The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-16
COMPLAINING OF THE CHIEF.
Aggrieyed Postal Clerks Continue to
Make 1t Pleasant for Col. French.
The Commission Informed of Numerous In
stances of Injustice to SubOrdinates-An
Affidavit from Dead Clerks Brother.

The French investigation was continued yes
terday morning. The first witness called was
Dan w Knefer, postal clerk, residing in this
city, This witness spoke of having recently had
a conversation with Postmaster general Gresh-
am, and at the latter's request gave that official
some information regarding Mr. French. Mr..
Knefer stated that he began as fourth grade
clerk at 5000 year, and shortly afterward was
detailed as third clerk without increase of pay
The May following was detailed as second clerk,
in which position ran for fifteen or sixteen
months before receiving the pay due the grade
in which he worked. Asked Mr.. Palmer, head
clerk in this city, why did not get that pay,
and he said it made no difference whether got
it or not, that 1 would spend it, anyhow. While
running as second clerk, Charles Halderman, of
Roam, was appointed and detailed as a clerk of
the fourth-class. He came here and was assigned
as clerk of my grade In less than
year, while I was receiving lower pay, Mr..
Halderman was made head clerk at the pay Of
81, 300 year. l thought that my examinations
and my car record entitled me, if the others were
passed by there were seven of us) to that
place. On the 9Th of January 1882, the East
division day line, which we connected with from
the west, was very late coming into 1ndianapo
lis. recorded my departure from this point.
We arrived at St Louis about noon, and found
double mail from the west We Immediately
went to work on that mail. l recorded my de-
parture from st. Louis. We got in here in the
morning, after having been at work almost con-
tinuousy for twenty four hours, and failed to
record my arrival here was very tired, from
fha "a 7 bo5 Do1o
head clerk at the depot, informed me that he
very sorry that he had to mark me up for not
signing; that Mr.. Orr had not gone out the day
before at ALL and that he could not be punished
any more than mo greater than mine i'm
mediately wrote to Mr.. French, stating all the
circumstances, and telling him it was
my first offense; that I had not been
reprimanded in two years and half,
and asked him if he would not
recommend that get that pay back. I never
heard anything from Mr.. French. wrote to
Mr.. Peelle congressman and he wrote to Gen
eralsuperintendent Thompson, who said the in
nocent must suffer with the guilty alike I am
going to get that 1920. will bring suit in the
Court of Claims when 1 leave the service, if
ever quit it and get out alive. 1 mean to say
overwork and mental strain, to register one time
out of four, the record shows that I made the
trip.
Mr.. Wildman-What is your complaint as to
Mr.. Frenchs favoritism.
Witness-In making me do the work of an upper
grade for more than year for lower grade pay
and in promoting man over me and giving him
the full pay
Mr.. Wildman-You were promoted over Mr..
Vance.
Witness-f you consider promotion without
pay, l was; but do not consider it promotion
unless the pay accompanies it. also hold that
Mr.. French should have answered my communi-
cations and 1 would like to have him tell me
now why he did not 1 would not have made
this statement at all, but thought it due to the
members of this commission 1t is but a re-
hearsal Of what l stated to Postmaster general
Gresham in answer to a question asked by him.
John Baker recalled:
Mr. Spahr, to witness-I desire to ask if dur
ing your term of service you ever made applica-
ton to the Vandalia for pass
Mr.. Jones, president of commission interrupt
ing-We have nothing to do with the pass bust
ness.
Mr.. Spahr-I desire to know if Mr. French
controls the railroads of this part of the country
President Jones-We have no authority to go
will you hear testimony this subject of rail
road passes2
Mr. Reed-One thing we have to hear is the
charge of weighing mail The matter of passes
l do not understand to be a matter for this com
mission.
Mr.. Spahr-I desire to show that witness made
application for pass at the Vandalia office, in
this city, and that he was told if he would give
letter from French it would be granted cheer
fully.
George W. Lambert-Reside in vigo county,
Indiana. ten miles from Terre Haute. Was in
the Union army, in the Fourteenth Indiana,
three years. and in the State service two or
three months Am now a clerk in the railway
postal service. Been in railway postal service
nearly fifteen years. When first entered was APP
pointed route agent between Terre Haute and
st. Louis. The line was afterwards extended to
Indianapolis. In 1872 was made chief head clerk
in this city, at that time in Mr.. Whites division.
He gave me charge of lines running into Indian
apolis, and, in fact, nearly all lines in Indiana.
1 was required to oversee everything and report
to him. This went on for two years, until Ohio
and Indiana were taken out of Mr.. Whites di-
vision and a new division made, with Mr.. French
as superintendent. l still acted as chief clerk
under Mr.. French for while We got along
well at first. He soon began bearing down upon
me and making things burdensome. He In,11ff;+1 me
trotting over the division One week | was at
Pittsburg labelling cars. could not do enough
work for him. ] worked from A. M. till 10 and
II at night. One hundred and thirty men
were running in here, and he required me
to make four or five examinations a day
in addition to the Office work and
other work necessary for a chief clerk to
look after | wanted him to give me
a man to help me, and he said he could not.
There was then no telephone to assist in this
work 1.-THE witness detailed further expressions
and exactions, concluding that it was Mr..
French's intent to force him out Mr.. French
found schedule arranged from here to Pitts
burg one round trip and rest day. This
seemed to suit the men very we'll, as it gave
very mad about it; trip and trip off he said it
should be protested. He said it was none of
my business, trip on and trip off was his way.
He one day told me what his object was By
getting men to run trip on and trip off he would
compel men who lived along the road to move
here Said that you'd get them away from
nnlitioal Influence and they could be more