The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-07
Cleyeland's Letter Removing the Post
master of Rome, New York,
For Neglect OF Duty.
General Grants Condition Un-
changed Some Election Rs
ports-Michigan Goes
Democratic.
INTERESTING NATIONAL NEWS.
Judge ChesIey's Resignation Withdrawn
Removal of the Postmaster OF Rome,
New York-The Presidents Let
ter the Snbiect


wAsHIsGToN, April 6-rhe Director OF the Mint
has computed the value OF the Shanghai tsel for
Custom house purposes at l.17lO0. The value oil
this coin was formerly fixed at 2l 100
C. d. Walker, First Deputy Commissioner Of
Pensions, has resigned.
Judge Charles Chesley. Solicitor OF Internal Rev
enue, who resigned az the request OF the Attorney
General on Friday last, withdrew his resignation
to-day at the request o. the President who in
formed him that he would like him to remain in
Office for at least sixty days longer. his services
being desirable In closing up operations Of the
Revenue Bureau for the present fiscal yesr. TIE
Attorney General conceded heartily IN the re-
1he Postmaster at Rome y. Y. was to-day sus-
pended from further duty in his Office by order OF
the President, and James b. COTcoran has been
designated 10 perform the duties of the Office
his stead. The President proposed the removal
0f the Postmaster and nominated Core0ran TO tne
take action on the nomination the Postmastsr
General applied 10 the President for Instructions
in the case, and received written cOmmunica-
ton which has been procured from the Depart
ment, and is ss follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
WAsHiNGToN, April b, 1856.
"Hon. William F. Villas, Postmaster General:
"DEAB SIR-In answer to your inquiry as TO the
disposition TO be made of the case of the Postmas
ter at Rome Oneida County, New York, which
was presented to the Senate on the 26sh day OF
March, with proposition that be be removed for
cause, and which proposition was not acted upon
prior to the adjournment OF that body. on the
seems TO be my duty to exercise by prompt action
in this case, all the power which the present con-
dition OF the law has left in my hands, far il
may be done, Independent of the Senate, TO pro-
tect the interests OF the Government. 10 indicate
the laws which nave been enacted for the regula
ton of the postal service, and TO impress upon
FrdsrAl offieehoders the fact that no Indulgence
will be granted by the Executive TO those who yo
late the law or neglect their public duty.
This Postmaster, under Section 4Ufi OF the
United Slales Revised Statutes, and the regu.
lations OF the Postofiice Department was requ red
to transmit TO the Department weekly report OF
toe business done by him in the money order
branch OF his office. il appears from the official
ment, now before me. and which was submitted
10 a committee OF the Senate while the propo-
sition TO remove this official before II. that
examination OF his Office was ordered on the 26th
day OF January, 1885, IN consequence OF the fact
that no such weekly reports had been made since
the 9th day of December, 1854 1t further appears
from this report that kuch examination developed
the most disgraceful confusion in all that per
tained to the accounts and the financial con-
diton OF the Office: that there had been no entry
in the money order cash book since July, 1SSf aud
as that might have been expected, there was dc
hc1eDcy in The money order account of more tian
SEQ, ana IN tire postal account OF more than 500.
There IL. think, no dispute touching these
facts. The difference has been refunded 10 the
Government under an arrangement with one OF
the surlt1es OF the delinquent Official and he AT
fee by alleging that his assistant had entire
charge OF the money order business as we'll as
other details in the Office. In making such
cuse this officer admits, IL seems TO me- violation
ot plain duty in turning over the operations OF
his flee TO an assistant, without any preext OF
tee sickness or unavoidable absence OF the Post.
master. which is contrary 10 reasonable con
siruction of section 1851 OF the Revised Statutes
which pttvidss that in case OF the sickness un-
avoidable absence OF the Postmaster of any IN 0ney
orcer PoStofice, smay, with the approval of the
Postmaster General, authorize the chief clerk or
place and to di'charge All the duties required by
law OF such Postmaster. BY the
claim now made that the assistant
having bad full charge. is responsible for the de-
linquencies and irregularities complained OF.
the Postmaster appears 10 contradict his own
sworn siatementma 10 the department as late
as September 80, 1884. 10 the effect that he him.
self had performed Tor the preceding quarter the
money order business in his Office except when
necessarily abse Mt. shall do all in my power to
rid the service OF officials who exhibit such loose
ideas OF their duty 10 the public.
"A document before me- signed by many resi-
dents of the city where the Postmaster is located,
and who belong to both poiisicsl parties assert
esty and fidelity, demonstrates the unior.
tunste facility win which such pa
pers NAV be obtained and gives rise to
an unpleasant suspicion touching too prevalent
method OF political honesty. II can not remove
his Delinquent Postmaster. can surely suspend
him. This I have determined TO do promptly
and desire you at once 10 present to me the
necessary pal for that puIpose. with desigpa-
tou OF James B. Corcoran TO perform the duties
OF P0 tmRster in place OF the Official suspended.
Yours truly. GROVER CLEVELAND"
At an interview with the Postmaster General he
said TO the reporter of the Associated Press this
afternoon that tne Senate Committee asked for
and had sent 10 them the papers in the case, in-
clucing the Inspectors report, and tlte reason for
their declining 10 approve the prop )sed removal
WIS unknown 10 him. and could only be surm sed.
The facts are plainly shown he said by the Off
tial report of the Inspector made during the
term OF President Arthur aud open 10 no suspi-
cion OF partisan or personal unfriendliness. and
ar such, Indeed, as hardly 20 admit of explana
ton. The President. in his letter, has only men
toned those in respect 10 which no opportunity
for question open. The removal was not
proposed for any Otner purpose than TO improve
the service, aud the nominee Is a man against
when no Just objection could lie. The Post
master General added the President may see
good opportunity 10 say. from some evidences be
fore him, he believes notion TO be prevalent aud
the practice 70 be general accordingly. that Post
mss. should hove allowances for clerks suffi-
Gent 10 enable them TO do tue business OF their
Offices while the Postmaster himself. though the
best paid. should be required TO give personal
labor beyond general supervision. This illus
trateS what may happen ifom such practice II the
excuse OF the Rome Postmaster be true, IN fact and
every OF default, the clerk assistant will
be made the scape2oat IL Is the intention OF the
department. TO make careful scrutiny OF these al
low and reduce them wheu necessary, ms
terialy requiring the Postmaster 20 give his per
sonal time and attention 10 the duties OF HIS Office
and assist in their performance. except in those
few larger Offices wneIe his time may be necessa-
rily required In general supervision. Ii is be
leved that by such course the public will be
much better served and that a considerable
duction I'm the annual expenditures OF the depart
Dent may be realized,
Secretary Lamar to-day said that he had taken
no action in the case OF Miss Ada sweet pension
agent at Chicago. Commissioner OF Pensions
Black said be could say nothing for publication
~ n.ntal NoConnvflle of Ohia to.dax took