Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-09
MANY HEADS TO DROP
As the Result of a Philadelphia Post
office Investigation.
POSTMASTER FIELD TO RESIGN.
He Does Not Take Very Kindly to the Star
Chamber Method of
A SELECT WASHINGTON COMMISSION

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.l
PHILADELPHIA Oct. s.-There is trouble
in the Philadelphia postofice and a posi-
bility that Postmaster John Field may re-
sign. Some weeks ago a commission con-
sisting of officers of the Postofice Depart
ment, selected at Washington by the First
Assistant Postmaster General, came to this
city and made their appearance at the post
office with their credentials, setting forth
that their business was to make a thorough
investigation of every division and branch
of the Office for the purpose of securing
greater efficiency, if possible, and for the
recommendation of such additions and
changes as were deemed necessary.
Their coming occasioned nervousness
among the employees, some of whom felt
there was more significance attached to the
investigation or examination than what ap-
peared upon the surface. The Commission
took considerable time for the discharge of
their duties. They remained in the city
several weeks, and during that time every
nook and corner of the Office was peered
into and every superintendent, clerk and
the performance of his daily round of
business.
A STAR CHAMBER INQUIRY.
Before the commission, in a room upon
the fourth floor of the postoffice building,
employees were summoned as before an in
quisitorial board. They were subjected to
an examination as to every conceivable SUBJ
ject having either direct or remote bear
ing upon the office. Finally the members
of the Commission got through and returned
to Washington to prepare and submit their
report containing their observations and
recommendations.
Recently the report was completed and
submitted to the Postmaster General. If
nervousness was occasioned by the an
nouncement of the visit of the commission,
despair and agony have since been the ex-
perience of a number of the employees, who
have learned of some of the startling rec
concentrations. A number of heads are to
drop off, that is, unless some potential in
huence is exerted to stay the hand of the
executioner. Postmaster Field will not
talk He declines to be interviewed, and
when asked as to particulars, said he had
nothing to say.
HE CALLED ON WANAMAKER.
1t is known that Mr. Field, accompanied
by one of his assistants, visited Washington
a week ago and had conference with the
Postmaster General. All the Postmaster
would say, when pressed for information as
to the recommendations for the discharge of
a number of employees, was: Nothing yet
has been determined upon. The report of
the commission has not been acted upon by
the department Yet, with all of Mr..
Fields reticence, it is known that the re-
mort is sWeeDinp in its character
The men marked by the commission for
official decapitation are: Superintendent of
the Inquiry Division, Lewis G. Wunder;
Superintendent OF. the Box Division, James
Freeborn: Superintendent of the City De-
livery, William B. Madara: Superintendent
of Stations Bates and Assistant Isaac D.
Mckee. and Stock Clerk, J. J. Vogels.
There are doubtless more than the above,
bus up to the present time they are all of
whom anything can be learned.
THREE OLD EMPLOYEES.
Wunder, Freeborn and Madara are Re-
publicans and have been in the office many
years. Mr. WuDder has been in continuous
service nearly half century, and is known
as the father of the postofice. All three
were retained by Postmaster Harrity
throughout his four years term of service.
Bates and Vogelg are Democrats, and we're
appointed by the latter. The former is
son of the Superintendent of the Free De-
livery System, who has been retained in
the service by the Postmaster General.
Vogels has always been regarded with favor
by postofice officials, and has several times
been complimented when examinations have
been made of the office.
Mckee was an active Independent Re-
dublican, and conducted the campaigns in
thu interest of the late Charles S. Wolfe for
State Treasurer against Silas Bailey, the
regular party nominee, and Hon John
Stewart for Governor against General
Beaver in 1882. Since that time he has
labored in behalf of the Straightout party
organization, and materially aided Senator
Quay in his campaign for State Treasurer in
1885. Mckee was appointed by Postmaster
Stewart.
THE BLOW AIMED AT FIELD.
But there is trouble threatened, and it
may lead to the resignation of John Field.
1t is whispered the gentleman would step
out now were it not for the fact that injury
would be done the Republican candidate for
City Treasury. The Postmaster reposes the
utmost confidence in some of the subordin-
ates over whose heads the official axe has
been raised ready for the blow which will
end their public existence, for the present
time at least.
Those who know anything of the contents
of the commissions report view it as a
blow at Postmaster Field, who has not
given satisfaction to certain class of Re-
publicans, who do not approve of his rigid
adherence to the civil service laws, and as
an intimation that his methods do not find
favor Should the sweeping recommenda-
tions be adopted for the conduct of the
business, radical change would be the re-
suit. Many of the suggestions, it is
claimed, can only result in confusion and
decentralization. While the postmaster will
not talk, there are those who are close to
him who do not hesitate to talk verv
nlainIv