The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-10
A RUMPUS AT RUSHVILLE.
PRESIDENT HARRISON DENOUNCED.
Charged With Base Ingratitude Toward
the Widow of the Man Who Made
Him Senator-Sample of Civil
Service Reform.

The Journal prints an amazing and utterly
incredible story from Washington about the
Nashville postofice. The present incumbent
of the Office is Thomas NJ. Ochiltree. The
Journal says:
When Gen. Browne the congressman who secured
the removal of Ochltree called upon the postmaster
tergenera TO ask action, the latter official said that
there must be specific charges upon which TO make
the removal, These were filed from citizens of
Rushville. When the nomination was sent to the
senate committee pOstOees and post roads, il
placed in pigeon hole. Several days elapsed, and
call was made at the committee room TO ascertain
why action was not taken, when it was learned that
the charges upon which Ochiltree was removed
would have to be substantiated before the commit
tee The papers were sent for and received from the
postottce department. Then it stated
that in order TO receive action from the committee
the persons who had made these charges would have
to be summoned from Rushville TO testify under
oath and in person TO the truthfulness of the
charges made There was not time before the extra
session of the senate adjourned for the hearing and
so the nomination rests quietly in the pigeOn-holes
OF the committee. Ochiltree the democrat will
thus be permitted TO hold the office until the
meets again, next October or December, unless the
president should conclude to commission BebOut be-
fore the nomination is confirmed. This is not prob
able. The action of the committee creates pre-
cedent against removals OF democrats 10 make
places for republicans, which may prove very
troublesome to the men in congress who being
besieged by ofhce-seekers-
From a prominent citizen of Nashville a
SENTINEL reporter learned some interesting
facts in connection with the matter. The
widow of Gen. P. A. Hackleman was appointed
postmistress at Nashville by President johnson,
at the instance of Thomas A. Hendricks and
William S. Holman. She remained in the Office
until her death, about the middle of President
Cleveland's term. Thomas 81. Ochiltree was
appointed her successor, his commission run
ming for four years from d &C. q, 1887. He Ia
made an efficient postmaster, as every person
IN Drnrhr
the recommendation of Gen. Browne, Robert F.
Bebout, republican hustler" was nominated
for the Office. Mr.. Ochiltree had received no
request for his resignation. He was the first
third-class postmaster in the state to be re-
moved. No charge was made against him
cept that he was an offensive partisan" and
1t had been repeatedly announced that the
president and P. NJ. Gen. Wanamaker had de-
termined to displace no third-class postmasters
on this ground.
In appointing Mr.. Bebout, it is claimed that
the president manifested rank ingratitude.
Among the applicants for the place was the
widow Of the late Senator Jesse j. Spann. He
was one of Mr. Harrison's stanchest support
ers, and his friends assert that Harrison
is largely indebted for the prominence which
led to his nomination for president to the serv-
ices rendered him at a critical stage of his
career by Mr.. Spann. When the president
was first candidate for the Z. s. senate he
appealed to Mr. Spann to champion his cause
|
ton, made an eloquent speech putting Mr.
Harrison's name in nomination. On the
stump Mr.. Spann had no superior
in eastern Indiana. He was a hard worker
for his party and his friends say
his efforts in its behalf fastened his death. 1t
is also said that after the recent election Gen.
Harrison's memory was refreshed with copies
of his letters TO Mr.. Spann humbly and earn
estly begging his active aid in the formers sem
atorial canvass, and that the general wrote Mrs.
| Spann, saying that he remembered the ser
vices rendered him by her late husband, and
intimating that he would not forget her when
the time came to fill the Nashville postOffice.
1t is currently reported at Nashville that Tom
Browne has declared that he will recommend
no woman for postoffice; that men, who can
vote and had political influence, should be
| given all such positions. 1t is also whispered
and Gen. Harrison will be published at an
early date.
Leading citizens of both parties recently
signed a paper testifying to the efficiency of
Postmaster Ochiltree and his assistant, Mr.
John ID. Megee-"just as a memento for his
| family to preserve, you know" 1t is
reported that Mr.. Ochiltree sent
this to Senator VOORHEES, or Senator
Turpie and that its presentation to
the senate committee on postoffices and post
roads really explains why Bebout's nomination
was not reported.
Rushville is good deal stirred up over this
matter, and if the president commissions Be-
bout some interesting revelations are threat
ened