The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-16

LIZ
tailed in offices by five than the fifth. That the
sixth division worked during the year about
12OOO,OOO pieces more of mail than Mr. Frenchs
division did, and something over 10 600 less
errors in distribution than Mr.. Frenchs division.
In case examination it nearly in the same
proportion. While Mr.. French's division made
great many more examinations than the sixth
division, smaller per cent. of them were cor
rect Frenchs division showed larger percent
age of errors.
Question-As a practical railway postoffice
man, did not that report convey the impression
that this district was lacking in management in
some way.
Witness-Mr French is a good theorist, but
not a practical man. If he went among the
men, or treated them in gentlemanly manner,
he would learn something.
Captain j. A humphreys. of this city sworn:
II was in the army. Have been in railway
postal service since 1866, with the exception of
few months during last year. Have seen the
mails come over the Cleveland route at 1895
and lay at the depot here until noon the next
day, whenever they missed the P. & St. l.. to
the west at night. Might be sent at 7:30
next morning but are held for the Vandalia at
noon Men were required to remain longer on
duty than if common humanity were practiced.
MIR. Kern was on my car for nine years, and he
has no superior as postal clerk. The complaints
of Mr.. French are not confined to few but are
general throughout the division as to his op-
pressive cruelty and ungentemanly treatment
OF the men, and that all this is detrimental to
the service. He never goes into a mail car, or
on very rare occasions. Men in this division are
overworked. man named Duell, head clerk
of the Decline, was worn out, and got home, in
1873, Just in time to die.
Henry S. Ray: Lives in indianapolis; has been
baggage master on the l., b. q W. until day be-
fore yesterday, when discharged for misthrow-
ing sacks Of mail matter; attributed his DISCHARGE
to Mr. French; threw from 100 to 125 sacks of
mail a trip without being in the United States
mail SERVICE and thought it hard to be expected
to know much about it and do the service as a
man who is paid for it.
Mr.. French here suggested that the railroad
company was paid to carry and throw that mail
which was all in sacks, and that as baggagemas-
ter the witness was responsible to the company.
At the opening of the afternoon session the
following affidavit was submitted:
A c. Deuel., now, and for thirty-fve years past SUI
perintendent of schools at Urbana o., being duly
sworn, deposes and says that his brother, Stepen
Deuel. was for several years postal clerk in charge of
Crestlne Cleveland and that he had frequent and
repeated conversations with said Stephen Deuel. giving
facts and incidents but which deponent after the lapse
OF several years can not reca of @. Jay French
in the administration of his Office superin-t endent
of the fifth division of railway mail service tyranny
in imposing useless and annoying duties and harras-
sing others especially suchas displayed superior ability
and efficiency This deponent further says that French
by his cruel and unfeeng treatment of said Stephen
Deuel. applied for and obtained furlough, but had
hardly reached his place of rest till French ordered
his return. My brother demonstrated, but was or
dered to resume his duties pain of instant dismissal
six consecutive weeks without lay off returning only
to die. My brother recognized of the very
ablest and most efficient clerks in the service, dis
charging all duties promptly, and was man of IN
tegrity and worthy of confidence and belief. e5f
Sworn to before me by A. G. Deuel. and by him sub
scrbed in my presence this 14th day Of February, A.
d. 1884. D. W. TODD
Probate Judge, Probate Court Champaign County
Ohio.
Accompanying this was the following letter:
Georoe gnabr.
Dear Sri regret that many incidents illustrating
the tyranny of c. Jay French have at this time passed
never forget for regard him as the murderer of
my brother When officer is almost universally
detested by his subordinstes that of itself without
labored detail of separate acts is sufficient for his
moval At least he might be placed in charge of some
other district. Yours truly, A. c. DEUEL.
URBANA, O., Feb. IA, 1884.
George W. Lambert recalled: Question--Will
you state In what way the railway company re-
ceived double compensation for carrying mails
during the time that the fast train ran out of
Cincinnati to Indianapolisp
Answer am not personally knowing to the
facts. but know how it would work. If the
mails were contracted to go on regular train
and were then sent on special train and
weighed, the railroad company would, in effect,
be paid twice for the carrying of that mail
Frederick Steinhauer Lived here since 1865;
business is mail transfer clerk at Union Depot,
railway mail service First went to the service
in l870-left in 1876; went back in 1881-been in
continuously ever since Work from 6P. NJ to
6 A. M. Handle about twenty tons of mail
every night-two of us. Receive as compensa-
ton $500 year. Work every night in the year,
and no lay-off if we do have to furnish sub
stitute and pay him out of our own pockets.
The night men have nearly double the work
that the day men have. Charles Reynolds one
of the day men. gets ST. $50; the other Fred
Ketcham, gets 5000 Transfer clerks elsewhere
get more than we do Bad facilities here for
handling the mail. Mr. VAIL chief clerk has
been absent himself from duty many times.
Once, left on the Goth or 9th of June, and was
gone to the 9th or eth of July Drew his pay
during the time he was gone. Paymaster said
Mr.. Vale had never been locked for absence.
Detailed the fact that mail from the Decline,
going west was delayed from six to twelve
hours in order to send itover the Vandalia. The
witness said that the dissatisfaction with Mr..
French was uniform and widespreadb not con-
fined to one class of postal clerks, but pervading
all classes.
James F. Estes: Live at Paducah, Ky. Have
been in the railway mail service off and on for
nearly three years. During first term ran as
substitute on various routes In February, 1888,
got on regularly from Cincinnati to Louisville.
Ny head clerk was Frank Lindsey. He seemed
to be favorite and stood in with the old
man" which was what he called Mr.. French.
In checking the errors of the mail | worked
followed the instruction of the postal laws and
regulations and orders from Mr., jerks, Mr,
Lindsey would often take these slips out and
tell me not to turn in slips against so and so,
but to check against New York and other places
and not make records against the boys we con
nected with, and that if persisted in checking
these errors it would get all the men on our line
down on u.s. Told him he must send
those error slips in, that I would keep a
tally of them and report to Mr.. French. Was
granted leave of absence in 1888. About the time
the leave was closing, I was thrown from
buggy. and severely injured. l telegraphed my
condition to Mr.. French, and asked to extend
my leave He telegraphed no leave could be
granted; I must report for duty. Witness was
under care of physician, his arm being dressed
almost daily. He reported at Mr.. French's Office,
in Cincinnati, day after day Mr. French. at the
time was in Washington and Frank Foulds
acting in his place Showed him my condition.
he said to go ahead and take care of my injuries.
June 2, 1 reported at Mr. French's Office for ex-
animation and duty; had been told | could not
90 ON my run nnleSs | nasSed examination on