Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-04-07
PUT HIS FOOT DOWN.

J he postmaster at Rome, n. Y, was yes
terday suspended from further duty in his
Office, by order Of the President, and james
B. Corcoran has been designated to perform
the duties of the office in his stead The
President proposed the removal of the post.
master and nominated Corcoran 20 the Sen
ate at the recent session, and, rs it failed 10
take action on the nomination, the Post
master General applied to the President for
his directions in the case, and received II
written communication, which is a. follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON. April t. 1886
Hon. Wnl F. ViLus, Postmaster General
Dear Sir-1n answer 10 your inquiry rs To
the disposition TO be made of the case OF the
postmaster at Rome, Oneida county, y Y,
which was presented to the Senate on lhr
Goth day of March, with proposition ;hn'
he be removed for cause, aud which prnpc
stion was not acted upon prior to the al
journment of that body on the 81 day oi
April, have to say that to me it clearly
seems to be my duty to exercise by prompt
action in this case all the power which the
present condition of the law has LETT in my
hands, so far as it may be done indepen
IDENTIFY of the Senate, to protect the interests
of the government, to yndlcute the laws
which have been enacted for the regulation
of the postal service, ANA 10 impress upon
federal officehoders the fact that no indul-
eence will be granted by the Executive 10
those who violate the law or negi public
duty. This postmaster, under section
1914 of the United States Revised Sta.
tutes, and the regulations OF The
Postotfice Department, Was required to
transmit to the department weekly repoft
of the business doue by him in the money
order branch OF his Office. 1t appears from
the official report of an Inspector OF the
Postofice Department, now before me, and
which was submitted to committee Of the
Senate, while the proposition to remove
this official was before it, that an eSaminn-
ton of his Office was ordered on the 26'h
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
such examination developed the most dis
graceful confusion in ali that pertaued TO
the accounts and financial condition OF the
office; that there had been no entry III the
money order cash book since July, 1851,
and that, as might have been expected,
there was deficiency in the money order
account of more than seven hundred dol
lars and in the postal account OF more than
four hundred dollars. There is, ! huk,
dispute touching these facts. The deficiency
has been refunded 10 the government under
an arrangement with one Of the sureties o.
the delinquent official, and he attempts 10
excuse the wrelchpd condition Of his ollie
By alleging that his assistant had the entire
charge of the money order business, as well
as all other details of the Office. In making
such an excuse this officer admits is serms
to me, violation of plain duty in turning
over the operations of his office to an rs
sistant without any prctext of The sickness
or unavoidable absence of the postmaster,
| which is contrary to reasonable construc-
ton of section 403l of the Revised Statutes,
which provides that lin case of the sick
ness or unavoidable absence OF the postmGS
ter of any money order possibilities, he may,
with the approval Of the Postmaster Genec-
al, authorize the chief clerk or some Other
clerk employed therein to &C; in his p ace.
and to discharge all the duties required IL,
law of such postmaster" By he claim no"
made that the assistant, having bad fall
charge, is responsible for the deinquenc"s
and irregularities complained OF, The post.
master also appears 10 contradict his owE
sworn statement mad t. the Gcpsrt'oenE "
late as September 30h, 1854, 10 the rifaa:
that he himself had performed for Tie pre-
cediug quarter the money order business ~
his Office, except when necessarily abse't
shall do all that is in my power 10 rid
the public service of officials wha exhibit
such loose ideas Of their duty 10 tie gov
ernment. The fact that | have before mc
documents signed by many residents OF The
city where this postmaster is located, AID
who belong 10 both political parties. assert
ing their entire confidence in his honesty
and fidelity, demonstl ates the unfortunate
facility with which surh papers may be OBJ
tanned, and gives rise TO an unpleasant snS-
picion touching too prevalent standard OF
political honesty.
III cannot remove this delinquent post
master can surely suspend him. This
have determined to do promptly; and de-
sire you at once to present to me the papers
necessary for that purpose, with desisua-
Lion of James B. Corcoran to perform the
duties of postmaster in place oil The olilcia
thus suspended. Yours truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.