The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-06-24

| gated. He names four employees o.
the military roll who appear not t
have performed any service in con
nection with military postal matter
and for whose original appointment
!. or continuance on the rolls no goo'
reason exists. The payment to "
S. Larner, a military postal clerk. un
der protest, by the cashier OF SllS.93
subsequently diSallowed by the au
ditor of the treasury on Jan. i, 1899
is gone into at length and it is shown
that this matter was entirely irreg
ular and that payments were directed
without proper vouchers.
Attention is called to certain item
of expenditures authorized for the
military postal service Of supplies
furniture. travelling expenses, aggre
eating 2S, 80 20, with the statement
that the prices paid for some Of the
articles enumerated, such as WaSl
stands at $40 each appear to have
been highly excessive.
Attention also is called to addi
tional irregularities in connection will:
payrolls of clerks aud laborers, and t.
charging premiums On the bonds OF
! military postal clerks, notwltbStand-
:: ing such expenses are not chargeable
to the United States.
An interesting feature concerns jr
regularities in the appointment, com
uensation and promotion Of Oliver II,
Smith. On Nov. 20, 1897, the first
assistant postmaster general author
lied an allowance of $40 per annun
for his appointment as laborer, stat
/ ing that the free delivery division
would allow 81 per day to cover car
fare and incidental expenses. Smith
drew pay from Nov. %, 1897, to Nov.
30, 1898, making bis compensation
for one year approximately sl,34S.60.
The inspector reports no one has
certified to the actual time Smith
was employed nor has any statement
been attached to his pay vouchers
showing what particular service be
rendered. He was continued in the
dual capacity of clerk and mechanic
until April !, 1899. when he was pro-
noted to be finance clerk at Sl,10O
per annum.' The inspector says ne
knew Of no authority of law for his
appointment or promotion.
Attention is next called by the in
spector to certain vouchers, author
lied to be paid by the first assistant
postmaster general, such as expenses
of Perry S. Heath and George W..
Beavers, travelling on official business.
The Inspector states that these vouch
ers do not appear tC have been i1emlz-
ed in the proper manner, nor is the
necessity for the expenditure OF this
money by the Washington poStotfice
apparent.
Attention is called to seven cleaners
placed on the pay roll Of the Wash
| ington office under authority Of the
first assistant postmaster general, to
be charged to the appropriation Tor
miscellaneous expenses. The names
of these cleaners-all females-are
given.
The inspector states that neither
the postmaster nor any one connected
with the Washington office was able
to give any information as to where
they were employed Or the nature of
their work, and the inspector is OF
opinion that practically no service
whatever has been rendered for the
money expended.
The inspector says that by the over
tapping of a lease executed in 1871
the government lost s625, and that
the building was paid for one month
beyond its occupancy.
The inspector reports that when
the cashier of the Washington post
Office on letters from the comptroller
suspended payments to certain per
sons mentioned he was required to
continue these payments upon direct
written order from the postmaster,
who states he was verbally instructed
in his action by the first assistant
postmaster general.
! Tha payments were made under the
cashiers protest.
The Inspector cites payments to
Catherine Endsley, Charles a. Mach
en-. A. B. Hurt, H. L. Lorenz, John
S. Leach and F. w Wait, on the au-
thority OF the first assistant post
master general of per diem in connec-
tion with claims of letter carriers for
overtime charges, aggregating 81, ,655.
The inspector says this account, dis
bursed from July |, 1898, was disburS-
ed without authority oflaw. Machen:
Lorerz and Hurt it appears were PAID
per diem covering the same period by
the disbursing clerk of the department.
OF Justice, from the appropriation for
defending suits in letter carriers
claims against the United States be-
fore the court OF claims. These par
ties continued to draw pay until the
comptroller called for statement
from them.
The report Of Inspector Little ou
the investigation Of the Washington
office, dated July 81, 1900, says that a
number Of clerks were added to the
rolls without request of the postmas-
ter and that the postmaster states
that at times it has been difficult to
lind employment for all assigned to
his rolls. The inspector says the
roster appears to be elastic, to be ad-
ded to as circumstances arise whether
the postmaster requested it or not.
The aggregate salaries paid to those
not connected with the office amount
eG to SIS, 100.
No Vulgar Murder.
In speaking of the murder OF the
| king and queen of Servia the Chatta-
| r1.nnrn I'inlnS SavS at any rate. 1t is