New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-06
A POST OFFICE THAT W4S FORGOTTEN

HOW MR.. STEVENSON NEGLECTED COLLEGE POINT.
If the course of First Assistant Postmaster
General Stevenson with regard to the post office at
College Point L. L. is fair illustration OF his manner OF
conducting the affairs of the fourthclass offices which
his special care Inference to be drawn that the
labor OF eating of the heads OF offensive partisans has
been such strain upon hlstime and strength as TO
leave him neithor opportunity the energy to
attend to such minor details furnishing supplies ana
auditing accounts Ferdinand Gentner has been tue
postmaster OF College Point for long series OF years
It is small Office. but thrifty and the Democratic
Administration had scarcely been installed before Con
grossman Belmont bosloged with applications for
the place. Tho local Democracy is not harmonious In
College Point aud two factions In behalf or their re-
spectlve candidates contended for Mr. Gentners place.
The selection Of John Reilly would have been
construed victory for that faction
which cling to the fortunes OF Benjamin W. Downing
and Frederick Wurtz eagerly looked for by
the Young Democracy"
Mr. Belmont listened to tho applications of the young
Democrats aud recommended the appointment OF Mr.
Wurtz. On August Mr.. Wurtz received MS commission
In place OF Mr. Gentner suspended for offensive par
tisanshp" Mr.. wurtz had been active In his own
interest, for ne young man working upon "a fair
salary. He inspected Mr.. Gsntuers accounts and CON
cluded that the post ofce not as lucra-
tive as he had imagined. He preferred
q sure thing to uncertain one, and
after thinking II all over. he greatly astonshcd his
friends aud cliowparsans by declining the office. De-
spite their assurance that such proceeding wholly
undcmocratio he persisted, and August 20 no re-
turned his commission TO the Department.
But Mr.. Gentner had been removed and though he
continued dole mails. no had official rights.
Learning Of Mr. wurzs refusal, he wrote to the First
Assistant General asking for instructions
lie waited three weeks without receiving any reply He
wrote twice again. and finally received letter from
Mr. Stevenson, saying that his first letter had
either been lost or not received. and ask
ing him repeat its purpOrt. lie did ~, but
has received no rspy Ia the meantime his supplies OF
stamps postal cards had short. He hllcd ont
u blank application ordering what was inperatively
needed, ana forwarded IL to Washington. He waited
TWO three weeks aud receiving reply wrote again
lie also wrote several letters asking the DcPdIth"
what IL proposed to DO ia tue case OF his ONCE re shld
nc ala not wish to retain IT, but ho wonld hho
to have a successor appointed; ms a'C'unls
audited uud his bondsmen dl'chnrged. liememberins
ne might he familiar with the general practice OF the
Department. NJ Gentncr pointed out to him that when
accounts ol the po,tmA,crs every three months. ne
RAD sent on his accounts september 30 tog ther "h
cheek The money due the Government but hat re-
Ccyed answer lie also showed that II was not the
practice or Mr.. Stc'en'ous predecessors TO remove
officials and then expect thrn Ia continue TO
perform the duties OF ON eS. or. he snd, II i"
~ - 10 rc,rl I'M, method AS an innovation peculiar To
tms Admin ,trition. thcn be wan rd about 10000
STAMPS sell 70 tue people Of COLLEGE Point VINO w"r"
req arm. tncm, did not hsvo left IN
Mr. Gcn,ncr sent six letter. of mi. kind to the D.
parmcu together with three acquisitions for supple
without receiving any Three months hal gone
by. and the only way 80 which IA" could Oh ain the
stamps and cards necessary fr the people wa hy buy
lux them of Postmaster Hickey 10 Flushing, or
AZ the general Office Ia New ork. Tho Government
owed h about 500 Hud as ue saw no chihro ol s"rHt
lug liquidation 81 The tuouut he SEIZED lot ~
ped envelope, that hr htP. nd To have lrft be-
longing II tho Government a'd chchi!srl Ihrh IT
tw.i-crut stamps. Wirh H. sold AMI pad himself. lie
wrote Department informing o. 81 h-Aud eNprcss"i
pIrd1uablr curiosity t. kuo Il 10 the iuvdrlablr
WAY 81 doing pu.tar-, flpay ono Of hl- tcqui-iuon
blanks back with blue pencil mark drawn through
his name rs postmaster. aud beneath II the
words L. NJ" Across the sheet VS.
written 81. r.. Writ. T. NJ. com. August .. So" Mr.
Grnturr then wrote ala appealing letter Ia Mr. steven
ami b'-0ught HIM 10 sop The offensive partisan
rulIotiu- long cupIgn to road 90. flo tod hum u't
Wufk had r"i tHu weeks before AMI mat II no ala
not -eud hin -pur stamps. an ut his Icc"unt' or APP
point "a ne postmaster November {. ha would shut
up tho Office. the night 20 thht date George J..
Pitt came around to Mr Grutucr. s"r' aaI -d hr h"l
been appointed. and I- G+uturr turned over 10 hlm
tho b,xs And the miflbt4-. He had stamps or other
supplies TIE College Point people had boon buying
sta ms In Flushing FOR nearly month.