The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-21
THE. POSTHASTER GENERAL e.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL -
civil. SERVICE REFORM.
The recon. appointment of |. I.
PRITcHARD, Ct Washington City, Post
maste. st Fredericksburg, Va, discloses
something OF Judge KEYS method OF
reforming the postal service. The late
incumbent of the postofico at that place
one VOLT, an sppointee of GRANT
ilre-eating secess.onist during the war
and raging Radical since, was shown
to have been guilty of irregularities, was
investigated and was ascertaiDed, as long
ago rs last October, to be largely in
arrears to the government. The
people of Fredericksburg supposed
that after he had thus been
weighed and found wanting, he would be
promptly removed by the new regime
which had Haunted so cOnspicuously the
banner Of reform. Gen. G. l.. STEVEN
son, a native and citizen OF Fredricks-
burg. formerly An officer OF the United
States army, distinguished General in
the Confederate service, an Intelligent,
upright and most worthy gentleman
highly esteemed by all who know him,
was urged 10 apply tor the place. Judge
KEY was, during the wsr an officer Of
one of the regiments Of STEvENsON's
division, and it WAS presumed that he
would DO gratiGed to have tho opportu'
nifty Of conterring favor upon an old
comrade and at the same time securing
for an office the services Of one so thor
oughly comprehensive was ito the
manner born" and so Acceptable to the
people who were to be served. Gen.
STEVENSON waited upon the Postmaster
General, and made known to him his
wish to have the postotice OF his native
town. That official told him substantial
" that it WAS known to the
department that there were complaints
OF the management of the oftice,-thst 1t
would soon be vacant,-thst the appoint
ment would be made by the President,
that he would like to see him have 1t,
and would do all he could to secure the
place for him. Upon being asked By Gen.
STEVENSON whether it was necessary for
him TO receive the endorsement of the
Virginia delegation, he replied that
it was not, this. he knew him
quite well, and knew that he was in sll
respects qualified for the place but that
it might be we'll to obtain the endorse
meut of some army officers. a petition
for the appointment of General 5.
signed by many-no doubt, a large ma
ioriLy-,ft the best citizens of FredriCks-
burg. was, however, presented to Judge
KEY. General SHERMAN, General (Sen-
ator) Burnside, observation-disclosures
nor ROBINSON, of New York, the Vir-
gina delegation, and many other proml-
nent gentlemen in and out of Congress
and of both political parties, endorsed
General STEVENSON cordially and urged
strongly his appointment. HIS tes-
timonials were sll laid be-
fore the Postmaster-Genersl, who
was urged from time to time to present
Thorn to the President, and promised
time and again to do so and still with
held them.
For more than six months after
WoLTz's irregularities were known to the
Postmaster General, he was retained in
the Office, and he would have been there
still had he not resigned under very pecu-
har circumstances He was unable or
unwilling to pay the sum for which he
was IN default, and it was agreed be-
tween him and PRITCHARp (who
WAS surety on his bond), and with the
knowledge Of KY, that WOLTZ should
resign, PRITCHARD should pay his deficit
and then be appointed to the office and
reimburse himself out Of the salary. THIS
agreement was carried out. Before the
scheme was hllly contaminated, General
STEVENSON WAS advised SIS to what was
goirg on. He stated to KEY that WoLTz
had resigned, and asked if there was
any further obstacle 10 his appointment
He received su evSsive reply, and in s
few days the name Of PRITCHARD was
sent to the Senate Thus citizen of |
Washington is TO become postmaster of
FredrlCksburg-tha the delinquencies |
OF Rsdicsl official may be concealed |
and the surety on his bond be reimbursed.
All Of these facts have been
made known to the Senate Committee
and we trust that this proposed iniquity
NAV be prevented by the prompt re-
lection of nomination. When Judge
X KY became member of HAYES csbl-
net our faith in his Democracy, to say
the least, was shaken. We were unable
10 appreciate the statement of his spolo-
gists that he consented to accept the posi-
ion in order that he might benefit his
Southern friends. We believed then,
rs We believe now, that he accepted