The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-28
WHY THEY WERE REMOVED.
Reasons for Decapitating Dozen Indiana
Republican Postmasters.

Republican FOstmAstere.
WASHINGTON, July 27-The injunction of Sc
crecy has been removed from the reports of the
Senate committee on postofices and post-roads
upon the nominations of dozen or more Indi-
ana postmasters appointed to positions created
by ths suspension of the incunnbsnts. In the
case of d. w. Kaisber, of North Manchester,
successor to Shelby Sexton, it is reported that
the latter was soldier and his successor was not
The charges are declared to be purely Of polit-
ical character.
The same declaration is made with regard to
the charges against M. M. Hurley, who was sue
ceeded by John B. Mitchell as postmaster at
New Albany.
In the case of Charles J. Harvey, late post
master at Mount Vernon, the committee finds
that the suspension was made upon a charge of
violent craftsmanship, he having, as was alleged,
been engaged in euchreing a Democrat out of
Office" The committee finds that the charges
were untrue, and intimate that the man was
complained of by his party friends for "a lack of
interest" IN his party's welfare.
M. s. Lenley, who was succeeded by Mr..
Robert NJ Robertson as postmaster at Upton
ig declared by the committee to be man of
high character, and his removal is ascertainsd to
have been SOLELY for political reasons
In the case of Joseph Ernest who succeeded
Oriah Colson as postmaster at Sullivan, Ind,
the committee report that the appointment was
secured on the sole recommendation of Congress-
man Cobb, while large number Of citizens pro-
tested against it Mr.. Ernest is, however, de-
clared to be competent to discharge the duties
Of the Office, and the charges brought against
Mr.. Colson are ascertained to be wholly of
political nature"
In the case of VIM. Fl. Evans, who succeeded
e. r. Pinney at Princeton, the committee
ports its inability to hear of any charges of any
nh mat Nv LAT
ter from Congressman Kleiner to that effect.
Upon the nomination of Herman Freygang, to
be postmaster at Angola in place of Francis Nc
Cartney. suspended, the committee fnds that by
letter from Congressman Lowry, from
that district, Mccartney charged
with being San active, aggressive and
extreme partisan" It was also said that
some Irregularities had occurred in the Office,
but their character the committee was uaable
to ascertain. On the other hand the committee
satisfied itself that Mccartney conducted the
Office with credit and ability and that his &C.
counts were in all respects correct "The re-
moyal," the report says, twas evidently made
for the purpose of putting Republican out and
a Democrat in. The person nominated had
been very active in political matters. serving as
chairman of the county central committee and
other like places"
With respect to the suspension of Vim. NJ
Kendall, who was postmaster at Plymouth Ind. +,
the committee reports that Kendall has satisfied
himself that the charges against him were of a
political character, and he recommends the con-
frmation OF George Reynolds, his successor.
The committee reports that Charles "a. Forris,
postmaster at Winchester, was suspended ''sole-
ly for political reasons"
Capt w. Fl. Hart postmaster at Frankfort,
Ind, was suspended, the committee says on ae-
count of the charge of offensive partjsanship"
1t is true that he was an active Republican, and
had been for some time active member of
the Republican State central committee of In
diana; ne was, however ,good. postmaster and
had been good soldier He did not wish to
resume the duties of the Office.
With respect to Alfred P. Bone, suspended
from the postmastership at SAelbyville, Ind,
the committee reports that he was gallant sol
der; that he promptly applied to the Postmaster
general to DO advised of the charges ii any there
were, against him. and received no answer and
then applied through Senator Harrison, with a
like result. The committee ascertains from a
letter written by CONGRESSMAN Bynum recon-
me2ding S. l.. Major, the nominee, that Bone
was charged with offensive partisanship." hav
ing circulated notices for Republican meeting
through the postofice. Bone declared this
charge to be absolutely false. The committee is
satisfied that he was removed merely for political
reasons The report concludes "If the re-
lection of Mr. Major could result In
placing the Office at the disposal of a
soldier the committee would feel like
recommending that course but as the SEN
ate can only pass upon nominations presented to
them, and as Mr.. Major seems to be q compe-
tent person, the committee recommends that the
nomination be confirmed"
The committee reports that 1t has ascertained
that mo charges against the personal or official
character of Frank G. Morbaueh, postmastsr at
Cambridge City. who was succeeded by Juliet
NJ. Jones, were filed. He was conducting Re-
publican newspaper, and was removed for polit-
ical reasons only"
With respect to the suspension of George I
Reed, postmaster at Peru, the committee finds
he was charged with offensive partisanship, alb
sence from his office on election day, and the
corruption Of voters, all of which charges it is
satisfied are grounclsss. His removal the com
mittee thinks, was simply to find place for a
Democrat" and recommend the confirmation of
his successor, VIM. P. Hale.
In the case Of II. W. Cook, to be postmaster
1t Michigan City. in place of John Fl. Peters,
suspended, the report cites charges specifying
acts of partisanship, in refutation Of which
however, it embodies letters from a number of
Democratic citizens of the city, and the commit
tee regarded it as abundantly shown that the
removal of Mr.. Peters was solely for political
reasons" and that the charges of offensive par
tsanship were manufactured and untrue