New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-26
THE REFORM MACHINE.
ITS GREAT WORK II THE POST OFFICES.
THAT NOBLE DEVICE TO TURN THE RAsCALs OUT
SOME EXAMPLEs-THE PRESIDENT.
To the Edttor of The Tribune.

SIR: Between the LIST and Goth OF August
last noticing that suspensions Of pOstmasters before
the expiration of their Dec mlng very IRE
quent addressed 1913 letters Unfortunately to post
masers suspended in this state and letters Presi
dental postmastcrs elsewhere. inquired OF each the
cause OF the suspension whether charges ha1 Deen
made, whether there any investigation or any OPP
portunity for Investigation defence To these let
ters received 15s replies; some OF these showed that
the officer had resigned that his term had expired,
failed answer questions but 1876 gave Inc tic
desired information, 101 from Indiana and 80 from else
where. In only two instances, IN Indiana aud one
in NewYOr had there been any investigation; in every
other notice OF any charges had been given, no
cause assigned, opportunity afforded for DEFENCE
denial explanations in large number Of cases tho
hrst Information the subject eceiyed by the posi-
master suspended was by newspaper report or upon
presentation OF the order Of suspension by the new Gp
pCnteo. In - in Indiana the change was atto-
uted to tho the district, the successor
having been promised the Office in somo Instances
Sometimes the parties learned by hearsay and street
that charges OF offensive partisanhip had been
| preferred. In 10 in Indiana land IL cases
elsewhere request made orinfOrmation respect
ing the charges aud opportunity for investigation
but opportunity given were the charges
disclosed
knowing that this information ex-parte, ana not
believing It possible that these removals thus made
with the approval OF the author of the letter to Mr
Curtis communicated to the President personally the
/
rostmasers I'm question. 1 found however. that the
President approved this o stated that he con-
silered it mpractcablo to inform the postmastcrs OF
charges against them, that this would be to turn the
question OF their removal into Judicial investigation,
that they were continually protesting obcctng ana
asking FOR copies Of the charges, but that these could not
be furnished thom s0scstei that there was little use
OF requiring that charge, should DC preferred, II the
postmaster not permitted 20 see them and there
was to be no Investigation that charges were frequently
malo by persons utterly irresponsible AMI often ny
those who did pretend 20 know the actsi mat sch
charges frequently false ami that 1t was not posi-
bic 20 procure information until both sides hai
40 least chance o. heard Tic said he regretted that
had male those inquiries that the Department had to
,c is Information best it could, that ho had great
diUcuy I'm bringing OF his party friends M to ma
IDEAS of this reform anil that Indiana was particularly
bad state IN that respect
Itsccm- 20 mo that ui4 remarkable system OK secret
charge unknown ac,us.r- ant reno, 90, whouinvei-
ucatiou Ga the lontpradactof terrc.idcnrs 're FOR
Cvr scryc. Reform aud uc c'luo Of ms party for the
spols, ana lso o:-r hyorii- The gro-cnr g -,:' ~
character 20 cncr progcuitor It ENCOURAGES sples and
in'orm.rr. fllul'r falsoaooi and sI'p.ion. fu'
hoys on understand That lry 20 s't the Offices ny
some cyasvc and underhlrl method Moreover. every
man suspended carries with BIN the implication that DE
has boon discharged breach ot official duty 81
which be i.1y Poe wholly innocent Frequently the
lccur s. rewarded fp hi' secret saulor by olr INF
meut 20 t'c office. Ico1I name many !n.'anc.r
Torir T. Cln.c states tll' sic WOO removed. w.f'u'
n9,.. u.1r thr ftsc charge. preferred uy g. T. hi'f
Ie- .1.c..r.- Pinot -h' was non resident
A H. e-I..In-Ilo 900 llyits against =. r. s-n0 'r,
/ ~ Winchester Ky, ver' prepared hJ NNH'" 10
EI,.nar 81 relative OK his .u"cr. 'or Among me
pl-...l sv.sra, o., thorn was pory Hazard WORTHLESS
negro of u, character
WI r..tu. o. jackson. ,rt'.. IS assured tnt DIS
SUCCESSOR .u Dl.t.. ~ D. D.mo.. log paper Violently
.a-t-au G.1 c.l-.+ of offensive craftsmanship against