The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-18
PRICE FIVE CENTS.

This last was an extraordinary admission, 10
say the postmaster declined 10 take any men
from gwen certhcaton unless he chose 10 do
SO. Thus Mr.. Paul explicitly testified before tho
chief examiner that he himself, and not shiddy,
tne secretary OF the board, chose out the eligible
from the higher list who was TO be put on the
next certtcation for lower position. But
the first day he appeared before the CON-
it was shiddy who always made the choice and
that he himself knew nothing about It, The fol-
graphic report of his statement TO the chief ex-
aminer, whereupon he calmly admitted that it
was true, and that he did make the choice him
again stated that he did not.
This may be accepted fair test Of Mr..
seems that Mr.. Paul had habituaIly dsurped the
functions OF the board and forced IL 20 act en-
tireiy sueservieEt to his wishes. although he de-
nies this. Shiddy testifes that 1t was. and John
son testites that Shiddy kept telling hlm OF Mr..
Paufs usurparons and dictations, and the fact
that johnson never dared interfere nor
matter is proof positive that he likewise !
dared not thwart Mr.. Paurs wishes. Moreover,
taxable handwriting. from which the board
afterward made smooth copies, an correspond
Ing with the commission, show that he ,,I, inter,
the board, and practically dictated the latter's
correspondence. In the records of the board
agreed to, to the effect that the board would en-
force the decision OF the commission $50 far as
reer IN b Pre;n acopS of me
ter, as shown by the context, for 1t referred 10
the circular forbidding him TO have access tothe
records. 1t shows that the whole board knew
the facts as we'll as Shiddy did, land makes IL
clear that its members are all equally TO blame
considered blameless Mr.. Shiddy's two col
leagues must still share the guilt equal with
him. Their sole excuse lies in the guilt of the
postmaster.
Shiddy testifes that Mr. Paul made his appoint
ments first and then forced him fshidtyD 10
.gerrymander' the lists of eligibles so as TO pro-
Arrnn fah
tain the name OF the already-appointed man.
Mr. Paul practically admits that he did this in
the secretary s.have always been made a a rule
prior to the appointment or destination of
they were made "prior TO appointment, with
possibly an occasional variation" when "the
other words, Mr.. Paul admits that Mr.. Shiddys
accusation is true as regards certain cases lt Is
therefore merely question whether Mr. Paul
acted illegally and improperly III all instances or
only in some.
On Jan. 90. 1888, a certifcation was made for
stamper which included the names OF four
riers. Mr. Paul very improperly refused 10 take
Is another certifcation was made for the same
place. and the lowest of the four carriers certi-
fed on Jan. 20 was again certified, this time
with three stampers, to the exclusion of his
companions OF higher grade, and was appointed.
ton; that given by shiddy. who admitted that
the first certifcation was Cancelled and the
next rearranged "for convenience 10 bring the
proper position" AS Mr.. Paul himself cam
celed the first certifcation and chose out the
man to be aIpointed from 81 the he. second. he, OF
honest gerrymandering. But this Is not the full
measure of his misconduct in this particular.
from the second certifcation for stamper
on Feb. 1S, 1888, had actually
been appointed stamper on Dec 9. 1887. two
and one-third months before, and had been pro-
NOTED to carrier Feb. /, 1855. In other words,
Mr.. Paul selected the man whom he desired out
Of the carrier list passing over carriers OF higher
average, appointed him as stanper. and then
promoted him 10 be carrier. without even wait
Ing for the stuffed" certitcatiOn from which he
more outrageous piece of official misconduct
1t would be hard TO imagine. 1t Is. however. so
far from being unique that IL Is simply sample
of the misdeeds shown in the analytical state
lent compiled from the certiication book and
other records. 1t is these records. even more
Mr.. Paul. They show the grossest Irregularities
One man.. Wigman, was examined for
APTd L. 3SS psr Hs Cent? st VERY
Paul Immediately appointed him carrier.
and afterwards, on May 8. certifcation was
Tabert, examined as carrier, was certified as
stamper on April IA. 1888, having already been
a On tad "a nq Ia srr;nr rn'Hs
case still has recently been reported by Shiddy,
but the commission has not yet had time to veri-
TRIUMPH was appointed March 1, ] SIS, and be-
gan work March %. although not even exam
h and sfed ut be s6b nor n4s the
himself certified until April ii. On a number Of
occasions the postmaster refused to make any
ing them as void, which was entirely improper.
| How fiimsy were the pretexts on which these
Of made be s
one certifcation, void was not held 10
invalidate another when it contained
wished to appoint. Again, the postmaster
| would often cancel a certifcation on the pretext
| that man was a nonresident, and yet in one
instance he afterwards appointed TO office one OF
| these same nonresidents. Sometimes the void
certifcations were employed to use up a candi-
not. 1t is difficult to discover any reason for
| such methods of making and refusing TO make
| appointments from them unless we accept the
statement OF Shiddy that they were cooked" SO
as to get men who were not desired out of the
| way. In number of instances but one name
was certified. Again, it is impossible to see why
| the postmaster should have accepted such certi-
| fication If honestly trying to obey the law The
only possible explanation seems to be that given
by Shiddy, to the effect that these persons were
| already appointed, and mdke names would not
have altered the case at ALL Men were contin-
ually singled out from the higher lists and certi
| fed on tie lower although there were plenty of
Others on the higher lists with superior averages
To the favored ones, who were likewise willing to
be certified for the lower places Other men were
certified for positions on l0werlists without their
consent and for no conceivable reason. unless IL
| was to juggle with the certifcation. once after
| a man had been certified three times and not
! chosen. and was, therefore. no longer eligible.
| the postmaster coolly proceeded to appoint Nor
| was this solitary instance of the kind. Some
| times the certifications would be so twisted that
Of the entire regular list for the lower grade not
| one would be appointed. Appointments were
| frequently made prior TO the certitcaton in any
| form. Even after the visit OF Chief Examiner
| Webster, last fall, the postmaster continued 10
| appoint men prior TO any certihcation.
| In short, the official records show, beyond
possibility OF dispute, that the lists OF ehgbles
| were twisted and garbled In almost every con-
| ceivable manner in order TO produce swindling
tested altogether TO appointment and other men
| appointed, although having rightful claim to
| the chance. In order TO make use OF these swim
ding certifications IL was absolutely necessary
that two parties should be privy TO and
| cognizant to the whole transaction, viz: tho
party making the certification, that Is, Shiddy,
| and perhaps his colleagu and the party
making the appointment, that Is, the postmaster.
| Mr.. Paul. Unless botn parties equally
guilty, il follows of necessity that shiddy
was either the tool of Mr.. Panl Mr..
Paul the tool OF Shiddy. For Mr.. Paul
to plead innocence is equivalent TO his
pleading imbecility, for no sane man could
have made appointments from succession OF
such certifications without pereeiving their
| character, and IL is quite incredible that no
| could by mere chance have picked out from each
| certification the very individual 20 favor whose
choice it was designed. Mr.. Paul cannot plea d
| ignorance of the certification book. for his own
signature, as is right and proper, stands therein
| opposite the name of every man appointed Mr.
Paul alone benefited by the crookedness OF the
| cerfifications, for he alone had the appointing
| power; there could be no possible object N