Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-04-08

EXECUTIVE MANSION /
WASHINGTON. April 6, 1885.
Hon UUlidm f. Villas, Postmaster GeRCTul-
DEAR SIR: In answer to YOUR inquiry as to the
disposition to be made of the case of the Post
master at Rome, Oneida county, \. y, which
was presented 10 the Senate on the 10Th OF
March, with the proposition that he be removed
for cause, and which proposition was not acted
upon prior to the adjournment of that body on
the % of April, | have to say that TO me it
seems TO be my duty to exercise, by prompt
action III this case, all the power which the
present condition of the law has left i'll my
hands. so far as it may be done independently
of the Senate, to protect the interests of the
Government, to yiudicate the laws which have
been enacted for the regulation of the postal
service, and to impress upon Federal Office
holders the fact that no Indulgence will be
granted by the Executive to those who violate
the law or neglect public duty.
This Postmaster, under Section 4oH of the
United STATES Revised Statutes and the regula-
ton of the PoStolice Department, was required
to transmit to the Department weekly a report
of the business done by him in the--money-
branch Of his Office. II appears from all official
report of an Inspector OF the POstotlice Depart
ment now before me, and which was submitted
TO committee of the Senate, while the propo-
sition to remove this official was before IT, that
an examination of his Office was ordered on the
10Th of January, 1888, in consequence of the fact
that no such weekly reports had been made
since the 9Th OF December, 1884. It further APP
pears from this report that such examination
developed most diSgTaccfgl confusion III ali that
peItGiEed to the accounts and financial cJndi-
ton of the Office: that there has been no entry
III the money order caSh-bOok since July, 1881,
and that, as might have been expected there
was Il deficiency in the money. order account OF
more than 500, and i'll the postal amount OF
more than 500.
There is, ! think no dispute touching these
facts. The deficiency has been refunded to the
Government under an arrangement with one of
the Suretles OF the delinquent official and he at
tempts to excuse the wretched condi-
ton Of his Office ~ alleging that MS
assistant had entire charge Of the
money order business, as well as other de
tails of the Office. IN making such an excuse,
this official admits, IL seems 10 me. Il violation
OF his plain duty, in turning over the operations
of his Office TO an assistant without any pre-
text of sickness or unGv oidable absence of the
construction of Section 1881 Of the Revised
Statutes, which provides that in case Of sickness
or unavoidable absence of the Postmaster of any
mOney-ordcr PostOilice, he may, with the con
sent OF the POsmaster-General authorize his
chief clerk, or some other clerk employed there
III, 10 act in his place and discharge all the
duties required by law OF such Postmaster. By
the claim now made, that the assistant, having
had full charge, is responsible forthe Delinquent
cies and Irregularities complained OF, the Post
master also appears 10 contradict his own sworn
statement made III the department as late as
September 30, 1881, 10 the effect that he himself
had performed for the preceding quarter the
money-order business i'll his office, except when
necessarily absent.
| shall do all that is IN my power 10 rl1 the
public service Of officers who exhibit such loose
ideas OF their duty to the Government. The fact
that | have before me documents signed by
many residents OF the city where this Postmaster
is located and who belong to both political par
ties, asserting their entire confidence in his
honesty and fidelity demonstrates the unfortu-
nate facility with which papers may be oh
tanned, and give rise TO an unpleasant suspicion
touching the too prevalent standard of political
honesty. If ] cannot remove this delinquent
Postmaster / can surely suspend him. This
have determined TO do promptly, and ! desire
you at once TO present TO me the papers neces
sary for that purpose with the designation Of
James b. Corcoran 70 perform the duties in place
of the official thus suspended. Yours truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
REMARKS OF THE PosTMAsTER-GENERAL.
Postmaster-Gen Villas, in an inter
view, saws The removal was not pro-
posed for any other purposes than to i'm
prove the service, and the nominee is a
man against whom no just objection could
lie" He added that the present may be 4
good opportunity to say, that from some
evidence before him, he believes the no
ton to be prevalent and practice general
that PostmaStcrS should have an allowance
for clerks, sufficient to enable the business
of their Offices to be transacted chiefly by
subOrdinates, while the Postmaster HIM
self though the best paid, should be re
Quired to do no personal labor beyond
general supervision. This case illus
trates what may happen from such a
practice if the excuse Of the Rome Post
master be true. In fact, in every case Of
default the clerk or assistant will be made
the scapegoat 1t is the intention of the
department to make careful scrutiny Of
these allowances, and reduce them, when
necessary, materially. requiring of the
Postmaster to give mis- personal time and
attention to the duties OF his Office and as
sist i'll their performance, except in those
few larger offices where his time may be
necessarily required in general supervision.
1t is believed by such a course the public
VIII be much better served, and that con-
siderable reduction in the annual eX-
penditure Of the department may be real
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