Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-07
POST OFFICE CHARGES
WAITING FOR A FORMAL STATE
MENT FROM MIR. TULLoCH.
Investigation May Extend to the Big
Cities-The Use of Auto
mobiles.

Up to O'Clock this afternoon POstmas-
ter General Payne had not received the
statement of Mr.. Tulloch, former cashier
of the Washington city post office, who
caused sensation a week ago by making
direct accusations to certain alleged
improper methods in vogue in the depart
meut and in the city post Office.
Mr.. Payne said he had received answers
to letters sent to Mr.. Charles Emory Smith,
former Postmaster General; Mr.. Bristow,
Mr.. Wynne and Postmaster Merritt He
said nothing would be given out regarding
this correspondence until he had heard
from Mr.. Tulloch.
AS printed exclusively In The Evening
Star of yesterday. Mr. Tulioch had expect
ed to begin the preparation of the state
ment today. He is suffering from a severe
cold, which has made it necessary to re-
main at his home in Forest Glen for a num-
Der or days. Up to late this afternoon he
had not arrived at the Office of his brother
In the Columbian building. in 9Th street
northwest. where. 1t expected, he
would draft the statement
Friends of Mr.. Tulloch declare that his
interview did not contain all he knows
about alleged wrongdoing in the Post
ONCE Department, and that his statement
TO the Postmaster General will be more
specific as to accusations
1t is also said that Mr.. Tulloch has been
approached In the interest of having him
retire from the controversy. A story cur
rent this afternoon was to the effect that
he had received letter from a former Of
iiclai OF the Post Office Department fmpor-
tuning him to refrain from making a de-
talied. statement as asked for by Post
master General Payne.
The Postmaster General had with him in
conference today Mr.. Robb, the new assist
ant attorney general for the Post Office
department: Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow and Mr.. Merritt, the post
master of the city office.
The fact that Postmaster General Payne
has announced that the Investigation is to
be extended to all the leading post offices
or the country. in the interest of a general
overhauling and a reorganization of the
office forces has created more than ordi-
nary interest in Washington.
Those who have all along maintained that
tne investigation was intended as perfume
tory affair and that the public would not
be taken into the confidence of the admin
iStrat1on, are now fierce in declaring that
the Postmaster General has found enough
IN the investigation thus far to warrant the
belief that things are not as they should
De In the department and that there Is
PROBABILITY of bringing to task any and all
wrong doing
The Postmaster General said this after
noon that he was not prepared to discuss
the automobile which was ordered for the
New York post office by Mr.. Beavers as it
Is alleged. before the latter resigned as
superintendent of the division of salaries
and allowances. Mr.. Payne said it might
DE round that the automobile was neceS-
sity and that it was ordered in the interest
of furthering the postal service in New
York
1t is said that Mr.. Beavers had In mind
the supplying of other of the big offices
with automobiles So far as is known by
the officials here Postmaster Van Colt is
the only postmaster who was provided with
an automobile.
Another question that Is being discussed
about the Post Office Department and by
persons who are watching the Investigation
carefully is: How far may a postmaster
go in the violation of established rules
of the civil, service before placing himself
IN a position to incite removal?
The rules or orders of the civil service
commission are promulgated by the Presi-
dent of the United States. Not few in
stances have come to the attention of the
postmaster General where persons carried
as laborers on the rolls were detailed to
clerical duties which come under the
classified service.
Instances of this kind are purely VIOLA
tons of the civil service rules Mr. Proc
tor, president of the civil service commits
sion, said today that the Commission,
whenever it was found that there was a
violation, promptly called the attention of
the postmaster involved to the rules, and
Nhat he believed the notice thus given was
beneficial in getting the rules observed
First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne will leave Washington this even
Ing for few days fishing along the At
lantic coast near Barnegat bay.