Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-18

pointmentS as cleaners, charwomen. labor
ers, ETC., he says, were evasions of the civil
service and the parties did not perform the
duties implied in their official designations,
often no service whatever. Transfers were
made by the first assistant postmaster gen.
eral from outside offices without any re-
quest or demand from the local postmaster.
Mr.. Tulloch says the emergency measures
to provide mail facilities during the Span
ish war presented great opportunities for
favoritiSm and irregularities. He says that
]. W. Whitney, said to be father-in-law Of
Harrison ]. Barrett, late law clerk for the
Post Office Department, was appointed
postmaster of one Of the principal 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 who my influence is you would
not write to me in such a manner. His
postal account became so confused and full
of errors 1 refused to pay him his salary,
in order to make good as far as possible.
He surprised me one day by calling and
demanding his back pay. This was refused
until his account had been audited. He re-
piled, Very well, at your convenience; 1
have just been appointed to a 81 400 posi-
ton in the land office
AT the time of my removal most of the
offices in Porto Rico were in arrears. some
of them for a considerable amount, and
the accounts very much confused. The
records of the department should show
whether these balances were collected in
full or not, and If not. may it not be asked
why the department did not proceed
against the parties in arrears upon their
bonds. paid for, contrary to custom by the
government itself by order of the first as
siStant
Junkets to Porto Rico.
much has been said by Ex-Postmaster
General Smith, Ex-First Assistant Perry s.
Heath and Controller Tracewell. in public
interviews, about the exigencies Of the mill
itary postal service. But did these exigen-
ces require the personal investigation of
so many Indiana, Ohio and other poliu-
clans and friends of officials? Free trips
to Porto Rico, Cuba and return became the
fashion. All expenses were paid from the
time of leaving home Pullman, hotels,
ETC., then pleasant voyage upon a trans
port, a trip around one or more of the is
lands, expenses to Washington and hotel
bills there, while friends and officials were
informed of their observations; then Pull
man and passage home. This was pretty
good thing in itself, but the generous Of
flee of the first assistant not only paid all
expenses. but a good salary as well during
the period of investigation, the salary
sometimes lasting for weeks and months
after the return of the recipient, while no
possible service was being rendered.
"All this was charged to the military
postal service, fund to be used for those
accompanying the armies IN the field. A
few instances may be mentioned: William
L. X, I
81 400 and expenses paid up to December
81, 1898; Frank j. Claypool, appointed Sep
TENDER o. 1898, paid salary and expenses to
November 10, 1898, $34S.74; Oscar Durante,
appointed September 8, 1898, at 81 400 and
expenses paid until April 30, 1899. no serv-
ice known from January 1, 1880; A. A. Hill.
appointed September H. 1898, paid salary
and expenses to October %, 1898, SAB. IS;
Winfield Scott Larner, appointed August
20 1898, at 81 200, and afterward increased
to 81, 400 and expenses paid to November
15 1895 and Hood p Loveland. appointed
October II, 1898, at $1G00 and expenses,
paid to January 81, 1899"
The Gilmer Investigation.
Mr.. Tulloch refers to the inspection of
the accounts of the Washington post office
late in April. 1889, by T. w. Giimer. an ex-
pert accountant of the controller of the
treasury, following which inspection the
controller disallowed between 10000 and
$40 600 for the quarter ended September
80, 1898. The receipt of the letter was i'm
mediately acknowledged and certain action
requested was taken. The postmaster was
told of the action in his absence. was very
much worried and said he had strict orders
from General Heath to bring all papers
received from the controller Immediately
to him, and that his Office would dictate
all replies.
1.-THE action had come sooner than ex-
pected," says Mr.. Tulloch.
Answers to certain portions OF the letter