Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-06-01
Evidence justified the Transactions that
lie Complained Of
LACKED KNOWLEDGE OF CONDITIONS
Course Taken Necessary to Meet the situO-
tion During War.
OTHER DOCUMENTS TO Be MADE PUBLIC
Replies of Perry 8. Heath and
Assistant Postmaster General
BrintOw Are Among
Them.
INVESTIGATED AT TIME FIRST MADE

WASHINGTON, May s1.-Postmaster
General Payne today made public the reply
of former Postmaster General Smith, to
the charges Of s. w. Tulloch. former cash
Ter Of the Washington city postoffice. re-
gardinR the postal administration. Mr.
Smith says that he investigated the al
legations OF Irregularities when they were
made and the evidence udduced In most
cases was believed to be a justification OF
tho transactions complained of. adding that
the criticisms betrayed lack of knowledge
OF conditions incident to the Spanish war
and the measures necessary to meet tie re-
quirements.
Mr.. Payne said today that Mr. Smiths
letter practically closes the Tulloch Incl
dent although other documents on the sub
3ect will be made public later. These in
clude the replies Of Former First Assistant
Postmaster General Heath and of Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow, the
report on the former investigation of the
Tulloch charges to which Mr.. Smith refers,
and the reports of the postoffice inspectors
who investigated the Washington postofice.
owing TO the great volume of the docu-
ment, Mr. Payne said that all of the docu-
ments except Mr.. Heaths reply will be
briefed, although the documents themselves
VIII be open to public inspection If wanted.
The first answer of Mr.. Smith to the
Tulloch charges will not be mado public.
Mr.. Payne explained today that Mr.. Smith
had forgotten about Mr.. Tullochs charges
and the investigation he ordered and that
until the papers were actually found by
Mr.. Francis w. Whitney secretary to Mr..
Payne, It was not known that the charges
had been investigated at the time. These
papers showed that Mr.. Smith divided the
charges into groups, noting directions for
investigation as to each group and subse-
quenuy recording against each group the
results of tho investigation Those results
constitute "the exhibit to which Mr.. Smith
refers In his letter.
Mr.. Payne said that Mr.. Smith in his
prior letter had entirely forgotten the Tul-
loch charges and did not recall the namo
or the fact that he had investigated the
charges Mr. Smiths second letter, in full,
follows;
Text of smith Letter.
Philadelphia. May a. lsOs.-Henry C.
Payne, Postmaster General, Washington
ID. G. Sir: l am In receipt of your letter
Sddrsssed az s i to sS You So by Mr SPY W. % Tuioeh e
respecting the conduct OF the Postoft1ce de-
SDce SurnE SRd the the ssaTs 9 Sna HS
In reply, / beg TO say that the sugges-
tons OF irregularities made by Mr.. Tulloch
on his retirement from his position OF
cashier of the city postofice were duly
acknowledged at the time and the facts in
that s sSsrnisasion Wss embodied IN tSII I'll
exhibit OF the alleged Irregularities and of
the explanations in each instance. which is
on file in the department. To this exhibit
] refer as embracing e particular and de-
Without undertaking to repeat here its
specific and minute evidences, let me say
in general terms that in most cases il pre-
the transactions complained OF. The trans
actions mostly grew out of the conditions
war and the criticisms betrayed a Want oi
knowledge, both OF the conditions and OF
the methods adopted to meet their require
iSss. msn''' 1h' war was declared on April 81
No Funds Available.
men was raised and organized in camps
IL became necessary to provide at once
Ss se 6od Of odsrs of ana ae 6er mhs mil
lion friends at home. Any failure to do 81
would Justly have excited universal con
demnation. At the outset no special ap
preparation was available and the means
had to be provided from the general posta
special appropriation for the militar,
postal service te be expended entirely a
In meeting the demands OF the servic
and In making good out OF one fund wha
drawn from the other, changes and trans
fers and special employments were mad
which might not De understood by thos
h@--N ~'''s - a'ANeihfANNN hhbNAthBt U
the facts.
MAchinists on Payroll.
II was found expedient as a matter @
practical Administration TO treat the camp
and afterwards Tor a time the offices Q
ONCE, as those OF Cuba were Treated a
branches OF the New York office. This IN
yolved the enrolment Of the men employe
for Porto Rico on the Washington roll 10
time and some OF the extra hap nSede
In the department was provided for IN III
grew some OF the allegations of irregular
ity, Compared with the magnitude Of tn
mentP were mooe. IL was the policy OF IN
department TO select trained and expeI
fenced men already In the service and deta
them To the military ana island work.
During two years congress Appropriate
t5oO,UoV lor the mintary postal service 10 /
expended al the discretion or the pos
master general. or this amount Sl44 Oo4
was spent and the remainder, S25J, ;siJ 10 ia
covered back into the treasury.
Some reference has been made TO the fat
that lew machinists appeared to be eI
rolled on the clerical roll This may haS
grown out or one Of my acts. After exam
ming the subject determined TO cut dow
the annual rental Of caneelling machine
used in the pOstoftioes OF the country to a
extent which effected a saving OF abol
Sl00.OVO year In the aggregate 10 the go'
ernment In consideration OF this large n
duction the department agreed to take cal
OF the machines. This required three
four machinists, who should travel fro
was given that the hachinists aireat
familiar with the work should be empIoye
1 am frank TO say that l do not now reca
lust how they were enrolled, but IL W,
thought that IL could be lawfully done
exempted places and no more red tape
form was allowed 10 stand in the way
what was believed TO be for the good
the service
The examination of the alleged irresr
larities In the connection OF the departme
with the Washington office as alreae
stated justified most OF them, / should n
be altogether candid n ! did not say IN
In some cases / was not thoroughly co
Vinced of the propriety OF the transaction
These Questionable transactions consist,
for the most part OF placing on the roll
few persons the need OF whose servic
was not clearly shown.
When these developed the proper once
were Instructed that every proceedil
which could not be justified should
remedied and stopped.
Subject OF investigation.
IL Is proper for me 10 add that n
Tllloch's allegations were the subject
an independent ana searching investig