Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-17
POST-OFFICE VACANT.
DIR. GILxER RESIGNED.
III HesIsh the Casss Or His wishins 20 b
RemeveS Of OAscial Cares-whs will be
Psstmasser Newt

iii Heslfh the Cssss Or His wishins 20 b
Relieved Or Omcial Csres-whs wiiI be
Psssmsser Newt
II became rumored yesterday that
DR.. OK. Gilmer had resigned the Office
of postmaster of Richmond. A Dis
patch representative went to the post
Office about 81 o'clock, and finding that
DR.. Gilmer had gone to his home in the
county, asked one of the most trusted
clerks there if the rumor was true.
The clerk said he had not heard any
thing of the kind /; guessed there was no
truth in it. DIR. Gilmer's son was
standing by at his desk, and being called
up and questioned said that DR.. Gilmer
had resigned. This was news to nearly
everybody in the building. They knew
that the Doctor was in i'll health, and
felt burdened with official cares, but
had no idea that he meant to anticipate
the early approach Of his official retire
ment.
Later DR.. Gilmer was found at his
residence, on Marion Hill, about mile
below the city, and in answer to in
quiries he said frankly to the Dispatch
man that he had forwarded his resigna-
ton to the Postmaster General, and had
asked that it be accepted because he
really had not the health to continue
satisfactorily to discharge the duties Of
his position.
The Doctor said that his term would
expire on the 18th of May, and he had
no reason to hope that he would be re-
appointed; but that however that might
be, he was suffering greatly from ner-
vous dyspepsia, and could get no peace
until he had laid down his official re-
sponsibilities. He had for good while
been meditating this course, but his
action was hastened by the fact that the
Department-or a bureau Of it--had
rejected claim of his for 1921, which
sum represented an actual outlay that
he had made for extra clerical assistance
and for stationery, &C.. and which
claim was in the line of well-estab-
lished precedents. Then he had been
worried about getting the noon mail
distributed, and had had some commu-
nications with the Department people
on the subject. These things he knew
were but trihes and would not bother
well man. but nervous as he was and
suffering from inability to sleep, they
were prejudicial to his repose of mind,
and on the day before yesterday he
wrote and sent to Washington his reSig-
nation, and had had no occasion to re-
gret it. Whether the Office would be
put in the charge of special agent or
whether a new postmaster would be ap-
pointed he did not know. All that he
knew was that he was out of it and
that it already made him feel better.
DR.. Gilmer's appearance and conver-
sation indicated that he had been wor-
rying himself a good deal; his friends
say about very trifing affairs. DR..
Gilmer was appointed to succeed Col
onel Forbes. He has been Republi-
can for many, many years, and enjoys
the respect and confidence of great
number of friends in both parties. His
administration of the post-ofiice has been
satisfactory TO the people generally.
With the means at his command few
men could have done better.
Now the question is, What will be
done? VIII any appointment be made
for his unexpired term?
The gentlemen who have been men
toned in connection with the postmas-
tership under Cleveland are Colonel
John b. Cary, Colonel William S. Gil
man, William II. Cullingworth, Esq,
Major Charles p. Bigger, Mr.. John NJ.
Higgins, and Major John III. Claiborne.
There is some apprehensiveness here
that the resignation Of DR.. Gilmer will
enable President Arthur to appoint his
successor for four years. DR.. Gilmer
said that he had no information on that
point that he was in no such move;
that he was getting out of the thing for
good and all.