Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-07-24
LETTER TO AS6lSTANT POST.
MASTER GENERAL.
The following letter We publish by re-

/ Elk CITY, IDAHO Co, 1T, }
| April 80, 1884.
To Second Assistant Postmaster Gen
eroi, Washington, ID. c.:
Shin your letter of March II,
1881, received some time ago, you say
an order has been issued to pay j. c.
Young S 3. go for temporary service from
July 1T to July Is, 1883, on route No.
~, 1913, from Elk City to Clearwater;
also as the sub-con,raetor. Il. H. Codcr
was ready to begin service July IL, 1884
and there was no necessity for temporary
service on said route, there was no war
rant OF law for service by the temporary
carrier after said date, and the depart
ment therefor paid E. Ii. Coder for ser.
vice from said date and cannot now pay
a. Young. In reply to your letter |
will be as brief as possible. Some time
in June 1888, | received a letter
from the Second Assistant Postmaster
General authorizing me lin case OF
failure of the contractor to employ
service On route ~, 1873, from Elk City
to Clearwater, for a sum not to exceed
81 900 per annum. Not hearing from
the contractor | employed j. c. Young OF
Elk City, for the sum Of $500 per annum,
OF which gave due notice. +. Ii. Coder
was working for me at the time mining
and continued to work for me ap to July
81, 1888, for which he received 50 per
day j. {. Young had made three week
~ trips before H. II. Codcr or | heard
word from the contractor After July
2lst +. Ii. Cod had to 90 to his home,
"A distance of over 80 miles, and have his
bonds made out and did not return and
demand the mail until July 30, 1888.
| told him | could not give him the mail
until | had orders from the Postoffice
Department to do So which orders came
in telegram dated at Washington, d.
g., August 18th and received at Lewis.
ton August ID, 1888, giving me orders
to deliver the mail to contractors agent
+. ii. Coder, route 2,l53, Elk City to
Clearwater On his demand, | strictly
complied with the orders, as | can prove
by William Grotts, to whom | gave the
mail on an order from Il. II. Cod,r. You
will see by my monthly reports j. C.
Young carried the mail for the months
Of July and August, and William Grotts
for the month Of September 1888 and
ii. c. Slavens as contractor in the last
named month. According to all law and
usages the contractor forfeited his con-
tract also laid himself liable to damages
In the name of common sense how was
| to know if your department was going
to restore the contract to II. G. Shvens,
or retain j. Z. Young, who had been to
the expense of fitting up to carry the
mail! Ii 1t Is your intention to rob j. G. |
Young OF money honestly earned, it is
my intention that you shall not do so.
If ). Z. Young S money is not forthcom-
ing in reasonable time, as soon as con
venent, | will order the arrest and pros
! ecution Of f. ii. Coder for obtaining
money under false pretences and take |
such action as may be deemed necessary
to make the Postofiice Department act
honestly. We have been shametully used !
by the Postothce Department. The sub.
contractor applied to have the schedule
time changed, ON route ~, 1913, Elk CITY
to Clearwater to suit his own conv, nicnce
which was sanctioned by the worthy post
master at Clearwater, who, no doubt,
wanted his Office the head of the route
that he might be the ''biggest man."
Your department ordered the change
which l could not submit AS it was against
the interest Of the people of Elk City to
DO so. The department hirelings seemed
so wuch incensed that they ordered the
dlscontnuance Of the postotfice at Elk
City, under the flimsy pre.ex of my not
having sent in my quarterly report (Which
report sent promptly Stree the dis
&C nlinuance Of the postoifice at Elk City,
| have recei, ed six letters from the Post.
office Department asking me to send in
my monthly reports. Is it rascality, or
strong drink, or both that is the trouble?
1t you will take the trouble to examine
the date OF +. Ii. Coder's bonds you will
find it is between July Dist and July
30, 1883, if not l pronounce the date a
forgery. Respectfully,
Henry TERNAN,
Late Postmaster at Elk CITY. IT.