The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-18
IN FIELD OF GRAFT
THEY GRAZED AT WASHINGTON
AND WAVED FAT.
P0ST0FFICE WAS RANK
WITH ITS RAKE-OFFS AND IRREG-
ULARITIES.

Many of the Irregularities Were
Directed from the Seats of the
shut OFF the InspectOrs-The Lat
ter. However, Finally Got Busy
Under Special InstructiOns-Pre-
sent Sorry Spectacle of COndi-
tfOns That Prevailed.
Washington, June 17-Postmaster
General Payne to-day made public the
reply of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow to the charges of
Seymour w. Tulloch, former cashier of
the Washington city postoffice, re-
garding the irregularities in the postal
administration, and also reports of in
spection and investigation of the
Washington postoffice by inspectors
between June 30, 1899, and July 81, 1900,
together with the transcript of the
Tulloch charges made some years ago
and the conclusions thereon then
reached by Postmaster General
Charles Emery Smith.
These papers constitute by far the
most significant documents yet made
public as a result of the sweeping pos
tai investigation. The reports show
the existence of many Irregularities
during the period involved.
Had Superior Authority.
The inspector who investigated the
irregularities reports that the files of
the postoftice cashier show direct or
ders from superior authority for the
disbursement of all the questionable
items cited. The inspector urged
that the responsibility for the many
illegal appointments, the payment of
two salaries to one and the same per
son and the disbursement of thous-
ands of dollars for which practically
no service was performed should be
placed where it properly belongs, and
the many abuses corrected
In a summary of the several reports
the Postmaster General says:
1.-THE charge of Mr.. Tulloch is in its
essence against President Mckinley
and Postmaster General Smith. Presi-
dent Mckinley is no longer living;
Postmaster General Smith, who car
ried out President McKinley's policy,
has answered for himself. With re-
gard to the present management of the
Washington postoffice and the conduct
of any and all men charged with
wrong doing who have been in the
postal service under the present adj
ADMINISTRATION, thorough and search
ing investigation is now being made.
The Postmaster General also says:
1T will be seen that the whole sub
ject was taken up by Postmaster Cen
eral Smith and investigated by him.
All expenditures referred to were al
lowed by the auditor and controller
with the exception of $3.50"
BristoNv Found ROttenness.
The documents made public to-day
show that on May 1, last, Mr.. Payne
wrote letter to Mr. Bristow, calling
attention to the published interview
with Mr.. Tulloch, and asking Mr.
Bristow what truth, if any, there is
in the statements"
Mr.. Bristows reply, dated three days
later, transmits reports of three in
spectors relating to the Washington
postoffice.
Mr.. Bristow says that after the in
spectors had reported irregularities he
directed that reports be made in the
regular way.
During the progress of the inspec-
ton l was advised by the chief inspec-
tor that George w. Beavers chief OF
the salary and allowance division, sug-
gested to one of the inspectors that
when he came to certain appointments
in some of the stations that appeared
irregular he had better make no ref
erence to them, as they had been or
dered personally by the Postmaster
General. told the chief inspector
that instructs the inspectors to report
the facts as they would in any other
inspection; that 1 did not believe the
Postmaster General had knowingly
authorized any irregularities.
Capt w B. Smith. inspector in
charge. submitted a special report
This report disclosed what seemed to
me glaring irregularities, and l sub
nnitted it personally to the Postmaster
General, suggesting to him at the Tune
that it contained matters to which
thought he would want to give his per-
sonal attention.
Tried to Shut Little OFF.
1.-THE third report sets forth num-
Der of irregularities that prevailed at
that time in the Washington postotnce'
I 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 an inspection. l advised
him to instruct Inspector Little to make
the same kind of an investigation of
the Washington postoffice that he
would make of any other office under
similar circumstances, and to submit
in a special report, anything which he
thought should be called to the per-
sonal attention of the Postmaster Cen
eral. This he did.
I'm the first of the inspectors reports
submitted by Mr.. Bristow, it appears
that Robert V. Willett, a son of the
then postmaster, drew two salaries
from July to Dec. 10. 1888 one as
laborer at the city postoffice at $500
year. and the other as a mechanic at ~
per day for each working day on what
appears 10 have been a special roll OF
the free delivery service, and that n.
II. Baker likewise was designated as
laborer on the postoffice roll April 20
1893. at $500 per annum. and on the
same date as mechanic on the free de-
livery roll nj 81 a day. The inspectors
continuing. say that on June 30, 1893
twenty-five employees We're borne on the
rolls and paid on what has been known
as the military rolif' while the mil
itary rolf shows thirty-four names as
having been paid by the cashier or the
Washington Office.
Graft Was Something Great