Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-23
CHARGED TO TOM NASH.

L ne recent Senate resolution Tor an
inquiry into the causes of the in
efficient mail service is in govern
ment circles considered timely and
important. Probably since the
formation and organization of the
railway mail service there has
never been such good cause, SO
many real causes for complaint.
Postmaster General Dickinson
need not plead the baby act-that
he is burdened with incompetent
clerks. 1t is claimed that there is
absolutely no truth in that state
ment. Here it is considered that
he is simply burdened with Thorn
as E. Nash of Wisconsin.
The clerical force of the railway
mail service, in the department at
Washington was as nearly perfect
when this administration came in
to power, as it could be. 1t had
been organized with the assistance
of Col. John Jameson, Of Wiscon-
sin, when he was assistant super
intendent, and it had afterwards
been reorganized and perfected
under his direction and authority
as general superintendent of the
railway mail service. Postmaster
General Villas was wise enough
and prudent enough to retain Col.
Jameson at the head of the service
until February, 1887; when he
yielded to partisan opportunities
and promoted Nash from the chief
clerkship of the department Of
general SUPPLEMENTARY of the
railway mail service That is con-
coded here to be the greatest blum
der of his administration of that
department. There is no DISPOSE
ton upon the part of those who
are conversant with facts, to decry
or injure Nash; but when Postmas-
ter-General Dickinson tries to cast
the blame upon the clerical force
and upon a clerical force so efici-
ent as that in the railway mail ser
vice, it is considered time to call a
halt and tell the truth.
1t may be objected that part Of
the blame for the inefficient service
rests with the clerical force of the
office of the second assistant post
master-general. That, too, is met
with stern and emphatic denial.
The contract office, it is claimed,
was in good order when Col. w.
r. Thompson, of Michigan, turn
ed it over to A. Leo Knott, of
Maryland There were men in
the Office then, and some of them
remain until this day, who, it is
alleged, are better fitted to fill the
office Of second assistant postmas-
ter-general then Knott, and there
are clerks in the office of the gen
eral superintendent of the railway
mail service who are better quail
fed for that office, it is claimed,
then Nash. These are held in
government circles to be plain
simple matters of fact, and sus-
ceptible Of ocular demonstration
daily in this city, in the offices
named. No one hears complaints
of inefficient clerks in the office of
the first assistant postmaster-gen-
eral.-[ Evening Wisconsin.
The above is probably the re-
suit of some jealous politician who
desires to cast reflections upon
Mr.. Nash's abilities in the present
important position he now occupies.
Mr.. Nash was formerly a resident
Of our sister city Centralia, and all
his interests lie largely in this
county, but at present he is a resi-
dent of Washington. Politically
he is democrat, but we believe
he will compare favorably in point
Of ability with his predecessors in
office. Prehaps Gen. Dickinson is
trying to find some excuse to dis
charge Mr.. Nash and place some
Of his political friends in Mr..
Nash's position. Such is life in
politics.