Milford chronicle., 1903-05-22

Washington, May 1S.-The fun text
Of the formal charges Of Irregularities
in the administration of postal affairs
preferred by Seymour w. Tulloch,
formerly cashier OF the Washington
city postofhce, has been made public by
Mr.. Tulloch. The charges are embod-
led in a letter to Postmaster General
Payne in response to the latters re
? quest to be furnished any information
that would substantiate published
statements OF Mr.. rulloch. Some Of
the matters complained Of viii be in
yestigated Immediately by the ilspec-
tors.
Mr.. Tulloch says that in all instan-
ces of irregularity and favoritism,
the proper allowances, records, vouch-
ers, etc, were most carefully executed
and kept, as a rule, and little intorma-
tion can be ascertained by their in
vestigation; that the real facts, behind
the allowances and vouchers, are not
of record and are known to few
those interested. who viii not, and
others, clerks, who dare not talk"
"For upwards of 19 years." the let
ter recites. the conduct of affairs be-
tween the Washington city post-ofice
and the post-ofHce department was
regular; then came the first break,
the precursor of a system of allow
ances to the Washington post-oftice on
account of departmental expenditures
which afterwards led to irregularities,
nd nj
as an obstacle on June 80 1899 Mr..
Shepard then chief of the salary and
allowance division, desired a file case
for the use of his office. His requisi-
tions were turned down by his superior
officers. Later vouchers were present !
ed to me for a file case accompanied
by an allowance for its payment out
of the funds of the Washington Office, /
made by Mr.. Shepard, and signed by
the first assistant postmaster-general /
l directed the contractor to obtain /.
a certificate of delivery Of the goods. |
Mr.. Shepard refused to acknowledge !
the receipt of the goods, fearing an eX
posure during the audit of the vOuch-
ers. and l refused to pay for the case /
until some one was willing to father .
the same. Soon after the Mckinley .
administration came into power the .
first assistant postmaster-Senerals sent
his clerk down to me with a voucher
for lump sum for travelling expenses,
accompanied by an allowance for their
payment from the funds of the Wash
ington Office. Such a demand was ir-
regular on its face. But the official
became very angry at the idea of a
mere cashier attempting to make any
suggestions to him. and refused to
amend and itemize his voucher. The
postmaster-general explained to him
that had only asked for what was re-
quired by the auditor and according to
precedent. The postmaster, upon his
return, stated the official had said:
Look here. now, this is new admin
istration and a new crowd, and We in
tend to create our own precedents.
The auditor for the post-otfice depart
ment finally sent word through the
postmaster that on account of the feel
ing shown in the matter, if l would in
close the vouchers in my next account
its informality would be overlooked.
Il was credibly informed al that
time that the matter so prepared, with
perhaps other evidence, was lad be-
fore Postmaster General Smith by
Fourth Assistant Bristow, VINO re-
quested the appointment Of a commits
sion to investigate the Office of the
first assistant postmaster-general This
was refused by Mr.. Smith, who looked
upon it as another manifestation OF the
relations existing between Perry S.
Heath and Mr.. Bristow"
On the quest.On of favoritism in ap-
pointments, he says: "A clerk in my
Office. Charles w. McWhorter, in
formed me that an employe in the
mailing division, those name he gave
me at the time. had told him that he
had been approached by another en- +
ploye, recently transferred to the Of
fee. who had stated he had been au- {
thorized to pick out seven men in the
mailing division for promotion July l.
1899. provided those promoted would |
divide with high officials in the post J
office department.
"On account of the intimate rela- +
tions between the department and the b
Office verbal directions
often accompanied the written orders
and were far more interesting. For
example, the postmaster one day 7
brought me an allowance of tue first O
postmaster-general, salary c
and allowance division. July q, 1898. 8
amounting Emma Jones and Fannie h
R. Winans as cleaners, or charwomen. 7
lor one year from July l. 1898. at $500 a
Der annum. Handing me the allow a
lnce he stated it was the order Of the s
department. that the names &C the I,
women should not appear upon any ?,
payroll; that the parties designated Z,
inoul not know that the other was in 9,
receipt Of any money or had any con- v
lection with the Office. He also stated II
hat neither Of them was expected to o.
'eport for any duty. This compl- .,
nentary roll was added to later. n
"At the time OF my removal most Of
he Offices in Poto rico were in ar