The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-03
AS PURE AS MARY'S LAMB.
Postal Clerks Who Think that Superin-
tcndent French Has Been Maligned.
An Effort Made to Refute Mr.. Estes'S State
ment-The Defense Experiencing No
Trouble in Finding Witnesses.


morning. The first witness examined was Ben
jamin Eaton, of Crestlne, o., who appeared as
one of the committee appointed to represent the
postal clerks of the Fort Wayne road. He had
signed and circulated petition in Mr. French's
favor, and but two clerks had refused to sign it.
He did not mean to say that he had not heard
some complaints against Mr.. French
Marshall jackson, of Crestline O., did not
think Mr.. French demanded anything more than
was required by the good of the service; that
Mr.. French is fair and impartial He, too was
one of the Fort Wayne committee which repre-
sents thirty three out of thirty-fve men. Re
garded Mr.. French as an honest, competent
humane and just official
George c. Mann, of Chicago, and S. B. Shanks
of Cincinnati gave similar testimony.
NJ. II. Hutton. of Richmond, Ind, did not
think Mr.. French tyrannical. Was acquainted
with Boyd and Vance, and had heard them talk
about Mr. French. Did not think they belonged
to the class of men who would complain without
cause.
George M. DERRICK testified that he had known
Mr.. French several years Did not, so far as he
was concerned, think he showed favoritism, and
was not tyranicaL Thought men were promoted
humane and impartial On cross examination
admitted that he had heard postal clerks com
plain of Mr. French.
Three other witnesses gave testimony that
Mr.. French, so far as they were concerned, was
honest, humane, efficient and impartial, and did
not exhibit favoritism.
Henry j. Wiper testified that he lived in Gin
cinnati. Had been in the railway mail service
since the spring of 1879 The weighing was he
thought, honestly and fairly done. No unusual
amount of supply material passed over the road
during weighing time. No clerks of the same
assignment were required to do more or different
work than other clerks of the same assignment
Mr. French, in his opinion, never reqired any
thing not demanded by the postal regulations
Thought that Mr.. French endeavored to accom-
modate the men in making their near
their home as possible, when it could be done
Has asked favors of Mr. French himself and
they have been granted. Does not think Mr.
French discrlminates against soldiers Efficiency
and merit govern in the promotions on the road
Have understood that Mr. French was always
ready to forward statements of clerks to Wash
ington in regard to remission of fines His ac-
quaintance with Mr.. French, however was a
limited one. Think him an honest and compe-
tent official and humane man.
Thomas j. Fulton, who lives in Cincinnati
and has been in the railway postal service nearly
twenty years, gave testimony of about the same
import. He did not think that Mr. French
overworked the men. He always grants leaves
of absence in ease of sickness of employees and of
members Of employees family. Do not think Mr..
French exhibits favoritism.
Question-Do you know Mr. Anderson and
Mr. Little? Anything about their record! Oh
jected to by Mr.. Duncan.
Mr.. Spahr-I wanted to show that these men
had all the qualities necessary to promotion
cept Mr. Frenchs favor and yet men were pro
noted over them,
President Jones decided the question to be
irrelevant.
Thomas Bradford, who lives at Columbus, o.
and has been in the railway postal service nine
teen years. testified. The same points were
gone over as with the two preceding witnesses,
with like result. Thinks he treats the men
fairly. This witness disproved the matters set
forth in the affidavit of Ferd. Hausman.
0. w. Miles of Logansport, who runs from
that place to Columbus o., thought MIR. French
amiable and courteous, honest and efficient, and
the weighings on his route as they were'nade by
himself (witnessl were honestly DONE Did not
think Mr.. French showed favo1itism.
Question: want to ask you how often you
have been examined since you have been in the
service. OBJECTED to-. Ny object is to show
that this witness has only been examined twice
in ten years. Question ruled out by the com
mission.
C E. Frey formerly in the mail service. now
keeping hotel at Anderson, Ind, said he handled
Memphis mail in 1881. Mail was sent north dur
ing the floods and the yellow fever epidemic
Thought the weighing of mail honestly and
properly done.
Nashville, Tenn. formerly in the railway postal
service, then took the stand. He was called for
the purpose of refuting the testimony of Shelah
Waters, of Nashville and denied all the material
statements of the former witness.
H. B. jerks Of Louisville, Ky. chief clerk at
that point, testified He occupied his present
position since Aug. 81 1874 Thinks Mr. French
gentlemanly and pleasant to the men. Thinks
that the government not Mr. French overworks
the men, and does not pay enough money
for the service. The work is increasing.
The annual increase of work since 1879 is ID
per cent while the increase in force is about
per cent Mr. French is not responsible for
the scarcity of men, but Congress, that does
not give money sufficient to employ men re-
quired. Furnished passes not only to Mr..
French's witnesses to attend this investigation,
but to those who came against him. The order
posted on the book at Louisville had been done
without Mr.. French's knowledge and with the
knowledge of Superintendent Thompson to
whom he (Jenks) had written about it.
This witnesses attendance was for the purpose
of disprovng the statements made by j. F.
Estes who attributed his removal to Mr. French
and who after two months stay at Washington
and full showing of his case, was reinstated IN
the service by Postmaster general Gresham.
L. c. Warner, of Lexington, whom Mr.. Estes
said had told him (EstesJ that jerks had said:
Nov we French and jerks know where he
Estes wants to be; d-n him, we'll put him
where he doesn't want TO be-" testified that no
such conversation had taken place. He had
never heard Mr. jerks or any one use the Ian
guage in question.
Mr.. jerks was recalled and testified that q. o.
King was discharged from the service for drunk
enness and an indecency committed in the Louis
vile postoffice while intoxicated, fact known
to Mr.. Tuley of the commission.
Frank Lindsay, c. F. Morton and George W.
Ware, all now in the service and all clerks in
charge, testified favorably to Mr. French.
The commission adjourned until to-day at 10
o'clock.