The National tribune., 1883-11-29


An Extract from Letter Written sy Samuel
Bright, Of the Post-Odies Department at Wash
ingt0a, TO Isaac Williamson, Of Angola
FFons G.o stsl,5sa CogEty Journal
In several OF the recent issues Of the RsDuB-
Hcas, newspaper, of Steuben county, Indianal
l have noticed, greatly to my surprise,
some very severe structures on Gen. Gresham
in regard to the dismissal OF Paul Van Der
WORT 1t is q fact, evidently unknowa TO tue
editors of the Republican,, that Mr. Van Der
WORT was dismissed FOR cause, and it Is not
likely that he viii be Teinstated into
the position from which be was dismissed
unless the cause for his dismissal is re-
moved, even though the entire press Of tho
country should unite in one continuous
and rabid denunciation Of the Postmaster Gien-
eral printed in stereotype, and illuminated
with the variegated cOlOrs Of the rainbow 10
is generally known throughout the country.
and no one in Washington connected with the
Post Office Department has the least doubt ON
the subject, that Walter @ Gresham, An hon
est, fearless, and capable man, IS Postmaster
General. Judge Gresham, as wei as the chief
clerk, 8Ir. Chas. NJ. Walker, has labOFed assidu-
ously II pGrgiug the service, and n removing
men who had alike been unfaithful and dis
honest in the discharge of their public trusts.
A few months ago one Of the best paid clerks
in the Department was peremptOrily dismissed,
and have failed TO notice bis Feappointnen5 in
any Of the other Departments. 1t was ascertain
ed that this clerk was IN completely with pub
fishing firm doing printing for the Department..
This gentleman had beer reveling for some
time in his luxurious little scheme, apparently
as secure and secluded as young rat in IN old
cheese, but, when confronted with the evil
denee of his perfdity, he was glad enough to
be retired with no other ehastisement than the
stigma Of a dismissal from the public service.
In another instance clerk Of the third class
found himself very much irEitated because the
Postmaster General would not continue his sal
airy OF 81, 600 per annHm while he was engaged
III building q very fine mansion. Months be-
fore his dismissal this gentleman had business
outside Of bis Office which engaged his time
and attention TO the detriment Of the public
business. I might cite other cases, but let this
suffice Tor the present.
ANOTHER LIE
| It is a matter of record that Mr.. Van Der
WORT was not only negligent il the discharge
! Of duties, but many Of the papers requiring the
authenticity of his signature were forward 4
/ TO the Department without such signature.
/ Mr.. Van Dervoort not being in Omaha to sign
/ the papers when his deputy. if he had one,
| forwarded them to Washington He admits
/ that at times he was absent from his office, but
/ his claim that it was on business in connection
| with the Railway Postal Service is not anthem
/ tieated by the superintendent OF his section,
4 JdtLc2 nAtS VI Dl " III AAADt4lt -sttiAs
/ ESQ, General Superintendent OF the Railway
Postal Service OF the United States. At the
/ time that notice Of his removal was sent 70 bin
/ at Omaha Neb Mr. Van DervOort was Ut Soda
/ Springs, Idaho. where he had been for moro
| than a month before the notice was sent he
was at Soda Springs, | am informed by COM
petent authority, Tor the benefit and recreat ION
of Paul Van DervOort, and not on business con-
nected with the Railway Postal Service Of his
section Mr. Van DeFy00rt must obtain credi5
| for being smart. intelligent and IN every way
competent, as he was an eighteen hundred
dollar clerk, yet he could hardly afford TO defy
the civil service law TO the extent of tT0 han
dred aBd siTtg.irs days IN enc gear, aad hope 70
/ retain his elerkShip. There IS not business
house IN the world that Would tolerate such
an extreme privilege. ] am sorry to see the
Republican, hitherto one of the best edited
papers in northern Indiana, sinking itself 70
the level of a eauseless and chronic iault-hnder-
/ am fully persuaded TO believe, however, that
Messrs Burnham and Wood are not in posses
sion of the record of 5Ir. Van Dervoort rs far
as the discharge Of duties in the line Of his
clerkship were concerned; otherwise they
would hardly venture to put forth the follow
ing paragraph, which I found in the Regzi5hcgs
of the 9TH inst. and herewith inelOse, as it may
have escaped your notice:
Postmaster General Gresham has refused to
take any further action in Paul Van DervOOTt 3
case. and leaves that gentleman under stigma Of
dismissal from Office when every charge has been
disprOyed. It Is a shame, and stamps Gresham,
instead Of being the fair, honorable his friends
thought him, egotistical- bull-headed officer,
| who has not the courage manhood to seSnOwt-
edge that he has done wrong, and do justice 70 q
brave soldier and faithful public servant. tIresn-
am ought to resign and hide his head Dismiss
from Office a eomFade in without cause and
refuse TO renstate because itwoud be acSnowlesig-
ing that he was wrong and hasty Gresham Is
I evidently too big for his place, and not Van Der
| WORT
Ny information is based upon undou5ted
authority that 8lr. Van DervOoTt was repeat
edIy reprimanded by his superior officers for
neglecting his duties, and that he had been re-
ported to The Department for dismissal long beors
Judge GRESHAM became Postmaster General