The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-24
AMUSING SCENE IN THE HOUSE
Attempt to "Get Even" with Mr..
Maxwell, Of GuillOtine Fame,
Who Didn't Behead Political Turncoat
Quick Enough to Suit the States
man from Jasper.

cupied the time of the House for three
quarters of an hour this morning. They
succeeded in raising quite rumpus and
bringing an Indiana citizen into more
less disrepute. Bretz is the Jasper Repre-
sentative of the Second congressional dis
trict. Hasenour the postmaster at Celes-
tine Dubois county. and Maxwell the off,
cial headsman at the Postotfice Depart
ment. Mr.. Bretz charged Hssenour with
having attempted to bribe him with S15
to secure his retention as postmaster and
Maxwell with having turned deaf
ear to the demand that the impudent
postmaster be summsrily removed. The
proceedings created considerable excite
ment at first. during which the members of
the House crowded around the Repre-
sentative of th5 Second district as If to see
O dog fight: and then it resolved into the
funniest and most ridiculous scene of the
session.
When Representative Bretz entered the
hall of the House of Representatives at
noon it was noticed that he was in a state
of nervous agitation. He carried in his
hands q bundle of manuscript and stepped
with an elertness which attracted atJen.
tion. He trombon his spectacles at
times. so as to focus the membership of
the "Bear Garden" as the House is
popularly known. and when he sat down
ut his desk he looked anxiously at the
Speaker. As soon as the journal of yester-
day was read and approved. Mr. Bretz
stood up and addressed the Chair. He said
he arose to question of personal privilege.
Being recognized by the Speaker the Rep
resentstive from Jasper said: Some time
ago / had occasion to recommend
q change of postmaster at little
village In my district. Accompanying
my recommendation l filed number of
personal letters to me. asking me to
recommend the person / did recommend.
Somehow or other-I do not know by what
means-that recommendation and the let
ters accompanying 1t became lost IN the
multifarOus rules and orders amt mOditica-
tions of order by the Postotfice Depart
ment. Later on. on the 18th of June. had
occasion 10 tile charges against the post
master IN question based upon a printed
letter, which send to the desk and ask to
have read" The Clerk of the House then
read the following letter:
CELEsTINE, Nov. 1S 1890.
Mr.. w. ID. Haunnet
Dear sir-will you please be so kind and let
10 IL this post Office will be moved not. L
hope you will not move IL. / will promise you
anu give you my hand. and gust as shure as my
publican strate state ticket the next time, and
no botty can scare me Oud OF it any more like
this time. 1 am sorry that did not voad strate
this time. but was to much excited on
tnat day, as i stated before. | served as
election sheriff all day and outil one o'clock
that night. Everybody lookt az me that day
and talk aboud me being republican sheriff
This mad me excite and so did not gust wad TO
do when stOmpt my ticket Mr. q. +. Zeehr
heard is working to get the Office. or course he
Is working Onder III. Seng aud J. j. MOstady
and Jos. schlegel the main Democrats here. and
he wants TO move the ufice TO j. j. MastOday O
strong democrat Zeehr Ia gust working for
whisky. and make up lyies against the ether
few men has to laf. will shiye due as L say
here please let hear from you. Yours truly,
JNO HosENoUR, PM
Mr.. Bre.z then addressed the House. He
said: "ferhaps / ought to say that the
Fourth Assistant POstmaster-generaPs at
tention was never specifically called to tie
language of the letter: but upon that let
ter based my charges of incompetency.
etc., and did call his attention to the fact
that the charges were filed against this
postmaster. The matter was never taken
up for action. The letter which has just
been read. should xplain. vas addressed
10 the chairman of the Republican GEN.
trail committee of that county. 1t
was generally understood. | believe, in
1888 that the postmaster who wrote that
letter in 1880 did vote the Republican
ticket under promise that he would re-
ceive the postothce II the Republican party
was successful. True TO that promise, es
|
mended and appointed postmaster by the
chairman of the county central committee.
In 1890. at the time of the election. there
came up some question as TO whether he
HssenOur still held TO his promise, and
hence the letter ves written which has
been read at the Clerks desk.
Il have again appealed TO the Fonrth
Assistant Postmaster general to make the
change. 1t was denied me. and my request
was steadily refused. On the 10th day of
the present month l received n letter from
the postmaster. who signed the letter |
have just had read. upon which based
supplemental charges. and also filed them
with the Fourth Assistant Postmaster
general / not only filed the letter, but
filed the envelope on which was the post
mark, showing where the letter mt allied.
called his attention specifically and
personally to the letter and tO the language
of the letter; and TO ms certain knowledge
that original letter and my supplemental
charges have been on his desk ever since
the 10th OF this month. but, as have said.
no action was taken. L was over there
yesterday and saw them on his desk. |
now send to the Clerks desk letter w hIch
L have received and ask him 20 read it and
after 1t Is read ask that my supplemental
charges, which are based on that letter. he
also read" The Clerk read as follows:
CELEsTINE. sept, 1893.
Dear Friend-I will trop you few lines about
the 7 matter in Celestine. / hope you will be
as think will give the best Satisfaction. don't
think that there ar men beare want IL 10 20
We're it shall 20 the balans is gust bogr to SIN
ther names TO move the Office. Dear sir wat
pOldck belong 10. | was always q democrat,
gust good as the next man. Also always
helpt you wen you run for an office as we'll as
any botty els. Wat made me gauge some in
polidIck four years ago was a big interss to me
alrhopgh Inever toocht no pard in the campane
last fAll on Gather site. Hope you will let me
keap the office heare. there blendy here
wanst the Ofiice To stay wet me. tha say that
tented X all right and was willing 10 wat on pa
rrn lkyl IN 81 all 4 m
proud OF IL TO have seich talk ! VIII make pres
send OF SIS II you will led me keep the office.
no you dond wand any think. No ditierensi gust
make you praissend or dot sum and hope you
will keep this letter as a strictly privaod ledder
between me and you, also pray you once moro
TO led me keep the u. O.. hear. | hope 10 hear
from you so0n-your friend.
JOHN HAsENoUR.
WASHINGTON, Sept i6. 1898.
To the Fourth Assistant Ps sstmasier.G .G eneral:
Sr-I make the following presentment against
the present postmaster at Celestine; Ind: First.
he has attempted To bribe public official by Of
ferlng him money. as Is shown by his letter