The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-25
sO-CALLED INVESTIGATION,

sO-CALLED INVESTIGATION.
Unless all signs fail, the proposed 'fnvesti-
cation" into the the conduct Of c. Jay French,
superintendent of this division of the railway
mail service. will be the most dismal and alb
surd farce of the season. A Washington
special announcing the appointment of the
commission of investigation says:
''The disgruntled employees in the postal
service, and others who have been discharged
in the fifth division, which comprises the
States of Ohio, Indiana Kentucky and Ten
nessee have combined 60 fill the newspapers
with charges and their members of Congress
with stories concerning Colonel c. Jay French,
superintendent of railway mail service. These
charges and rumors have been investigated by
the department and found to be without
foundation; but the Postmaster general has
determined to silence all clamor by ordering
board to be composed of the postmasters of
indianapolis, Columbus, o., Louisville Ky,
and Peru, Ind, to convene at Indianapolis at
an early day, to investigate such charges as
may be presented for their consideration. All
persons who have been circulating stories OF
favoritism and cruelty are expected to present
their proofs. The department has the utmost
confidence in Colonel French, who is regarded
as model 0t1cef.
Whether this special represents the feeling
of the Postoffce Department or not we do not
know but it assumes to- qr Il. C NJ.
both
II.
An interview is also published with Captain
J. E. White, Of Chicago the superintendent
of the sixth division, which opens as follows: "a
g Z regard Colonel French as a very ener-
getic, honest, and faithful officer, and a gem
tleman, and believe he is doing all he can to
ward giving the public a good mail SERVICE ..
:" What do you think Of the fight now. be-
ing made against himP
-'''I am sorry to see it, as, in my Judgment
he should be sustained by the clerks under
him, and if they will obey his orders cheer,
fully and give him their hearty support it
will be better for the service more pleasant
for themselves and the public. y"
Now, without any reference whatever to
the possible merits of the complaints against
Mr. French which are deemed important
enough to summon half-dozen frst-class
postmasters from their duties to investigate,
we submit that these statements show that
the result will be the ''vindicaton' of Mr.
French, and the punishment, sooner or later,
of those clerks who may be timorous enough
to say word against him. Such an 'finvesti-
cation" is worse than farce, and should be
stopped before it is commenced. If the Post
Office Department has once investigated the
charges, and still regards Mr.. French as "a
odd al off + &c O 70 Of IF
time, and will inevitably tend to the degrade
ton of the service, to have another Finvesti-
cation" entered into, the end of which can be
so clearly foreshadowed from the beginning
When these charges first began to circulate
against Mr.. French, the Journal was inclined
to favor the superintendent; but facts have
been reported to us upon evidence we regard
as entirely reliable, which lead us to think
that, if Mr. French be not unfit for his
position, his removal to another field, and his
complete separation from those over whom he
has exercised authority for so long time, is
absolutely essential for the good of the service.
Mr.. French may be regarded as "a model Of
ficer" in Washington but it is nevertheless
true, as a general proposition, that there is
something wrong with any man exercising
supervisory power when a large majority of
his subordinates are dissatisfied with him.
Power may be so exercised as to win the re-
spect, and the regard even, of those over whom
it is used. Mr. French has not done this; on
the contrary he is not on good terms with,
and has not the respect of, large number of
the clerks subordinate to him.
But, as we have said, whatever the facts
may or may not be, the expressions we have
quoted are proof positive that the proposed
Investigation" can be nothing but sham,
and this without any reflection upon the gen
tlemen composing the commission Notice
has been served in advance upon the dis
gruntled clerks in this division that the au-
thorities regard Mr. French as "a model off
Ger, and it is not hard to see that the men
classed as ''disgruntled" will speedily pass
into the other discharged they
shall dare lay their profane touch upon this
''model" official, AS Captain White puts it,
it will be fmore pleasant" for the clerks if
they will obey Mr.. Frenchs "orders" without
further question.
THE soldiers monument is assured, if the