Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-02-26
THE POST OFFICE.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE,
On The Post Office and Post Roads,
CONTINUED.

On The Post Office and Post Roads,
CONTINUED.
Patnan Ohio John Heron late Postp,aste,
SOLICITORS OFFICE, Sept. 30, 1884.
The office was discontinued on the 3,
November, 1884, because the Postmaster
hao iaiied TO render accounts: and M
person was recommended as his success
sor; alter due notice given.
A draft was made on him October tst
1881, IN favor of Jarvis, Pike & Co., 70,
5000, and returned unpaid, March s
1899.
An estimated statement of his account
was sent TO him on the Cd July, isS2
with notice 10 pay draft for the amount
A draft was entered on the pay book in
the Sd quarter of 1882, but not sent, the
contractors pay on that route being only
500 per quarter.
On the 18th of February 1888, d. NJ.
Sellers, postmaster at Putnam, was re-
quested to call on him, and Nathaniel
Ayres and John Kirk. bis sureties for paw
ment. 10 this letter no reply was receiv-
| ed.
On the 18th of May, 1888, a copy of
| his account was sent to him at Cincin-
Dattl, Ohio, urging payment, and threaten
| ing suit in default thereof. No notice hav-
ing been taken OF this call by Heron, on
the 10Th day Of August, 1888, letter was
addressed to Samuel Glass, postmaster at
Putnam, Ohio, TO notify Herron's sureties
to deposlte the amount due, in the United
States Bank at Cincinnati, Ohio. This
notice was served on the sureties as per
letter of S. Glass of 10th September,
1888.
On the 18th of November, 1898, the
postmaster Is. GLASS; was addressed as to
The residence OF, and solvency of Heron.
A reply was received, stating that he lived
IN Clermont county, near Batavia, Ohio.
On the 9th Of January, 1884, letter
was written TO J. Pegg, postmaster at
Batavia, and an answer received, advising
this office that after dligent inquiry, no
such person as John Heron could be
found in the county.
The account of Heron is still open,
and suit will be instituted against him
whenever he can be found
J. q. WHITWELL,
Acting Solicitor.
Henry Stafford the former postmaster,
who was removed 10 make room for John
Heron, the individual concerning whom
the above proceedings were had, was
known to one member of your committee
| as man of strict integrity, and of ability
to perform the duties Of his office.-With
view, therefore, of ascertaining on what
ground change of officers so unfortunate
Tor the public service had been made,
your committee, on the 22d September,
1884, by resolution, asked for an inspec-
ton of all the original letters and papers
in the General Post Office concerning the
removal of Stafford and the appointment
of Heron as postmaster at Putnam, Ohio.
And, on the Sd day OF October, letter
was received from the Postmaster Gene.
raj, in reply, in which he denies the right
OF your committee, to inspect those papers,
and reiusest0 submit them to their exami-
nation. This letter. within few days
| thereafter, we know not by what author
ity, was published in the Globe.
| Your committee did not think it incum-
bent on them to enter into discussion
with the Postmaster General, on the sub
Ject OF their respective rights and duties.
nor DO they now think it proper, in this
report, to examine them, or to blend an
argument on constitutional law with the
facts which they were required to exam
inc and report to the Senate.
This refusal Of the Postmaster General
to permit the inspection OF those papers
on alleged constitutional grounds, which
| applied alike to the whole class of cases
referred to, which rest on the same princi
Piles, OF course put an end 10 this branch of
| W. Al 4 a.
ed upon them here. they turned their at
tenIion TO other subjects Of inquiry. touch
ing the condition OF the department and
the management Of its concerns.
But in the examination Of other sub
jects, one case of appointment and remav-
al fell under their observation, and they
deem it proper TO state the facts and ap
pend the evidence connected with it. Ii
may serve as one specimen Of the mode Of
operation in such cases, and the plinc-
Piles, and motives of the parties, and Of
the department.
WYMAS's CASE.
William Wyman had for some time
been p. Master in Lowell, Massachusetts.
He was removed, and Elipha!et Case APP
pointed in his place. The committee call
| ed before them Colonel s, A. Coburn, an
intelligent citizen of Lowell, whoaningled
hourly among its inhabitants. and had
constant intercourse with the Pest Office,
(see Doc. No. ~ and the following ques.
ton was propounded to him: "Do you
know Mr.. Wyman, former postmaster Of
this place? What was his character as
postmaster To this interrogatory the
chairman Of the committee objected, but
as one Of the members Of the committee
happened TO be absent, agreed that the
answer to the question might be taken
subject to the opinion of the absent mem
Der. The answer was in the following
words: 81 have known him very well