The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-08
HAZARD STILL AT IT.
But the Assessor Tackles the
Wrong Postmaster.
ArkInsoN WEARY OF HIS JOB.
Ne II willing - Pay - Esssps Posi-
tier He Ca.'s Get Rid ef-0sn-
lie eseres's Ness.

Democratic state committee owes him. and
the last man for him to strike Is the genial
]. NJ T. Atkinson, who il not only city
treasurer. but very much against his viii
IL still postmaster at Newcastle, although
deputies have been doing the WORK and
drawing the salary for the last six years.
Mr. Atkinson is not merely unwilling to
pay for being continued In ofnce. but
would gladly pay to get rid of the position,
which 10 Q bugbsar to him.
These two circumstances Of MT. Akin
sons inability TO get removed and OF Mr..
Hazards hunger for assessments formed
the basis OF . good story. which culmi-
mated in the treasurer's ofice yesterday
afternoon.
From 1878 to 1883 Mr.. Atkinson was
ssorekeeper at Newcastle for the Oregon
Improvement Company. and he also held
the position of postmaster. Ia ISIS he
moved 20 Seattle and ever since then has
been endeavoring to get relieved OF his
possoffice without avail. He was APP
pointed to serve until relieved by his sue
cessor. and though he has resigned, writ
ten numerous letters 20 the postmaster
general and his assistants, and done vari-
Gus things hoping he would be discharged.
q successor has never been appointed and
he is still posimaste in name. The Office
haunts him like an apparition and seems
to be his unhoiy birthright. He cannot
get rid OF IL, do what he viii, and the pay
of the Office arrives with its customary
regularity, although he does not accept it
A few years ago Richard G. Roberts was
appointed postmaster at Franklin. but he
has since moved to Newcastle, where he is
the Oregon improvement Company store
keeper and is deputy postmaster under
Mr.. Atkinson. although he does all the
work and receives ali the pay. He, too,
has endeavored to resign from the Frank
lin position repeatedly. but the postoffice
authorities turn deaf ear to his entreat-
les. The acting postmaster at franklin
receives ali Communications addressed to
Mr.. Roberts and the latter at Newcastle
attends to the departmental correspond
ence coming under the supervision of Mr..
Atkinson. Thus it is seen that the propo-
sition is complicated.
Mr.. Hazards end Of the story is Of more
recent origin. On July Is last Mr.. Rob-
drts at Newcastle received the folio wing
self-explanatory letter:
sin view of the forthcoming state con-
vention the state organizations are greatly
in need Of funds. have been directed to
request that you will by return mail send
q bank check or postal order for SIS in
payment of first and last instailment of
your verbal subscription. Make check or
order payable to Henry Drum. chairman
and treasurer Democratic Society of
Washington, and forward to mo in en-
closed stamped envelope. II you are
unable or unwilling to pay this sum, then
kindly 30 advise in enclosed stamped en-
velope, when you will not be again called
upon. / am sir, yours truly,
GEORGE HAZARD. Secretary"
This letter was allowed to pass without
. reply, and yesterday messenger. carry
ing the letter from Mr.. Roberts, called on
Mr.. Atkinson at the treasurer's Office and
presented it and made request for the
SIS Mr.. Atkinson was very much pro-
voked, and after reading II over twice and
pulling handful of hair out of his head,
he demanded:
"And so you want some money!"
"Yes, I would like to get the $25." re-
piled the messenger. "You know We need
money now"
"My leg is not very elastic" answered the
treasurer positively. at has been pulled
until all the stretch is out of 1t, and II you
succeed in getting any money out Of me
you'll be a dandy"
After thinking the matter over Mr.. At
kinson indited the following diplomatic
letter to Assessor Hazard:
"Your courteous request for . contribu-
ton of SIS to the funds Of the Democratic
Society of Washington has been received,
and am deeply grieved to learn that the
society is IN the. financial distress you
have depicted. However / cannot recall
h -k<af rvlt
Uses of contribution in the sum of SIS or
in any other amount. and consequently do
no feel under obligations to forward you
. check in enclosed stamped en-
velope.' For the past six years
have been conscientiously but vainly en-
deavoring to secure my discharge from the
position OF postmaster At Newcastle, and
II You can succeed in Fastening the wheels
of the clrcumlocution Office of the post
Office department and secure the appoint
ment OF my successor | will gladly give
you not only the contribution you wish
but q much larger sum. As my successor
l would respectfully recommend Mr..
Richard G. Roberts, esq. AZ present my
efficient deputy at Newcastle. / am not
prepared to vouch for his politics, but In
other respects, which probably cut no
figure with You, ne Is qualified Tor the
position.
The secret of Mr.. Hazards activity In
collecting campaign assessments IL the
fact that the Democratic state Central COM
mittee owes him q considerable sum
and has not the money, % Chairman
Henry Drum has given him carte blanche
to collect il, and he has gone systematic
cally 70 work. 1t is "a new way 10 pay old
debis," but it does not seem 10 have been
very successful so far, for several Seattle
business men would greatly like to get
cash for some Of his checks. which they
are meanwhile preserving as souvenirs.