The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-03
The Superintendent Completely ExOnerated-
Newspapers Criticised and Indiana Postal
Clerks Incidentally Disparaged.
A Mysterious Circular Urging Demo-
Gratis to Abandon Tariff Agitation.
Statement Showing the Work Performed by
the Present COngress-A Violent Contrast
Between Promise and Performance.
THE FRENCH INVESTIGATION.
The Superintendent Exonerated and Given
Good Character as an Official.

The Superintendent Exonerated and Given a
Good Character as an Official.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April "A bill of good official
Character has been issued c. Jay French by the
commission that investigated the charges against
him. The report begins with slap at those In
dianapolis newspapers which advised postal
clerks to remain away from the commission and
refuse to testify. 1t says the commission was
embarrassed and delayed by this advice. AS to
favoritism, it says that several witnesses com
planned that other clerks had been promoted
over them who, in the opinion of witnesses,
were not entitled to such promotion. 'It is fair
to assume, says the report, that clerks are not
always the best judges of their own qualifca-
tons in comparison with others, especially as to
general fitness for positions having larger
responsibility than the one they occupy. When
vacancy occurs in one of the higher grades on
any line, there are usually a con
siderable number of clerks on that
line of equal rank in the lower grade one of
whom must be selected for promotion, and some
must be disappointed The witnesses charging
favoritism were among the disappointed ones"
Regarding the charge of injustice, the com
mission states that several clerks complained
that their salaries have been reduced unjustly
for alleged errors or dereliction of duty, and
that their complaints and applications for re-
dress had not received attention. Many of the
deductions of salary complained of were for fail
ure of clerks to record their names in the regis
ter on beginning or ending their runs. These
are covered by regulations of the department.
for which the division superintendent is not re-
sponsible.
Another charge was that Mr.. French discrim-
mated against Union soldiers The
igin of this charge, the commission
thinks, may possibly be found in
the result of orders of the department. issued in
January and March, 1879, requiring a reduction
of the number of clerks by dropping the least
efficient Superntendents were required to
send the department the names of clerks who
miglTtsse spared with the least detriment to the
service, accompanying the recommendation with
each mans record Under those orders, thirty
three clerks in the fifth division were dropped
and it happened that three ex-soldiers living at
indianapolis, were among the number who went
out out on their record.
In regard to the charge of the inefficiency and
untrustworthiness of Mr.. French, it is stated
that t. re was no charge, except by one or two
witnesses, and these concerned minor matters of
detail, upon which there is room for difference
of opinion and which are not material in the
case
As to the charge of dishonesty in connection
with weighing mails, it was found that large
number of witnesses testified to the fact that it
has uniformly been honestly and fairly done
The specific and material charges, made by the
postal clerks and others, were answered by Mr.
French, supported by the official records, cor
respondence and other documentary evidence,
and, in the judgment of the commission they
were met fairly and fully refuted. Postal clerks,
in behalf of Mr. French, testified that he is hu-
name, impartial honest and competent official,
exacting discipline that is necessarily strict so
that his administration may be impartial and
yet not affect the men employed unequally. OF
the postal clerks who made the charges or com
plaints all but three are employed on lines run
ming into indianapolis; on the other hand, as
large a number of clerks, employed on these
same lines, together with clerks on nearly
every other line in the division testified in
Mr.. French's favor 'It may be fairly assumed,
therefore," says the report, that some of the
dissatisfaction at this place is due to causes that
have not existed elsewhere in this division.
Some of the complaining witnesses expressly
stated that their grievances were not directed
at the superintendent, but at certain persons
who have held the position of chief head clerk
at this point"
In conclusion, the commission find that the
charges and complaints against Mr.. French have
no just foundation and are not sustained by the
evidence. From the testimony, it believes him
to be a just, competent and honest official en-
titled to the support of his superior officers and
the respect of his subordinates