The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-06-24
directed that reports be made in the
ra,ouIar way. and proceeds:

directed that reports be made in the
regular way, and proceeds:
During the progress OF the lnspec-
tion I was advised by the chief IN.
snector that George ". Beavers, chief
Of The salary and allowance division,
had suggested to one Of the inspectors
that when he came to certain appoint
nents in some of the stations that ap-
reared irregular he had better make
no reference to them, as they had been
| ordered personally by the Postmaster
!; General. I told the chief inspector to
instruct the inspectors to report the
facts. as they would in any other in
snection: that did not believe the
Postmaster General had knowingly
authorized any irregularities.
"Capt. ". B. Smith, Inspector IN
charge; submitted special report.
This report disclosed what seemed to
me claring Irregularities, and | sub
mitted it personally to the Postmaster
General, suggesting to him at the
time that it contained matters to
which | thought he wonld want to
give his personal attention.
s.The third report sets forth numbers
of irregularities that prevailed at that
time in the Washington postofhce. L
was informed by the chief inspector
that complaint was made to the Post.
master General that Inspector Little,
who was engaged on the work, was
asking unnecessary questions and
seeking information which was not
called for in the inspection. / advis-.
ed him to instruct Inspector Little to
make the same kind OF an invesitga-
tion of the Washington postoffce that
he would make Of any other Office
under similar circumstances, and to
snbmit in special report anything
which he thought should be called to
the personal attention of the Post
master General. This he did,
In the first of the inspectors re-
ports submitted by Mr.. Bristow it ap-
bears that Robert v. Willett, son of
the the postmaster, drew two salaries
from July. / to. December 10, 1898, one
as a laborer at the city postoffce at
$500 a year, and the other as me-
chanic at 50 per day for each working
day on what appears to have been
special roll of the free delivery ser.
vice. and that n. 81. Baker likewise
was designated as laborer On the
postoffce roll April 20, 1899, at S7o0
Der annum and on the same date as
mechanic on the free delivery roll at
81 a day. The inspectors, continuing,
say that on June 10, 1899, twenty-five
employees we're borne on the rolls and
paid on what has been known as the
q military roll;;. while the military
roll'' shows thiry-four names as hav-
ing been paid by the cashier of the
Washington Office.
There was also found especial roll
of employees, paid from miscellaneous
allowance, said appointments being
under control OF the postofiice Depart
ment. This roll consists of nine
cleaners" !" with salaries from s400 to
$500, and one physician" at salary
of Sl,7Oo. Some Of these cleaners ap-
pear to have performed very little SER
vice and others none at all.
The most important exhibit is the
confidential report of Mr.. Smith, post
Office inspector in charge of the Wash
ington division, made in july 1899,
setting forth irregularities, which he
urged should be investigated: He
names four employees on the military
roll who appear not to have performed
any service in connection with mill
tary postal matters, and for whose
original appointment or continuance
on the rolls no good reason exists.
The payment to W. S. Larner, mill
tary postal clerk, under protest, by
the cashier, Of Sis. SO, subsequently
disallowed by the auditor of the
treasury, on January 4, 1899, is gone
into at length, and it is shown that
this matter was entirely irregular and
that payments were directed without
proper vouchers.
Attention is called to certain items
of expenditures authorized for the
military postal service of supplies,
furniture, travelling expenses. aggre-
etaing Ss, $50. 70, with the statement
that the prices paid for some Of the ar
ticles enumerated, such as washstands
at $40 each, appear to have been high
" excessive.
5 Attention also is called to additional
irregularities in connection with pay
rolls of clerks and laborers, and to
charging premiums on the bonds OF
military postal clerks, notwithstand-
ing such expenses are not chargeabie
to the United States.
b An interesting feature concerns
irregularities in the appointment,
compensation and promotion of Oliver
II. Smith.
On November 20, 1897, the first as,
sistant Postmaster General authorized
an allowance Of $500 per annum for
his appointment as laborer, stating
that the free delivery division would
also allow 81 per day to cover car fare
and incidental expenses. Smith drew
nav from November %, 1897, TO No
yember 80, 1898, making his compen-
sation for one year approximately ST.
34S.6O. The inspector reports; No
80 b.e certified tn the actuai time