The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-20
TIE INDIANAPOLIS POsTOFFICE.

TEE lNDIANAPULlS PUSTOFtlCE.
The Philadelphia Times has exclusive in
formation to the effect that "every abuse
which civil-service reformers and good citi-
zens justly condemn" had been fostered in
the Indianapolis postoffce for years before
Mr.. Jones got possession Of it. 1t was only
natural, the Times thinks, that Mr.. Jones,
''as the representative of an administration
with different ideas, should seek to change
this, and it was only right that he should have
the fair cooperation Of everybody who wished
well to good service" There is a vague
ness and lack Of specifications in the charges
made by the Times which render it some
what doubtful whether that cratic journal
really knows itself what it is driving at. At
all events, it does not know anything worth
mentioning concerning abuses in the In
dianapolis postof1ice under Republican admin
istration. It personally concerns but few
people whether the employees in postoffice
are members of one party or another; whether
they are old soldiers or sons of veterans or
whether they are persons Of uncertain repu-
tation and 'copperhead' antecedents. The
preferences Of the majority may be for the
former, but so selfish is humanity that so long
as it is served satisfactorily by either, it will
not complain, though the other be wronged by
dismissal. Under former postmasters it is un-
tadl,y 4r,,o 41o T,ooc oh rrac +bat
men were put where they would do the most
good A large proportion of them were men
who had once served in the Union army, and
were, therefore, Republican in politics; but,
nevertheless, they were good men in the right
places, as is proved by the fact that the In
dianapolis postoffice has, foranany years, en-
joyed the reputation of being one of the best
managed offices in the country. Inspectors
and other officials on their regular rounds
invariably made favorable, and often compli-
mentary reports of the Office here. Above
all, patrons Of the Office, of all classes, were
satisfied with the service, and complaints
were rarely heard-a condition of affairs, it
may be remarked, which, by no means, ex-
lists at present.
It was generally understood in the city that
this excellence was greatly due, after the
ability and fidelity of the responsible head of
the Office, to the experienced service Of a man
who had been retained in his responsible
position as chief assistant for nineteen
years because he met the Republican civil
service tests of ability and fidelity. He was
put where he would do the most good" He
did it, and was kept there. OF other en-
ployes the same could be said as to their skill
and faithfulness in their respective depart
ments. When Mr.. Jones came in, and, in the
words of the Times, Sought to change this
and remedy these ':abuses, it was felt that he
might easily make mistakes and interfere with
the smoothness and efficiency of the service,
but no man attempted to hamper his move
merts in any way. There was no method by
which they could eco operate with him, as
the Times suggests would have been pre- per-
might not regard all his acts as in harmony
with the civil service rules, but the majority
of the citizens were as has been remarked, so
absorbed in their own affairs that even this
non compliance with law failed to excite.
Those pure, unselfish and lonely beings, the
four Indiana mugwumps, finally assumed the
role of public censors, and attacked Jones for
his infraction of law, but were repulsed with
heavy losses and are now laid up for repairs
In the meantime it is slowly but
surely dawning OH the public mind that the
service rendered by the present management
of the postoftice is by no means equal to what
it was under the old system, so abused by the
"reformers.' Unless speedy improvements
are made in certain directions, the next COM
plant which goes to headquarters concerning
Grandpa Jones's postofice will be of more
practical nature than the charges preferred by
the mugwumps. and of kind more likely to
be heard
STATE SENATOR SUTTON, prominent
prohbitionst of Iowa, whohas been studying