St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-11-01
POST OFFICE AFFAIRS.
Some More Rumors and Talk About the
Removal.

Some More Rumors and Talk About the
Removal.
POSTMASTER Bowman has received
positive orders from the post Office de-
partment at Washington to remove the
st. JOhnsbury Office from its present
location to the B. G.. Howe block on
Railroad street. Bowman has the doc
uments and the whole business is set
tied"
This was the first post Office rumor
that struck the scribe early in the
week. Major Bowman in reply to in
quiries said he had received no papers
or intelligence of any sort, kind or de-
scription in relation to post Office mat
ters. So much for that.
The next snag the scribe struck was
this statement made with unnecessary
emphasis:
"The Caledonian talks like a
- about this post office business.
1t is going to be moved and everybody
knows and admits it. Howe has gone
ahead on the strength of positive as
surance from government officers and
knows what he is about"
Very likely.
Next came the report, apparently
we'll substantiated, that Mr.. Howe had
lease signed by the Postmaster Gen
eral and that the business was settled.
The reporter called on Mr.. Howe and
cOurteously asked if he held such
lease. Mr.. Howe declined to answer
directly stating that he did not know
what difference it could make with the
reporter whether he had a lease so
signed or not; that the people might as
we'll make up their minds that the Office
would be moved into the Railroad
street building as soon as arrangements
could be completed, and that if he,
(the reporter), would wait until next
Tuesday he would know all about it.
Through other sources we learn that
Mr.. Howe holds contract signed by
the Postmaster General to lease the
room for post Office purposes for five
years. Mr.. Howe would answer no
questions in relation to it.
Now here is the other side of the story.
Less than three weeks ago, in answer
to inquiries made at headquarters in
Washington, it was "officially" stated
that ne action had been taken by the
department in the matter of removing
the st. Johnsbury post Office, that only
one side of the case had been heard
and that the question was still an open
| one and will not be decided until after
election.
| 1t will be very interesting de-
velopment in relation to the method of
doing business in the post office de-
partment at Washington, if it turns
out that people are permitted to go
ahead on business matters as though
questions were still open and debat-
able, when the documents are all sign
ed, sealed and delivered, and no furth
er action could change matters.
Now few words about the action of
the inspectors. The question is asked !:
''If majority of the people oppose the
removal of the Office why did they not
object earlier 2" For the simple rea-
son that the inspectors have given no
opportunity whatever for general ex-
preston of opinion. In other New
England towns where important re-
movals or post Office changes have been
proposed the inspectors have given
public hearings, Withholding their de-
cisions until after all sides have been
heard. Here it has been close COM
muniOn affair. No public announce
ment has been made in advance OF
their coming, and while here their time
has largely and sometimes altogether
been given up to the friends of the re-
moval scheme. All this in face of the
fact that the public interest in the
matter has been such as to warrant the
belief that hundreds would have at
tended public hearing had opportu-
nifty offered. If this is an honorable
and square way of doing business we
fail to see it.