The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-28
MORE ROOM FOR DEMOCRATS.
Two Mail-CarrierS Dismissed for Fighting
Affairs at the POst0ffice

Yesterday, during the morning delivery, a
fight took place in the postofice between two of
the carriers. E. Armstead and Elijah Eddy.
The quarrel arose over a letter which Armstead
had thrown upon Eddy's table, and which the
latter refused to take though it was directed to
number on his route. Several blows passed
before the combats could be separated. A few
minutes later Postmaster Jones served notice of
discharge upon both the men, though everyone
in the office who had seen the fight, interceded
for Armstead, and showed him clearly that Eddy
was the aggressor. Both the men are Republic
ans. and the opportunity for killing two birds
with one stone and creating vacancies to be
filed by Democrats was too good to be lost
From the suddenness with which the notices of
discharge were served, the Inference is that Post
master Jones has these discharges in blank and
fills them up with single. flourish of his gray
goosequil
Eddys discharge is in the nature of retribu
ton. He will be remembered as the offensive par
tisan who few weeks ago, detected young Noe, the
nrst Democrat appointed to q place as carrier
in the act of opening letters. In this view of
the case. Eddy's discharge will serve as an
awful example.
That such wrangle should take place be-
tween carriers is not to be wondered at Under
the present reform administration nearly every
thing in the office is at SKIES and sevens The
carriers feel that they have certain tenure
upon their places, and are liable to discharge at
any moment, upon any pretext. upon las In the
case Of Henry Sternsl any sort of trumped up
evidence and without being allowed word in
their defense. This state of affairs breeds dis
satisfaction, multiplies disturbing elements
and impairs the efficiency of the force Dur
ing the last week of Postmaster Wlldmans
tenn l37 pieces Of mail matter were returned to
the dead letter office at Washington. Now the
average number of pieces returned each week is
said to average $50. Besides this, there
large number of letters that come to the Office
with the name Of the writer on the envelope
and the request to return in ten days If not
called for" Once a week, during Mr.. Wild
mans term, such letters were got together and
returned to their writer's The number of such
letters now returned each week is more than
double what it was then. This would not be the
case If there was proper management. The
carriers are not now as then. forced to take
these letters and by repeated trials, on various
routes, made to find the persons to whom they
are addressed.
The money order department is now managed
In such way as to drive to distraction business
people to whom time is valuable. Formerly
there were two windows for the accommodation
and paid and another at which they were issued
Now everybody has to dance attendance at
single window. This is not on account of any
lack of force, as there now four clerks in
this department, while during Mr.. Wildman's
term there we're but three The stamp window
is still under the stairway, the darkest corner
in the Office