Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-11
THE FEDERAL CONTEST.
The War Between the Postmaster and
Surveyor Goes Bravely On-"Fair
Play, On the POstofice Interview.
To The Editor ofthe Reoister

The War Between the Postmaster and
Surveyor Goes Bravely On-"Fair
Play" On the POstofiice Iaterview.
To the Editor Qfthe Register.
This mornings issue contains an inter
view with the postoflice officials upon the
subject of your Washington special of yes
terday relative to the surveyorship contest
and difficulties said to exist between the
present encumbent OF that Office and the
Postmaster. 1t seems from this article that
the postofiice officials went for the
surveyor rough shod, and rakcd him fore
and aft. And it is charged that while the
surveyor is strict business man, and runs
his office like clock work, he is an unpleas
ant man 10 deal with. Then follows an
explanation OF what has been rmed the
Mendel bill and the discrepancy OF eight
dollars and some cents is said to have been
caused by the purchase OF heavier piece
of gum for the stamping table than was
originally intended. This is an easy, and
apparently a satisfactory, explaha,
with discussion. lprcSume, moreover, the
of such a state of facts, but would have seen
that the proper gum and the additional
expense were al once provided for. Ihls
is inferred from their endorsement oil him
as strict business man.
Some time ago the writer WAS made
acquainted with circumstances which
enable him to say that the above eXpana-
ton is uatrue. And out of justice to the
surveyor ii seems but fair that the impress
sion made upon the readers OF that report
ed interview should be corrected by q
truthful statement,
Some months ago The Postmaster desired
repairs and new furniture for his rooms.
According to the regulations OF his depart
ment, the Surveyor is required to get spec
iiications oil just what work is desired, and
q list of the furniture needed. He is then
required to get bids accordingly
submit them to the Secretary Of the
Treasury. II the bids are satisfactory,
the Secretary notifies the surveyor which
one has been accepted, and authorizes ,.. the
chase furniture i'll exact accordance with
the accepted bid. When the work has been
done and the articles furnished, 1t becomes
the surveyors duty to forward vouchers
for settlement. These vouchers or
bills are exact copies of the accepted bid,
and the surveyor is required to certify on
their face that the work has been performed
and the articles furnished in accordance
with the secretary's letter authorizing the
same. The creditor acknowledges payment
upon the vouchers, they are forwarded to
Washington and check or draft for the
amount of the bill is returned to the sur
yeyOr, who then transfers 1t to the proper
party.
In the case before u.s. however, after
authority was obtained for certain work
and articles of furniture at certain prices,
the postmaster proceeded apparently with.
out regard to the authority and changed
the purchases to suit himself. Articles
were bought at greater prices than those
authorized. others at less, and some things
not gotten at all. The result OF it all was
that there was balance due from the
United States over and above the am cunt
authorized: while the bill as il appeared
on Mendel d Co. S books was so widely diff
ferent in the items from the bill ordered
as to be unrecognizable. When the bill
was rendered it wss exactly the same as
was authorized, and upon being certified as
correct by Col. Sterling, it was in turn en-
dorscd By the surveyor, who then forward
cd il to his department, and in due time
the bill was paid and the account closed.
II appears that the surveyor was kept
ignorant of all this change. and not until
his attention was called TO this uneKpect-
ed balance did he examine into the matter.
Col. Sterling was asked about this balance,
and said there was none, and that the
amount in question was his own private
debt. Later on he desired TO have this
same sum refunded TO him by the Govern
mcnt, rs an expense incurred by him on
the Governments account. y, lnconsist-
ency, thou art laughable.
Now upon this state Of facts the officials
interviewed by your reporter say there is
nothing in the Mendel bill except the ad-
ditional eight dollars and sixty-five cents
for a piece of gum. Probably that was
good piece OF gum.
The writer does not know what Col.
Sterling's motive was in this transaction.
He may and may not have known
he was doing questionable
thing and one that would be
hard to satisfactorily explain. But
from his not having MeDdel 4 Co. make
out their bill as stated upon their books, but
the contrary, from his carefulness that the
bill rendered should be the same as the bill
authorized. he has thrown the inference
necessarily against him. Men seldom de-
ceiye unless something is to be gained by
the deception.
The writer is loathe to place Col. Sterling
in an unhappy predicament, and he IS
equally indisposed to permit Col. Sterling
to place another person in a like fix. For 1t
appears that the surveyor has merely proved
himself strict business man, and has done
nothing more nor less than his duty. The
papers in this case, rs shown TO the
writer some time since, make
il absolutely impossible for the
defense to establish what was set forth in
the interview. And it certainly appears
very singular and shoEt-sighted in them
10 attempt to get rid OF the matter in
that way. II Colonel Sterling has
acted in 4 manner which he we'll
knows will commend him to his
feIlow-citizens. why should he attempt
TO pooh pooh the affair and blind US by
mis-statem ent. The surveyor for his part
feel quite confident, hos no other desire
in the matter than TO clear himself OF any
compliCity in what might seem to Others
suspicious transaction
The fact of the matter is. however, that
the business upon its face has q very un-
savory hook: and do not think 1t would be
a credit 20 anybody b be party TO such
seemingly crooked, knotty and politically
uncfean measures. The manner in which
this business was handled is very sug-
gestiye Ii was q departure from
what was strictly right. whether for an inn
pure purpose or not. 1t was step IN the
wrong direction. Many Of the most gigan-
tic swindles upon cur Government are per.
petrated in Just this way. And in view oil
the investigations that are constantly going
on into affairs of Just the same nature as
those now under discussion, it certainly
bebooyes Us as citizens to be on our guard
We may not believe that in the case IN
Question there is as much to suggest
criminal intention as in other eases. We
may not believe that Col. Sterling conid
have anything to gain by such conduct
but this we do belieye-tnat crookednes:
and deception, in matterA of this kind es
peciaiiy. bode no good; for deception Is th'
CLOAK OF corruption, FAB rLAt'