The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-12-29
PETITION TO TIE PRESIDENT.

TO his ErceVncy, Andrew Johnson,
President Of the Unaed States:
The undersigned, citizens of the Coun-
ty of Columbia, in the Thirteenth Rev
enue District of the State of Pennsylva-
mia, respectfully represent: That they
have heard with regret of the removal
Of Isaac S. Monroe from the Assessor
ship of said District, and Of the appoint
ment of Palemon John to that Office,
and they bog leave to lay before you
some reasons for the reinstatement Of
Mr. Monroe.
He was originally appointed on the
recommendation of Hon. Henry w.
Tracy, Member of Congress for the Dis
trict, and held the Office for the period
of about sixteen months. No charges of
corruption or mal-administratiOn were
made against him, and no allegation
can be made that the duties of the Office
were not faithfully performed by him.
No necessity for change is believed to
have existed, so far as requiring more
efficiency in the public service was con-
cerned; and there is this among other
unanswerable arguments in favor OF Mr..
Monroe, that under his predecessor the
income tax for 1864 was little over
forty-two thousand dollars, while under
Mr.. Monroe for 1865 it was over one
hundred and twenty-five thousand dol
lars. That large additional taxation was
SO fairly laid, and so sliilfully adjusted
that it was cheerfully acquiesced in by
all except those who could be influenced
by Palemon John, the present Assessor
and his newspaper, through which he
endeavored to make the tax as odious
Us possible by repeated, reiterated, ant
malicious attacks upon the system.
For four years Paemon John has beer
holding the lucrative Office of Postmas
ter at Bloomsbury, in the County of Co
lumbia, and only resigned it to ac ccep
the Assessorship, and while that wa
held in allegiance, he declined and re
fused, to print and to publish in hi
newspaper, the COlUn'bio Com"y Re
pblicaR, a resolution of the Co!umbi;
County Convention endorsing the Pres
ident and his appointments,
Your memoriali5tS respectfully sub
nit that when an officer has been fOun'
who is honest and capable, II change 10
the mere Axe of change, is ineXpedient
and more especially is this SO in an oflic
whose duties are so important, reSpon
sible, and complicated rs those of Rev
enue Assessor. TO superscdea man Jui
when he has acquired thorough know
edge of his business, is to pay premium
to incompetency and to make sho
tenure of Office the rule, is to invite pc
ulation and fraud, because it will n
pay to be honest.
We think it would be to the intcres
Of the Government, and the Satistactic
of the tax payers to have the office
Revenue Assessor again in the hands
Isaac S. Monroe; and you memorials
will ever, ETC.
Signed by William MKelvy, al
one hundred and fifty-eight other ci
zens of Columbia County.
RECOMMENDATION OF RE-APPolNl
MENT.
In the matter of the removal of lisa
S. Monroe, late Assessor Of lnterl
Revenue for the Thirteenth District
Pennsylvania, we have to represent u
as he had served but sixteen months
thereaboutS, his removal was not "
advised upon grounds of public poll
and his reinstatement will be an act
justice to him and conformable to pl
lie opinion.
We assert his competency as a h'
ness man for the post, and it is endor
by leading men of the county, and
IL L 1..A.,l rAnl,l ~. In Tho ~