The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-01
THE CHARGES AGAINST BOWLING.
The Proposition of the Mugwumps to Prove
that He Is Unworthy of Holding Office.

When the attention of Postmaster general
Villas was first directed to the case of James IT,
Bowling, the railway mail clerk who boasted
that he had bribed members of the Council, he
replied in letter to Lucius B. Swift: 1T is fair
to any man who has been appointed, and
since his appointment has continued in
the service without complaint as to the
manner of its performance from the officials
over him, that he should have notice of such an
accusation as you make because inquiry might
put different complexion upon the case as you
understand it. I intend by the remark no
criticism upon your statement. but make it
predatory to the inquiry whether you are willing
l should send your letter to Mr.. Bynum,
who nominated Bowling, if I remem-
Der rightly, in order to see what may
be said on the other side9 I hope shall ever be
as willing to remove an unfit person when ap-
pointed by me as if he had been found in the
service as took it; and shall do my utmost to
render it as efficient as possible and
free from bad men," In answer
to the Postmaster general. Mr.. Swift
wrote, lit seems to me, that the proper method
OF dealing with such case would be for Dow
ling's immediate superiors to take notice Of the
case and report the undisputed facts, with any
statements that the accused might choose to
make. Such case ought not to be left
until private citizens interfere I have,
with others, had some experience in filing
charges against government employee. I
refer to the of Postmaster Jones' of
this city. The charges were, with unimportant
exceptions, and still are, true. A couple of them
were referred to the Civil-service Commission
for investigation, and that Commission, by its
method cut US off from any fair chance to prove
the charges, and yet we were held responsible
for them" Mr.. Swift offered. however, to prove
the charges against Bowling if the
inspector. to indianapolis, with power to
require the attendance of witnesses, whose testi-
mony should be taken down by stenographer.
NO satisfactory reply was received to this letter,
and In a subsequent letter Mr. Swift wrote:
"Dowling is still in the railway mail service,
and the people of the State who like to see pub
lie positions held by honest and honorable men
are at a loss to account for his retention. can
not conceive that Mr.. Bynum has denied what /
have before written you relating to Dowlings
criminality, and yet there must have been a
denial by some one whom you thought worthy
of confidence, or the man would have been dis
missed ltis to be regretted that Mr.. Hen
bricks, or Mr. Mcdonald or Governor Gray, or
some other well-known political leader living
here, and, as each one is, thoroughly conversant
with the facts, has not given You the informa-
ton that would have induced you to take the ad-
ministraton out of the absolutely indefenslble
position of retaining this unworthy man in the
service"
Affidavits supporting the charges, together with
copies of the count, and Council records in rea-
ton to Dowlngs refusal to testify on the ground
that he would criminate himself, have been for
warded to the Postmaster general, concluding
with the following statements: Apply
ing. the principles common among hon
orable business men, this man cannot
without violence to those principles, be
longer retained in the service of the people. No
sound business man would retain an employe
who declared that he had cheated former en-
ployer The people demand that the same rule
shall be applied to their business, and that no
man who publicly boasts that he has cheated
them and has become a criminal by bribing
their representatives shall ever again have con-
hded to him a public trust. We there
be dismissed from the public service. The
persons signing this document were Lucius B.
Swift, iexander Metzger. Louis Rowland. Ar
thur A. McKain and Lindley Vinton. The mat
ter was forwarded on last Wednesday. and moth
ing has yet been heard from the Postmaster
general in reply.