The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-24

"ePfcschAutiVc tho l'lacc as House
Taiegrapiier.-.SInny waysin Which
tho Appointce Gould 10 DIadc OF
Great Value to Gould In Certain
Contingencies Which Might Arise.
New YoRE, Dec. 23.--,rhc Herald
Dcm.) has the following from Washing.
ton: What is tho purpose OF Jay
Gould'a monopoly in securing for one
OF its confidential employees the post Of
telegraph operator ut tho Capitol?
There arc two Geographic positions at
tho capitol--.one on tho senate aud the
other on the house side. The former Is
controllelb the secretary OF the senate.
Tho latter is u part of the patronage OF
tho clerk OF the house. Tho Western
Union Company las heretofore had no
control OF either OF these operators.
William Kelser has been the house
telegraph operator for four years. lie
was appointed as a Democrat, by
Democratic clerk and, notwithstanding
his political affiliations, was retained
by the last Republican Congress. 1t
was reasonable 10 expect under these
circumstances that he would continue
: to serve when the Democrats ragaired
their conSrol OF the house. On the con-
trary he was dismissed last week, and
/. j., NlcQrystal was appointed in his
stead.
So far as\appearanccs go Mr.. kclser
proved Satisfactory official. lie was
an excellelAi telcgrapher, one OF. the
best in tho business. lie was genial
and accommodating and popular with
the representatives.
What the public is interested in,
however, is not that he was dismissed,
but why the clerk should have appoint
ed rs his successor man who directly
represents IVES tern Union influences.
WORKING FOR M'cEYsrAL
Several months ago Mr.. Marean, the
manager of the Western Union tele.
graph Office here, began working up n
sentmmtin Mr.. McCrystal's behalf.
His efforts in this direction were supple
mented by two, ii not three, OF his sub
ordinates whose positions are such rs to
give thcm,a wide acquaintance among
public mcn.
4 petition reciting Mr.. McCrystal's
qualifications was industriously circu-
lated, and every one who was supposed
topossess political influence was asked
to sign it.
Mr.. Kelscr made strong effort to re-
tain the p!slcr, and he also presented
strong petition TO Clerk Kerr which
bore two score or more oil good names.
But kelser WITS dropped and the West
crn Union MIN secured the office.
Perhaps resolution OF inquiry will
be offered in tine house asking why the
Western Union was SO solicitous in se-
curing Mr.. McCrystats appointment
and why the clerk OF The house should
have selected one ,oi Jay Gould's en-
ployes when he might have found
hundreds OF equally good operators who
owe no fealty TO the- Little Wizard OF
Wall street."
TIL c position OF house teicgrapher is
auniquo one in its way. The office is
connccter with the executive depart
ments and the presidential mansion,
and all private and public kilograms be-
tween the house OF representatives, the
cabinet officers and the White House
pass through his hands.
Under the three Democratic Con-
crosses which proceeded the late Con-
gress the house tclcgrnpher had the
privilegeof tho floor. Il is fair to as
sumo that that privilege will be again
extended by the present Democratic
Congress-.
4 GOOD THING FOR WESTERN UNION.
Tho advantage it will be TO the West
ern Union to have ono OF their repre-
sentatives filling this place is very clear.
1t is an advantage tina. might, ii prop.
crly worked" be OF incalculable bcne-
tit TO them, as it might be TO any other
corporation when legislation affecting
its interests is pending.
Still greater is the advantage when
it is remember that Postmaster General
Wanamakcr has renewed his recommcn-
dation for a postal telegraph.
This scheme is the 6de ltoir OF the
Western Union Telegraph Company. Ii
adopted by Congress it means, il not
virtual destruction to its interests, at
least I general lowering OF rates all
along the line. The defeat OF the scheme
means Il perpetuation and the contin-
ued payment OF enormous dividends on
watcred stock.
All OF Nlr. Wanamaker's confidential
kilograms TO- the chairman OF the post
Office committee and members OF the
house will pass through the hands OF
the house operator.
Ii he is an INSCRIPTIONS man-if, in
short, he owes his place to Western
Union influences anu he desires to re-
cirrocate their kindness to him-thcre
will be nothing to prevent him from
acquainting the Western Union officials
with the contents oil these or any other
kilograms. !.
| do not mean to say that Mr. McCrys-
tai would do this He is young man
OF excellent character, with a good pro-
iessional and social standing. is pre-
sumed ii he accepts the position that
he will respect the condolences reposed
in him. But he is, to say the least,
unfortunate in the character of his in
dorscrs.
Mr.. McCrystal has been for several
years Mr.. Marean's private secretary,
and the position OF house telegrapher
cannot be more remunerative than that
which he has held i'll the Western Union
Office, as it pays only 500 month. Ii
it were worth five times this sum it
would hardly repay the frantic efforts
which Manager MareQn and others con-
nccted with the office have put forth to
secure tho nlocp tHg51