The morning call., 1893-06-18
AFTER HIS SCALP.
War Declared on Morgan
BaCkuS.
HOLDS TOO MANY OFFICES.
Charges Against the Postmaster's
Son May Soon Be Forwarded
to Washington.

ter, is having peck OF trouble just now,
and before it ends the young gentleman
may find himself forced to resign from a
most lucrative Federal position.
The existing distur bance springs from
the recent fight in the California Camera
Club, in which Backus played such an i'm
portant part. but it has very little to do
with amateur photography
1t has caused series of charges which,
it is said, are now being prepared, and
will soon be forwarded to the head of the
Postoffice Department.
The persons who are interesting them
selves in the affair do not say that they will
attempt to prove anything dishonest on
the part of Mr.. Backus; but they do MAIN
tain, however. that they can prove pretty
clearly that while he may be an ornament
to the local Federal staff, he certainly is of
but little use.
The prime movers in the affair, it is un-
derstoOd, are the members of prominent
business firm. which makes specially of
Photographic goods, and they are ably Sec
onded by number of members Of the
Camera Club, many ex-employes of the
POstoffice and one or two others.
The business mems trouble with Backus
grows out of a disagreement over an ad-
vertisement. The young man Is the editor
of monthly paper devoted to the inter-
ests of amateur photography. For several
months he carried an ''ad" OF the dealers
in Photographic goods in his magazine,
but when he attempted 10 triple the rates
on them they withdrew their patronage.
This action angered the youthful editor
and he started out 10 avenge himself His
manner of doing so was quite peculiar.
ln the space in his paper formerly taken
up by the advertisement he printed a
notice to the effect that the house in Ques-
ton had gone out of business.
Whether this was intended as an insinu-
alton that by economy to advertise with
him the concern had forced itself out of
business or not no one knows. Its effect,
however, upon the persons against whom
it was aimed is quite visible.
In fact it is as much in evidence as be-
comes the effect OF waving red cloth be-
fore a mad bull. They are mad clear
through and are eXerting every effort to
make their enemy suffer.
First they issued a circular warning the
public against Morgan Backus aud in
which are to be found some choice bits of
venemOus literature.
Then they consulted an attorney and
began 10 arrange for suit for libel, and
last, but not Least, they inaugurated the
move which is at present making the per
son against whom it is aimed feel quite
uncomfortable and In which they are being
assisted by the many people heretofore
referred to-.
The charges which they are preparing
are based upon the thrftiness Of young
BackuS and will have tendency to prove
that while as auditor Of the San Francisco
Postoffice he draws salary OF $1,000
year he Is so tied up in other business ven
lures that he finds it utterly impossible to
attend TO his official duties.
The truthfulneSs of the charges, it is as
serted, will be proven by a series of affi-
| n vii anh a htr
know, and which go to show that on an
average not over an hour day is spent by
young Backus in the Postoffice building.
After relating the charges the docume mt
which Is being prepared will go on to tell
just where Backus spends the time which
belongs to the Government, and it will be
shown, 1t is asserted. that he is interested
in four or five other concerns, to W hch he
devOtes almost every hour of the day.
The concerns referred to are the photo
graphic paper, printing company,
land-selling concern and a postal maga-
zine. From each of these the Postoffice
Auditor receives salary, aud as they are
private institutions and conducted upon
plan entirely different from the one upon
which Government Office is conducted
the persons who are making war on young
Backus feel that they will have but little
trouble in proving what they charge.
why" said one of them yesterday,
''even an imbecile would understand that
business house is not going to pay man
a salary unless he earns it, particularly in
these hard times, and if Morgan Backus
earns his salary from all the concerns in
which he is interested, is it not only natu-
raj to suppose that he is pulling the wool
over the eyes of Uncle Sam?"
Then there is another matter which the
enemies of the young auditor will touch
upon. 1t concerns the postal magazine.
While the magazine, they assert, is purely
business venture, and in no way con-
nected with the postal department, yet the
letter-carriers throughout the city are
made to act as solicitors for it. This, it is
claimed, Is direct violation of the law
which the Government will soon be asked
to stop.
If Morgan Backus can use the ietter-car-
rlers of San Francisco to drum up trade
for him." said Mr.. Kahn, 81 don't see WHY
and every other man cannot do the same
thing. We pay as much to sustain the
Government as he does. Nothing would
please me more than to have each letter
carrier deposit one of my cards in every
house At which he calls, and | would be
quite willing TO pay well for the privilege"
An effort was made 10 find Mr.. Backus
IN order to learn just what he had to say.
but the effort did not prove successful
although calls were made at several of the
Offices in which he is emrloyed.
1t IS said by his friends, however. that
while he does nOl feel hip hiv alat ad oyor