The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-15
GRIEVANCES OF THE CLERKS.
Employees of the Postal Service Still
Complain Of French's Injustice.
Instances of Favoritism and Wrong Doing
Cited by Several-The Colonel Rises
to Explain Certain Statements.

he recommendation of General John Coburn,
hen congressman. His grievances were that he
lad done frst-clerk work for second clerks pay;
hat he was wrongfully fined on charge of
and although he proved the charge
% be false, the fine was never RENTED; that he
lad seen mail lying over at indianapolis for
,weIve hours in order to give the Vandalia the
.hance to carry it and obtain pay; that he had
never known a Union soldier to be promoted;
hat he weighed mail on the fastpaper train
rom Cincinnati which should have been taken
IN later train, and for carrying which the gov
ernment was compelled to pay twice, and that
he was transferred by French over his protest
Letters written to French explanatory of alleged
,ffenses, were not replied to, receiving
no notice from that functionary Baker
stated that he had heard clerk who was on his
run say that all Union soldiers were thieves and
robbers He did not know the mans name, nor
by whom he had been appointed
The commission objected to this kind of tes
timony.
Mr. Spain, attorney-We propose to show that
this is the kind of men that French had in the
service
Mr. French-In point of fact have not put
solitary man into the service There is not
man in the railway mail service that was APP
pointed by the superintendent, or that can be,
OF is in fact. Mr.. Baker or amy other clerk
knows that, or ought to know it, perfectly well.
They are appointed by the department. at the
solicitation of their friends. I never see them;
do not know them until they are ordered to re
port to me for duty I never heard of this re-
mark being made I would have criticised it
Just as severely as Mr. Baker.
Mr.. Spahr-State what that cannon ball or
fast-paper train was placed on the Big Four for9
Witness-For the benefit of carrying the Gin
cinnaf papers out of Cincinnati as far as Indian
apoIis-the Commercial, Enquirer, and VoIks-
blatt.
Mr.. Spahr-Do You know whether French had
anything to do with putting chat train onl
Witness-He went out with me the first morn
ing. I never went So far into the business as to
investigate if he was interested in having the
trains put on.
Mr.. Spahr-l will state that this train was put
on at Washington by the authorities there.
When I come to discuss the question [ will show
that it has another bearing
Mr.. Reed of the commission-That train was
continued about seven weekss
Witness-Yes sir.
Mr. Reed-Somebody did have it discontinued,
then?
Witness-Yes sir I wish to state that there
we're lot of people in indianapolis who kicked
about it. 1 said right away it would not last
bng.
j. H. Erwin, of Sevierville, Tenn, testified
that he had asked for transfer, to be nearer
his family and failed to get it, while other men
n the service whose records were lot as good as
Is, 5,AIi5rg ahrein j. Fl. Tate and McLain, had
been transferred when they so desired Men
had been promoted over him whom he had ex-
celled in examinations. Thought at some one of
the times upon which he made application for
transfer it would have been feasible to have
done so.
The first witness at the afternoon session was
Captain A d. Harvey, eX-tOwnship trustee. He
testified that lie was in the mail service from
1868 to April, 1876, when he resigned. After
French became superintendent the men were
overworked-repeatedly required to do more
work than they were able to do. Witness said
he had so stated to superintendent, but got no
relief When complaints were made they re
NAMED unanswered Was injured in q collision
at Terre Haute, and was compelled, over my
protest. to go to work much sooner than was
able All this was during Mr.. French's superin-
tendence Wrote to Washington for relief and
got it. Did not write to Mr.. French when my
daughter was sick for leave of absence. Had
learned his arbitrary rulings and knew it was
not worth while. Mr.. French's arbitrary rules
were more than any man could bear.
Mr.. Reed-What case of favoritism. on the
part of Mr. French, do you know off
Witness-Several promotions were made that
did not think were just, but L passed those
matters by. Never saw Mr.. French but once, in
my recollection. l early learned his methods of
doing business, and that it would be useless for
me to ask any favors at his hands. so made my
communications direct to Washington. Ny work
from here to st. Louis was twelve hours. Was
reduced on that route until had to hold myself
up with one hand and throw the mail with the
other. This could have been lightened if the
had done his duty by the men.
Two or three were promoted over me- did not
think them more competent or worthy The last
man so promoted was Mr. Burnside Mr. French
was frequently invited to call and visit the car,
and see what the men had to do but paid no at
tention to the invitations.
Thomas P. Vance: 1 now reside at Rich
mond, Ind. Have been living there about three
years. Lived in Franklin year before that,
and previous to that in this city. served in the
army Have been in the railway mail service
since February 1877. Am now ON the Pittsburg
and st. Louis west division day line. 1 com
meneed at the bottom and went up to a second
Mr. Vale came in and was assigned
to our crew. He assumed to be second clerk; he
was then on probationary service. Then jeff.
Barnett was assigned to our crew, and he as
suned to be third clerk. That reduced me to be
fourth clerk That was III 1873. l felt that it
WIS an lHlpOSlblOn. udQ WORKED nara ana mad
passable examinations. / wrote letter to Mr.
French giving the facts In three or four weeks
l received a commission dated July l, 1873 as
second clerk, presume by Mr.. French's authori-
ty. had the work and received the pay of sec
ond clerk until the assignment of Mr. Palmer
as chief clerk A short time after changes
were made on all the lines, and Mr. Palmer
reassigned. Palmer assigned the second clerks
work to the third, placing me as the third, and
taking a new man, Mr. Clint Dumont, in my
place felt that was wronged. Went to Gin
cinnati to see Mr.. French. He told me he had
placed Mr.. Palmer to make the assignments
and would not interfere with any arrangements
he might make. Said it was no real wrong. as |
received pay as second clerk, although assigned
as third, and thought I ought to be satisfied.
Told him the time would come when the man
who did second clerks duty would want the pay.
and it would be taken from me- Dan Knefer
until the order of Postmaster-general James
went into effect that a man should be paid FOR
The position he held, and $3.50 was ext off my
salary I onYIia1 tn Mr. pa1poap