The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-20
VERY SIGNIFICANT STRIKE
Donbam's Carriers Omit Soon After
ROOseyelt's VISIT TO Terre Haute.
Fair Typewriter at Muhcie Back at Her Ma.
chine After Brief and Unhappy Honey
moOn-Seyeral Peru Citizens Swindled.
ROOSEVELT RUSHED THINGS.

Went Through the Terre Haute Postotfice at
a Great Rate-Donham Carriers Strike.
Special TO the Ind Gbapons Journal
TERRE HAUTE. Ind. May 19.--Mr. Theo-
dore Roosevelt. of the National Civil-serv-
ice Commission, arrived here this morning.
went through the postoffice scandal at
lightning speed and left at noon for Wash.
ington, possessed of all the information
necessary to correct understanding of
what was done by the gang in the effort to
evade the requirements of the civll-service
law. He said to your correspondent that
he cut short his visit to the worlds fair to
come here, investigate and report on this
case. The investigation was directed To
the causes for pOStponement OF the civil
service examination in this Office. involy-
ing the charge that the local board was un-
animation. This covered the main Issue.
which was the attempt to evade
the law. as Postmaster DOnhem frankly
admitted to Messrs Foulke and Swift.
Senator Voorhees, secured postpOnement
of the examination on the allegation that
the local board appointed by the commits
sion had refused blanks to Democrats. or
had treated them discour:eously. Mr..
Bailey. the special examiner who was here,
traced this charge down to the statement
discourteously, and when pressed for the
name of the offender gave that of an EN-
ploye who is not a member OF the board.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he would not express an
opinion. He said he had not read the At
torney-generaPs opinion. and authorized
your correspondents to say that he had not
said. and would not say at this time,
whether this office Is to be considered I'M
der the law.
He took stenographio statements from
ex-Postmaster Greiner. Mr. A. Il. Foster,
DR.. Roberts. Mr.. Charles Baur. Mr.. John 4.
Lamb. Postmaster Donham and MIR. Craw-
ford Fairbanks. on his own solicitation.
Mr.. Foster and Dr.. Roberts represented the
Democrats who oppose the DODham style
of doing things. MIR. Baur told of the offer
of Fairbanks to buy Greiner's resignation.
with the object of making change In the
postmastership to avoid the civil-service
law. He also told of Mr.. Lamb coming to
him and say ing If Grelner would resign no
charges would be preferred against him.
Mr.. Lamb gave his statement at the post
office. and when he left the room where the
testimony was heard In private he was un-
usually flushed in the face. Soon after he
left Democrats of the Lamb following be-
gan coming to the postotice and were
ushered into the room by the postmaster to
bolster up his case. Among them were
Judge Taylor, Dan Fasig and Jacob c. kol-
sen. Mr.. w. L. Ball, editor of the
Gazette. put in en- appearance and
was also heard by Mr.. Roosevelt.
He also heard the story of DOMAINS at
tempt Friday night, to get possession of
the Washington mail pouch, which con-
tanned the questions prepared by the CON-
mission at Washington for the examination
here the next day.
While the examination was going on in
the postmasters room the would be letter
carriers appointed by Donham were inside
the mail room. but someone gave them the
tip and they speedily left the building. As
q matter ohfact they had no right To be In
the office, their appointment not yet hav-
ing been made by the general.
The Donham letter carriers went on a
strike this afternoon, They had come to
the conclusion that they were no nearer to
receiving full authority than when he as
sumed to appoint them last Friday night.
They could get little or no satisfaction
from Donham. who told them il might be
two weeks before their appointments came
from Washington. They have been guyed
as they trailed after the regular carriers.
and after Roosevelt lett the city there was
such a hopeless look on the faces of the
bosses that the mon concluded they would
not subject themselves to any more ridl.
cula