McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1885-04-16
HIS PROVOCATIVE
The President Exercises IL I'm the Case
OF the Postmaster at Rome, N. Y.

The postmaster at Rome, N. Y, has been
suspended from further duty in his office by
order OF the president, and James Corcoran
was designated to perform the duties OF the
ONCE in his stead. The president proposed
the removal Of the postmaster and the nomi-
nation Of Corcoran to the senate at a recent
session and the senate refused to take action on
the nomination. The postmaster general ap-
piled to the president for his directions in the
case, and was served with written communl-
cation as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, April
6.-Hon. Vim. Villas, Postmaster General-Dear
Sir: In answer to your inquiry as to the dis
position to be H.ade Of the case Of the post
master at Rome, Oneida county, N. Y, which
was presented to the senate on the 26th of
March, with the proposition that he be re-
moved for cause, and which proposition was
not acted upon prior to the adjournment Of
that body on the I'd day of April, have to
say, to me 1t clearly seems to be my duty to
exercise my prerogative in this case-all the
power which the present condition Of
may be done independently Of the senate,
to protect the interests of the govern
ment, to vindicate the laws which have been
enacted for the regulation of the postal service,
and to impress upon the federal officeholders
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 4044 of the United States revised stat
utes and regulations of the postoffice depart
ment, was required to transmit to the depart
ment weekly report of the business done by
him In the money order branch of his office
1t appears from the official report of an in
spector of the postoffice department. now re-
fore and which limit faH IN q
mittee OF the senate while the proposition to
remove this official was before it. that an eI-
animation OF his office was ordered on the 26th
of January, 1855, in consequence of the fact
that no such weekly reports had been made
since the 9th of December, 1884. II further
appears from this report that such examina
ton developed the most disgraceful confusion
IN all that pertained to the accounts and finan-
cial condition of the Office; that there had
been no entry in the money order cash books
since July, 1884, and that, as might
haye been expected, there was q
more than 500 and in the postal account Of
more than $500. There is, think, no dispute
touching these facts. The deficiency has been
refunded to the government under arrange
ment with one of the trustees of the delin-
quent official, and he attempts to excuse the
wretched condition of his office by alleging
THAI his assistant had entire charge of the
money order business as well as the other de-
tails of the Office. In making such excuse,
this officer admits 1t seems to me, violation
of plain duty in turning over the operations
of his Office to an assistant without any pre-
text of sickness CT unavoidable absence of the
postmaster, which is contrary to reasonable
construction of section 4,031 of the revised
statutes, which provides that in case of sick
ness or unavoidable absence Of the postmaster
OF any money order postoffice, he may. with
the approval of the postmaster general, au-
thOriZe the chief clerk or some other clerk en-
pIoyed therein to act in his place and discharge
all the duties required by law of such post
master. By the claim now made the as.
s!stant, having had full charge, is responsi BILE
for the delinquencies andirregulariiies shown.
The postmaster also appears to contradict his
own sworn statement made to the department
as late as September 20, 1884, to the effect that
he himself had performed for the pre- oeding
quarter money order business in his Office, eI-
cept when necessarily absent!A / shall do all
that is in my power to rid the public service of
officials who exhibit such loose ideas of their
duty to the government. The fact that have
before NE documents signed by many of the
located and who belong to both political
parties, asserting their entire confidence 10 his
honesty and fidelity demonstrates the unfor-
tunate facility with which such papers NAV be
obtained and gives rise to the unpleasant sus-
pcion touching too prevalent standard OF
political honesty. If cannot remove this de-
linquent postmaster, / can surely suspend
him. This 1 have determined to do promptly
and desire you at once to present to me the
papers necessary for that purpose, with
designation of James B. CorcOran to perform
thus suspended. Yours truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND