Mower County transcript., 1903-12-23

EXPORT or MKssRs. CONRAD AND
BoNAPARTE ON THE TuL- II
LOCH CHARGES. ~$r. II
Former Postmaster General Smith,
Ex-Flrst Assistant Heath and AUDI
tor Castle Accused Of Negligence.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow Adds Another Sensational
'
Chapter to His Former Report

o'SSA~" SNN~ Ss"~"'~'
Chapter to His Former Report .
Washington, Dec. 18.-"No improper
official act on the part Of any public
@Officia! or employe is alleged which
did not occur more than three years
before July II, 1903, and as all possi'
BILE prosecutions are barred we are led
therefore to interpret our instructions
to report on these matters from q
legal standpoint in broader sense
than We might otherwise venture to
ascribe 10 them, and understand that
our views are desired as to the legal
propriety of the official action dis
closed and not merely whether it may
or may not have been criminal"
With this statement Messrs. Conrad
and Bonaparte begin their report on
the charges made by S. w. Tullocn,
formerly cashier of the Washington
city postoflce, against the administra-
tion OF that Office.
Continuing, the report says the Tul-
1och charges have never been, prop
erly speaking, investigated at all, nor
have the accused officials, particularly
Perry Heath, made satisfactory replies
to them. Concerning Heath the report
says:
1.-The reasonable inference to be
drawn from Mr.. Heath's failure
To Meet Fully and Explicitly
accusations which, as Postmaster Gen.
eqal Payne very justly admonished
him, charged him with many acts OF
doubtful propriety,' added to the facts
appearing from the evidence laid be-
fore US, obliges us to say that at least
q prima facie case is presented Of
willful and reckless disregard by the
late first assistant postmaster general
of obligations imposed on him by the
regulations of his own department as
we'll as by the statutes Of the United
States and we feel it our duty to add
that suspicion of his personal integrity
must be inevitably aroused in our
judgment by an impartial considera-
t1on Of the facts submitted to lis and
of his plainly inadequate explana-
items" -:
Heath and George w. Beavers are
charged with direct responsibility for
improper appointments and fraudulent
disbursement of funds, both to. them
selves and others, including. an allow
ance to George w. Beavers Of $1.148
for expenses in assisting special at
terneys in the court of Claims" al
lowed by Captain Castle.
Former Postmaster General Smith
and Captain Castle. auditor for the
postofice department, are accused Of
negligence in failing to put stop to
these transactions. -,'
Brstow Adds Another Chapter.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral .Bristow, in addition to the mat
ters made public in his report some
time ago, presents evidence. showing
that former Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Heath ordered pneumatic cancel.
Ing machines installed in the depart
ment without reference to their mer-
it's
Cleveland (O) postoff1ce, testified that
reports he made on the merits of the
Hampden canceling machines were
net satisfactory to First Assistant
Postmaster General Heath, and said
that he was plainly advised that it
was Mr.. Heath's desire that these ma
chimes he installed and the desire of
Mr.. Beavers 'and the general" that
he do less talking derogatory to tho
machine. He says he was forewarned
of this by his brother, then chief clerk
to the first assistant postmaster gen.
eral and thereafter, Allen testified, he
simply installed machines and refrain
ed from any comment. The machines
proved worthless.
The report says that H. G. Truesdell
OF Binghampton, N. Y, of the canceling
machine company, told inspectors that
before the order of June 30, 1900, was
given for 100 Doremus canceling ma
chimes, 200 shares ($20,000 WORTHY of
the stock of the company was trans.
ferred to First Assistant Postmaster
General Heath, Heath promising to
order not less than 800 machines at
1925.