The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-02
They Will Likely Demand Of Mr.. Villas
Copies Of Charges Against Them.
The Work and Wages of Postal Clerk-The
Possible Result of Putting Lot of
New Men in the Service.


journal reporter that they had been ascertain
ing the sentiment OF the business men on the
threatened strike, and the general feeling was
one of sympathy with the clerks. What action
was taken in reference to to-days meeting could
not be learned.
In regard to the charges against the Brother
hood of Postal Clerks. Mr.. G. c. Meade, chief
clerk of the organization, said yesterday to q
Journal reporter:
1.-THE Brotherhood Of Railway Postal Clerks
emphatically deny that their object is to injure
the efficiency of the railway mail service. and
they characterize the accusation as stratagem
used by Mr.. Villas to divert public attention
from his own trsachery. They declare that gen.
tlemans desperate efforts to reconcile his reform
promises with his speilsman's practice to be the
sole cause of the present decentralization of the
service. To explain this it becomes necessary
way Mail Clerks, issued by the Postmaster gen
eral March 81 1885 This notice is SO worded
that a clerk discharged from the service goes
out with the implication that he has been
guilty of neglect 'inattention.' want of
fdelity,' honesty or efficiency. unless
he can show some other reason assigned by the
department.. However, this iron-clad condi-
ton had no terrors for the men who compose
the brotherhood. Knowing their own integrity
and ability and believing that the dignity of his
against treachery they took the Postmaster gen
erals word and laid aside all thought Of seeking
a surer occupation, and took up their duties with
renewed determination to DO all In their power
to bring this branch Of the civil service to per-
lection. The usual high standard was not only
maintained but improved upon, as is evidenced
by the records of the clerks in the superinteud-
ants Offices covering that period during which
this feeling of security lasted.
AT first the Postmaster general was very
rir n careful a
picion of his dupiicity by making injudicious
removals. The few whom he discharged were
known to have violated rules Of the railway % all
service, and when no cause was assigned for
their removal il was thought TO be magnanimtty
on the part Of Mr.. Villas that prevented his
mating it down against them In "black and
white" No objection was offered when h1 sup.
piled all vacancies thus made with men from
Democratic ranks and the new appointees were
treated with chivalric consideration by the Re-
them in their new and difficult duties.
But when breach was made by
the dismissal of all clerks against whom
a hint of charge could be brought, the Postmas-
ter-general grew bolder and rumor declared that
he meant to promote no more Republican CLERKS.
This he verified SO far that wherever possible he
promoted recent apponteeS over skilled and ex-
perienced clerks. While this injustice was
keenly felt by the men, they only fathomed the
depth of the duplcity practiced toward them
ana Of the humiliation in store for them, when
men of irreproachable character and of incalcu-
liable value to the service We're summarily dis
missed and no line drawn between them and
those who were supposed to have been discharged
for cause
s'They now realized that their credulty had
placed them at the mercy Of a political strate-
gist, who meant to keep his word to them just
so long as their servlces'were absolutely indis-
pensable, and finally to ignore the promise he
had made to them and to discharge them from
the service in disgrace. In their honest indgna-
ton at this discovery, all feeling of pecuniary
interest in the matter vanished. They then de-
cided to organize to combat this premedltated
degradation of their good name. They knew
that to resign and drop out one at time was to
create the impression that they had done so to
escape deserved dismissal To remain till their
services can be dispensed WITH and then to be
dismissed with tho insulting explanation that
such action was directed by the Postmaster
censral, he believing that the service would be
benefited thereby. is a contingency they do not
propose to risk"
ITO all individual requests for causes Of re-
moval.r continued Mr.. Meade. "this notice has
been the unyarying reply. The clerks say they
cation, In order to DO this they have combined
their strength. all individual effort in this dircc
ton having proved futile.
What will be the probable outcome of the
meeting2D was asked
ITO send a committee to Postmaster-ge
Villas to remind him of the unsolicited promise
he made to them on the threshold of his official
career as Postmaster general; also. to demand
that all clerks retired from the service in the fu
ture be presented with copy Of the charges
leading to tLs- removal, together with the name
of the person or persons making such charges.
In addition to this they will now de-
mand the reinstatement of those
clerks who have been removed on the
false charge of conspiracy. In the event of Mr..
Vilas's refusal to do this act of simple justice,
which would be fraught with much perma-
nent benefit to the mail service he will be asked
to accept the resignation of the entire brother
hood. This order is composed of men OF the
highest moral and social standing. and they will
not permit the consideration of few months
salary to deter them from obeying the dictates
of honor"
The following is q copy of Mr. Vilas's special
notice referred to in this conversation:
PoSToFFICE DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF THE PoSTMAsTER-GENERAL
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 81, 1885.
4