve cor
rections of violations of the law shall
take effect next Monday. and changes
made to conform to the rules and practice
of the department will be operative July
1st, the beginning of the next fiscal year.
Most of these excessive allowances Were
made during the administration of George
w. Beavers, who suddenly resigned his
position as superintendent of salaries and
allowances Immediately after the investi-
cation of affairs of the Postoffice De
partment began.
Samuel A. Croft, who was arrested Wed
nesday for completely in the Machen brib-
cry case appeared today before United
States Commissioner Taylor and renewed
his bond for $4,000 for his appearance on
June 9th. when he and his brother will
be given a hearing.