The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-05-22

requested the appointment of a commits
sion to investigate the office of the first
assistant postmaster general.
Wouldn't Have an Investigation.
This was refused by Mr.. Smith, who
looked upon 1t as another manifestation
OF the relations existing between Mr..
Perry S. Heath and Mr.. Bristow.'
Mr.. Tulloch cites Endorsements by Mr..
Beavers and Mr.. Machen, of the Economic
Postal association, as an investment prop
~osition.
On the question of favoritism in ap-
pointments he says:
"Oliver H. Smith of Muncie, Ind, was
an intimate friend and associate of Perry
is. Heath. The latter, November 90, 1897,
wrote as follows to the Washington post
master:
~ have this day allowed you 5000 per
annum to provide, for the appointment Of
Oliver II. Smith as a laborer at the sew
eral stations connected with your office.
Mr.. Smith will act in a dual capacity.
serving both clerks and carriers. The
free delivery division will also make an
allowance Of 81 per day to cover car
fares and incidental expenses, for Mr..
Smith, who is, 1 believe, to report on the
morning of the 2lst. This is the gentle
man whose appointment has been FREE
quently recommended to you
NJ Heath used the express AT your
request or In connection with your rec
om~mendation, in connection with many
appointments concerning which the post
master was entirely ignorant, and for
whose services, If he received them at all,
he had no use or need. December l, 1897,
Mr.. Heath wrote: MIR. Olive III. Smith
has been detailed to assist in repairing,
painting and erecting street boxes. He
will be paid through your office at the
rate of 50 per day for every working day,
Il or Y, =, ~, nh, r HNrp1,aypJar- 90 gel t
"Laborer' With Three Jobs.
Thus he is appointed a laborer and
paid from the allowance for clerk hire
a fund under the salary and allowance
division: in the second he is paid as a per
diem mechanic from the allowance for
repairing letter boxes, a fund under the
free delivery service, and audited by dill
ferent clerks in the treasury department.
person faithfully performing the duties
of the one would be unable to devote ruiz
time to the other. Mr.. Smith did very
little of either. During the summer OF
1898 Mr.. Smith was in service at Camp
Alger, Virginia, in connection with the
military postal service.
% clerk in my office, Charles w. Nc
Whorter, informed me that an employe
in the mailing division, whose name ne
! gave me at the time, had told him he hau
1 been approached by another employe re-
Gently. transferred to the office, who had
STATED he had been authorized to pick out
sever men in the mailing division for pro-
motion July !, 1899, provided those pro-
noted would divide with high officials IN
the postoffice department"
Mr.. Tulloch says:
"On account of the intimate relations
between the department and the Wash
ington office verbal directions often ac-
companied the written orders and We're
far more interesting. For example,: The
postmaster one day brought me an allow
ance of the first assistant postmaster
general salary and allowance division
July q, 1898, appointing Emma Jones and
Fannie r. Winans as cleaners or char
women for one year from July l. 1888, at
$500 per annurl Handing me the allow
allce he stated it was the intention of the
department that the names of the women
should not appear on any pay roll; that
the parties designated should not know
that the other was in receipt of any
none or had any connection with the
office. He also stated that neither Of
thelnTwas expected to report for any duty.
This complimentary roll was added to
!~later."
| Classification Act Ignored.
Mr.. Tulloch says that the classification
act of March 2, 1889, was ignored by First
Assistant Postmaster General Heath, and
that sundry persons designated finance
i-ssh 49,. ~ " - ~ pE WIN IeAk %ilS
from $500 to $500 each per annum over
their lawful salaries. With only one or
two exceptions the appointments as clean
ers, charwomen, laborers, etc, he says,
We're evas.ons of the civil service, and the
parties did not perform the duties i'm
piled in their official designations; often
no service whatever. Transfers We're
made by the first assistant postmaster
general from outside offices without any
request or demand frcm the local post
master.
Mr.. Tulloch say the meas
ures to provide mail facilities during the
Spanish war presented great opportuni-
ties for favoritisn and Irregularities. He
says that j. j. Whitney. said to be father
in-laW of Harrison j.. Barrett, late law
clerk for the postoftice department, was
appointed postmaster of one of the prin-
opal cities of Porto Rico. When" it is
stated, .'he was called down sharply by
the Washington office with reference to
irregularities in his money order account,
he wrote back: Perhaps If you knew
what my influence is you would not write
to me in such a manner His postal ac-
count became so confused and full Of err
rors that l refused to pay his salary in
order TO make 1T good as far as his salary
would go.
"He surprised me one day by calling
and demanding his back pay. This was
refused until his account had been au-
dited. He replied:
Very well, at your convenience; I
have been appointed to a 81, 400 position In
the land office
"a the time Of my removal most Of the
officers in Porto Rico were in arrears,
some of them for a considerable amount,
and the accounts We're very much con-
fused. The records of the department
should show whether these balances were
collected in fun or not, and If not, may it
NOT Iha n C1k ai uyh " tbn 7o,,o 49,. ~ 4 , --IH
proceed against the parties in arrears
upon their bonds. paid for contrary to the
custom by the government itself by order
of the first assistant?'
AMnV Tn TUE EEcIIcu