Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-08-15

Judging from the reports which
reach us Of the bungling incfficicn-
cy OF - Van Leuven, the recently
appointed Special Agent for the
Post Office Department, change is
likely to occur in the office. Some
time ago good judgment and de-
cency were violated by the arrest of
c. E. Tuttlc, deputy postmaster at
Cresco. When the trial came off not
a particle of evidence was adduced
against Tuttle, and he was discharg-
ed. But in the mean time irrepara-
BILE damage had been done Mr.. Tut.
tie, through the incompetency of
Van Lcuven. Since then case of
stupidity, or something worse, has
occurred in regard to registered
letter sent from Butler, Iowa, to
Hillsboro, Wis. When the pac kage
reached the Sigourney post office it
was not properly sealed, and the
postmaster, in presence of a witness,
secured it and sent it on it's way.
When the person to whom it was
addressed got the letter the money
was gone, and Van Lcuven demands
payment from the Sigourney post
master, or threatens to have him
turned out of Office. The postmas-
ter refuses, and on appeal to Wash
ington is sustained. SO Van Leu
ven is left with his little fingers in
his mouth; and through his incapa-
city the guilty party is undetected
and UNPUBLISHED. Has the post
Office department use for such an
officer?-Des Moines Republican.
Our readers will remember that
the BULLETIN, almost alone among
the papers of this District earnestly
protested against the appointment
Of Van Leuven as Special Mail
Agent, as one unfit to be made and
undeserved by the recipient. This
protest was not inspired by person
al hostility to Van Leuven, but by a
conviction, resulting from knowl-
edge of his characteristics, that the
position was number of notches
above his qualifications, and that
the appointment was made without
sufficient examination, and in re-
Spouse to stimulated and fictitious
popular demand; neither is it with
feelings of exultation that we give
the record that proves our estimate
of his powers, to have been correct.
His is only one of hundreds ofcases
where brazen impudence and the
most rcpulsivo sycophancy and ad-
ultation of men In power carry the
day IN spite Of conspicuous incom.
potency and unfitncss for the posi-.
ton craved' We think that regard
for the efficacy of the public service,
requires that man of judgment,
ability, resources, deliberation and
above all discretion, be placed in
the Office of Special Agent, with
out delay, and in demonstration of
our disinterestedness we add that
we have no name to suggest.
Col. Barnes has been recommend
ed to take horseback exercise for the
benefit of his health by his physic-
ian, and accordingly applied to a
well-known stable for the animal.
In about three hours he returned,
covered with dust and perspiration,
and, with the assistance Of one of
the hostlers, slowly and painfully
descended from his steed. ''How
much?" "Three dollars, colonel y
He slowly drew his wallet and laid
down the required sum. "Shall
you want the horse again tomorrow,
colonel?" ono; l shan't want him
any more at ALL" 'Indeed," said
the stable-keeper, with twinkle in
his eye, as he noted the colonel
holding on to his lacerated body.
"Perhaps tho horse don't suit your"
"Oh, yes" said Barnes, quickly,
"there's nothing the matter with
the horse; he's all right. Us the
price l object to-" "The price!''
said the stable keeper. "Why, /
only charged you three dollars, col
onel, which we consider cheap for
for the horses services all the after
noon." "Well, l don't" squealed
Barnes, rubbing his aching body;
"for whenever l want anything OF
this sort again, ! know big Irish.
man who will kick me all day for
half the money"