Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-27
R RefGrn in the Post Office Deparf.
meHt.

REMOVAL OF CHIEF CLERK FRENCH,
AS foreshadoWed in Tbs STAR Of yesterday
Postmaster General James yesterday afternoon
requested the resignation OF Mr.. T. L. French,
the CHIEF clerk In the office OF the Second As.
sistant Postmaster General Mr. French asked
for specific reasons as to why ne was asked to
resign and refused to comply with such req ie.t
unless they were forthcoming. The PosJmas-
ter General told him 1t would then be necessary
TO remove him. Nevertheless Nj. French r.
fused TO resign. Accordingly his removal was
ordered and his dismissal was sent though ire
mail last night and received by Mr.. French tbs
MT Henry d. Lyman was appointed Chief clerk
Of the office, and Is to-day acting as Sec mi
Assistant Postmaster General
Mr.. FRENCHS RECORD.
The Post Office department officials do not
cay whether there are any charges against MI
French. he had been up till yesterday about
fifteen years In the Post Office department. in
ole capacity or another, and held the chisf
clerkshtp. from which he was removed for
several years. The Postmaster General In re-
moving him seems to have acted upon the the
CRY that Ii Mr.. French was not cogniZ Int Of tia
star route frauds he must have certainly beea a
very poor Chief clerk, and the time had come to
get better one. One charge made quietly
against him, but not by the Postmaster Gen.
eral, is That he was the agent for q life insur-
aDce company. and that nearly all the star
route Contractors were induced through him TO
Insure their lives. Mr.. French is an Ohio 10 N
and strangely enough
HIS SUCCESSOR, Mr.. LYMAN,
also halls from that prolific state Upto q re-
cent period Mr.. Lyman held an important desk
In the depreciation division OF the Post OFF 20
department.. from which he resigned on the
first OF the present month. Although quite a
young man, he has an excellent record as a
man and public official.
TEE POSTMASTER GENERAL WANTS CLEAN DE-
PARTMENT.
a In
his attempt to purity his department, INDUCES
In any scandal against anybody. On the sub
ject OF the pending investigation OF his Office
lie Is extremely ret1cent "What want" sad
lie, 'is clean department"-and he will have
IL.
Since the publications touching the star-route
scandals lie has been OveTWhei lined with per
sonal letters. Many OF these are from persons
who claim TO be cognlzant OF slar-r0ute frauds,
ton.
NIB. FRENCHs STATEMENT.
Mr. French, according to an interview In the
republican, declined to tender his resignation
at once, but said to the Postmaster General
81 desire to ask II you viii grant NE
until to EorroW morning before make
answer to your request, as / would ike
to reply In writing" Special Agent Woodwari
then turned to the Postmaster General, who
was In the room and said, '' Do you think thai
man is fit to remain who has for four or
twelve years been the second officer In the con.
tract Office, and has seen the extravaganza and
fraud going on during this time and not report
ed IL TO the Postmaster General or the PreSt-
dent?" ] then said to the Postmaster Genera,
AS understand 1t, sir, the acts OF that Office,
so lar as relate TO increase OK compensation Or
expedition OF the service, depend upon the
judgment and discretion OF the Second Assist
ant Postmaster General, and 1t is his judgment
that is now impugned. for there is no charge CT
any nlegality, Is tnere?' Mr.. James responded
NO, Sir; everything has been done legally; Tue
que forms OF law have been all observed" 1
then said, Then, Sir, this matter rested solely
upon the judgment OF, and was under the con-
troll OF, the Second Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral, who was at the head OF the contract
Office" Mr.. James then said, Don't you know
tnat a great many of these expeditions were
entirely UNIV arranted?" l said 10 him, II dI1
not not come here, sir, to pass upon this Question"
and said, "Do you pretend to say that yoa
Could sit idly by and see the government money
sqaende: ed, and not report the facts to the
Pos tmaster General or the President?'' ~ do,
subordinate, to exercise control In this matter"
/ then asked again II could have until to-
morrow morning 10 consider the subject OF my
resignation. The Postmaster General informed
me that the answer would pe given me in I'VE
minutes went to my room, and l suppose
that in about five minutes was sent for again.
and upon going to the POstmaster-General'S
room | found that the executive session was
over and the doors were opened. also found,
beside Ihose who were present at the first inter-
view, his other secretary and stranger, whom
l di0 not know. Mr.. James said to me, 1--WE
have considered the matter and flnd that We
cannot grant you the time. We must have
your resignation at once" Then" said l. Il
Will lot give it. l Will not go out of my own
accord under circumstances that Will bring
stain upon my character. II there are any
charges against me, desire an opportunity TO
meet them fully. 'Then." said Mr.. James, 81
shall have to give the order to Mr.. Vose. the
appointment clerk, for your removal" "very
well, sir, said l. 1 waited In my room until
after four O'Clock, but the dismissal did NOT