The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-17
The Response of Heath
No Answer.
Continued from First PGge.)

may have been committed within the
period of limitations
Fourth. The report of Inspector
Crowell and the facts relating to the claim
of George w. Beavers, indicate the posi-
bility that similar conditions may have
| existed both within and beyond the period
of limitations in the New York postof-
flee.
Fifth. The persons primarily respon-
sible for the above mentioned abuses and
the resulting scandals appear TO have
been Perry S. Heath then First Assist
ant Postmaster General, and George w.
Beavers, then chief of the salaries and
Allowance division, neither of whom is
now in the service of the United States.
Sixth. Charles Emory Smith, late
Postmaster General; James P. Willett,
late Postmaster of Washington, now de-
ceased: John a. Merritt, his successor in
the said office and it's present incumbent.
Robert j. Tracewell, Comptroller, and
Henry A. Castle, Auditor for the Post.
office Department, all appear to have
shared, IN some measure. their RESPONSE
bilities; the late Postmaster General TO-
his seeming failure, notwithstanding re-
reated warnings, to appreciate the gray
ity of their misconduct and the conse-
quent necessity for its prompt and ada
quate punishment; the two postmasters
for liberation OF these abuses and obe-
dience to plainly improper orders with
out exposure, or, apparently, protest, and
the auditor and comptroller for acting
upon lax and arbitrary principles in the
administration of their respective offices
whereby the payment of illegal and seem
ngly fraudulent claims by the treasury
was rendered possible.
Seventh. The employment of subord!
mates in postoffice able to become classl-
fed for the purpose of thus securing their
admission without examination into the
classified service was practice in frauden
legis, and officials guilty of thereby es-
tablished their own unfitness for public
employment.
Eighth The employment of socalled
"laborers" to do classified" work wac
clearly illegal and, under express drec-
tons of civil service rules, to be pun
ished by dismissal from office.
Ninth An agreement by any public
officers with any person whether in or
out of the public service at the time;
that the latter shall receive the emolu
ments of public employment under pre-
tence of being employed without render
ing any services to the government, con.
stitutes conspiracy to defraud the Uni
ted States.
Tenth. The detail of Thomas W. Gil
mer to different work of a lower grade
and at reduced compensation by f.. p
Vanderlip, then acting Secretary OF the
Treasury, under all the circumstances
attending it, was apparently unjust and
oppressive, and certainly disastrous to
the public interest, since 1t would be gen
orally and naturally understood by those
cognizant Of it as a punishment inflicted
on a faithful servant. who had, by the
honest discharge of his duty. incurred tie
enmity of active and influential polti-
clans. II seems to have been preceded by
no sufficient inquiry on the part OF Acting
Secretary Vanderlp, and would render
proper an investigation of the latter's
conduct were he still in the public ser
vice.
Eleventh. While VIC express no opinion
a. the propriety of Seymour w Tulloch's
removal from the office of cashier by
Postmaster Merritt, his removal was
clearly regrettable in the public inter
est. as leading naturally to the belief
that the cashier had been in fact re
moved for his failure to comply with ir
regular and even illegal demands upon
the funds in his custody:
We very respectfully recommend
First That thorough Investigation be
ordered, if IT has not been already or
dered: (a) Of the administration of the
Washington postoffice OBJ of the admin
istration of the New York Postoffice and
(c) of the administration of the office
of the First Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral within the past three years.
Two That a carefully chosen, small
commission be appointed by the President
to report a plan whereby the work of the
Offices of the comptroller and of the sew
eral auditors may be removed from all
political, personal or other extraneous
influences.