The National tribune., 1883-09-20
Let Lnsfice Re nonet


from the position of chief clerk of the Rail
way Mail Service at Omaha, Neb. In another
column, this week, over his own signature,
appears Comrade Van Dervoorts reply to
this statement. 1t viii be seen that Com
rade Van Dsrvoort joins issue squarely with
the Department as to the facts which it cites
in justification of its action. Let us glance
at these points of difference a moment.
The Department charges
First That Comrade Van Dervoort was
absent from his post during the past year
about two hundred and sixty-five days, to
to the neglect of his official duties. Com
rade Van Dervoort does not deny the fact
Of this absence, but he does assert and he
offers the proof, that during the period of
Postmaster-General Howe's term and up
TO the time of his death, he was so absent
with the full knowledge and consent of the
Department After the death of General
Howe be was not permitted to draw pay
while absent from his post, but his move
Department. 1t is true that upon his return
from California the amount to which he
would have been entitled had he remained
at his post during that time, was deducted
from his pay, but the fact that he received no
intimation from the Department that his alb
sence was disapproved, shows conclusively
that it was at least tolerated by the Post
master General.
Second: To the charge that he neglected
his duties, leaving them to be attended to
"almost entirely by his clerk" Comrade
Van Dervoort replies that he was author
lied by Postmaster-General Howe to assign,
and did so assign, competent person to
discharge his duties during his absence.
Third: To the charge that he made false
daily reports from Omaha, when he was not
in fact at his Office there, he replies that as a
matter of fact he made daily reports to the
Department from the points which he visited
during his Grand Army trips, and notified
it of the exact time given TO Grand Army
work, in order that it might make the
proper reduction from his salary for the time
SO spent.
Fourth: To the charge that he was or
dered by his Division Superintendent
(White) to return to Omaha and resume
work there Immediately after the adjourn
ment of the Denver Encampment, he replies
that Superintendent White never gave him
any such instructions.
Fifth: To the charge that while at Soda
Springs, Idaho, he falsely reported himself
at Omaha doing Office work, he replies, that
at the close of the Denver Encampment he
went to Idaho for the purpose of putting
mail service on the Oregon Short Line Rail-
road by the personal order of his immediate
superior, Division Superintendent White !;
that while engaged in this work Mr. White
met him by appointment and person
/ ally instructed him as to what was
/ to be done; that he faithfully carried
out Mr. Whites instructions, and was
enabled, through the investigations which
he instituted, TO make recommendations to
the Department, that if adopted, would
effect material saving to the Government
that during all the time he vi rs with Mr.
White that gentleman made no complaint
Whatever of the manner in Which he was
attending to his duties, nor called him tc
account for any breach of ordeIs. Indeed
when he returned to Omaha upoa the com.
pleti0n of his work in connectic n with the
Oregon Short-Line Railroad, he received an
order directing him to call upon the man
ager of the Union Pacific Railway at once
and arrange a matter of busin ess for tht
Department, showing that up t. that mo
ment there was nothing whatever in tn,
correspondence or conversation that hat
passed between himself and Superintendent
White that would lead him to suppose tha
he had in any way given cause for dissatis
faction on the part of his superiors.
In conclusion, Comrade Van Dervoor
points out that, without having receives
any notice whatever that the manner il
which he had discharged his duties wa
; disapproyed by the Department, he wa
confronted, upon returning to resume tn
routine duties of his Office, by substitut
armed with telegraphic orders to tax
charge of his Office. Other notice c
his removal by the Department, or of tn
grounds upon which that removal was based
he received none whatever.
Now, as between the statement prepares
and sent out through the country by th
Post Office Department and this counter
statement from Comrade Van Dervoort, IS
shall not, in advance of such full and irI
partial investigation Of the facts as viii affor
both sidee an opportunity to present thei
! evidence, undertake to say which, il
: our opinion, is false and which is true
but we do say that it is a shame an