The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-23
THE FRENCH INVESTIGATION
All the Complaints in, and the Case
Of the Prosecution Closed.
The Commission AdjOurns Until Wednesday.
When the Defense Must Be Ready
with Its Side Of the Case.


The French investigation opened yesterday
mornings sitting with the reading of the follow
ing affidavit:
State of Kentucky, County of jefferson:
10. King, Of Jefferson county. Kentucky. states
IN addition so his affidavit made yesterday, Feb. 10:
fifst-Ihat he was made to perform service as head
clerk for many months, he thinks more than a year.
receiving only the pay of u clerk, the difference being
500 per annum between the pay of head clerk and
second-That he always did his duty faithfully
and well, stood tirst-class in case examinations. ner-
formed duty through two yellow-fever epidemics in
the infected district, viz: from Bowling Green. XIV,
to Milan and Memphis. Tenn; that he had kent Mn tbe
run, day after day, when every other clerk had aban-
doned the route, in 1873 in these districts.
Ihlrd-Ihat he served in the Federal army four
years as a private soldier, without receiving a repri-
mIand, and was honorably discharged at the close Of
the war; and,
Fourth-Thath he served the Postofice Department
from 1866 to 1870 as contractor. on the route from
Greensboro, Ky, to Bowling Green, KY, without
having a fine assessed against him, and fully complied
with his contract, but which contract completely
bankrupted affiant.
Fifth-That he believes that he woald be doing good
service IN the Postoftice Department to-day only for
the unjust and unreasonable opposition Of G. Jay
and he knows is without cause. Z. o. KING.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb 10.
SW2In to before me, by nc. King, this 10th day of
Notary Public, Jefferson county.
At the conclusion of the reading of the afida-
'EN5 \" Gay L 4NAN H14b. III IGdSOH VIZ. Nil
is not in the service is that he was once suspend
ed for drunkenness, and afterward removed for
drunkenness
MIR. R~utledge, a witness-In order to furnish
dates of the different weighings of mail men
toned in my previous testimony, it will be
necessary for me to have access to the books of
the superintendent. To do this I should have
a leave Of absence. l have spoken of this twice
to the commission, but my request has passed
.unnoticed.
Commissioner Wildman-Do you know how
many times the mail has been weighed
Mr.. Rutledge-Twice since I have been in the
division, on the Vandalfa line. My best I'M
preston is that one weighing was in 1879. Think
| can ascertain exactly, but not without leaving
home.
Commissioner-Can you say to which one of
the weighings your charges relate?
Mr.. Rutledge-I made specific charges in re.
gard to both w~eighings. I now report for duty
daily, and without a leave of absence have not
time to look for my data.
c. Jay French-AGr. Rutledge can have that
leave Of absence. He knows how to get it: that
is by putting a substitute on his run and paving
him forit
IA remark which, in view of the Postmaster
generals order, here appended flor reference
only, was in exceedingly bad taste.
WASHINGTON. D. G, Feb. 4. 1884.
James A. Wildmau, Postmaster, Indianapolis:
Please give public notice through the press that pos
tai clerks who have complaints and charges against
French are invited to appear and testify before the
commission. They will be allowed full pay during
their absence from duty, and will be protected from
persecution or arrogance in the future on account of
testhylng. l expect the commission to use every eff
fort to make a thorough and impartial investigation.
w. q. GRESHAM,
Postmaster-general.
Commissioner Myers-Mr. Rutledge makes a
charge without giving dates. That charge is not
very valid as testimony unless he gives specific
dates. If you do not furnioh dates it weakens
ing a general ac f., 49, 41uoh, because you are charg-
facts. ~ I without giving dates. times and
charge s spaniso point I'VE make is that we
the dates are in ~ 1n9es' ana we say the records of
We can not oct OCT ne 4L PosseSsidAp of the authorities.
T NOT q. "Iii1S to take that Islv-off to Get those
dates. p1U We are no. Wiling to do it at our own
e~Xpense-that is, a lay-off without pay and to
furnish a substitute. We do not believe that the
order of the Postmaster-genera is regarded in
this matter. That order says that postal clerks
shall be granted leaves of absence for the pur-
pose Of attending this trial with pay. That or
der also says that the commission is expected to
make a thorough and impartial investigation.
Mr.. Spahr introduced two or three dozen
pages OF manuscript copies of orders issued from
Mr.. French's office. These orders were not en-
tire, but were selected paragraphs to exhibit the
fines, reductions of pay, overWork and other ex-
actions p~racticed by Mr.. French upon employees,
as testified to by HUMPHREYS, Rutledge. Lambert
and other witnesses, and also to show the char
acter of business transacted in his transfer of
clerks.
Mr.. French objected to the introduction of tes-
timony in this shape. He thought each specific
thing should be indicated.
Commissioner Myers-Are there not other
things in these orders than those with which we
have to do in these charges2
Mr.. Spahr-These orders will show, among
other things, (the orders cover a period of six
months in 1883 that over $500 has Been imposed
IN lines, in this division, in six months. These
fines are imposed for trivial causes, and range
from s. to $50. These orders will show Mr..
Frenchs method of doing business.
Commissioner Reed-As an arraignment of the
system}
Mr.. Spahr-As a part of our case.
The commissioners then announced that they
had examined the acknowledgement report.
and found that the weighings during Mr.. Rut-
lodges service on the Vandalia, We're as follows:
On the L. IL. q st. L., beginning March 10, 1879,
and continuing thirty days ton half the linel;
on the Vandalia (%entire line), beginning Feb. Is,
1880, and continuing sixty days; on the Vandalia
%tentire GneE beginning Jan. 81, and continuing
sixty days.
Mr.. Spahr having announced that the testi-
mony, so far as he was concerned, was all in, the
commission having consulted, announced that
the hearing of Mr.. French's defense would begin
on next Wednesday morning, at 10 o'clock.
The commission then adjourned.
n
Chief Head Clerks.
nh -.o1~,J,,+ a-.,.o, l.. Alo4 H. ILL.,