The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-17
HEATH AND OTHERS
SCORED BY REPORT
Conrad and Bonaparte Found Much That Was
Reprehensible in the Administration of
the Postoffce Department.

whose services could not be ascertain
ed, and in allowing Beavers illegal
and fraudulent claim of $1,14S for eX-
penses in connection with the court of
claims"
The report says: I'VE find it I'M
possible to doubt that Mr.. Heath, Mr..
VanCott and Mr.. Beavers himself all
know the payment of this additional
compensation was expressly forbidden
by law, and that it was called 'ex-
penses to eVade the prohibition"
The summary and conclusions OF
the report are as follows:
LAS a result of our inquiry in the
'Tulloch charges and of the considera-
tions herein before set forth, we have
the honor to report that, in our judg-
ment,
First. The discussion of the 'Tul-
loch charges has revealed the exist
ence of deplorable and gravely discred-
liable abuses during the years 1898,
1899 and 1900 in the Washington post
office and the Office of the first as
sistant postmaster general.
Second. These abuses involved
conduct on the part Of various public
officials which was certainly often ille-
gal and may have been some times
criminal, but such o1fenses, if commit
ted, were in all cases committed more
than three years before we were order
ed to Investigate the Charges and,
so far as we are clearly informed, more
than three years before Mr.. Tulloch's
interview Of May / last.
Third. The evidence laid before
us suggests the possibility and even
probability, but does not prove the
abuses may have continued both in the
department and in the postoffice sub
sequently to the early summer of 1900
Of "a
in connection herewith criminal acts
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 possibility that similar conditions
may have existed both within and be-
yond the period of limitations in the
New York postoffice.
Fifth. The persons primarily re-
sponsible for the above mentioned
abuses and the resulting scandals APP
pear to have been Perry s. Heath, then
First Assistant 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. the
late Postmaster General: James p.
Willett, late postmaster of Washing
ton, now deceased: John A. Merritt,
his successor in the said office, and its
present incumbent; Robert j. Trace
well, controller and Henry A. Castle,
auditor for the Postoffice Department,
all appear to have shared in some
measure, their responsibilities; the late
Postmaster General for his seeming
failure, Notwithstanding repeated warn
ings, to appreciate the gravity of their
misconduct, and the consequent neces-
sity for its prompt and adequate pun
ishment; the two postmasters for toll
Grafton of these abuses and obedience
to plainly improper orders without
pressure, or, apparently, protest, and
the auditor and controller for acting
upon lax and arbitrary principles In the
administration OF their respective Of
fees. whereby the payment OF illegal
and seemingly fraudulent claims by the
treasury was rendered possible.
Seventh. The employment Of
subordinates In postofiices about to
become classified for the purpose Of
thus securing their admission without
examination into the classified service