The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-08

discord were given. Slater denied that he
inspired any articles. The proprietor and
editor OF the Gazette furnished a statement
that no such articles were given by him.,
and IL was afterwards learned that the
articles In question were furnished by a
y. Kettler. the superintendent OF carriers,
said 10 Gallmeier, another carrier. that just
before Slater was reinstated Rockhill asked
charges which could be made against
Slater, and Kettler said he knew of none.
This was read to Mr.. Rookhill by us and
ne SAID nothing in regard TO IL.
After his reinstatement slater was again
appointed secretary of the local examining
board, procured the blanks and prepared
Christmas week Inspector Holmes, of Gin
cinnau, had an interview. with Slater in
regard to the charges and spoke of none
except those above mentioned, all of which
Slater denied. Two days Slater
received a letter from Holmes saying that
while in Fort Wayne he forgot to ask
about certain charges, 'ungentlemanly con-
duct and refusal to receive letters ten
dered, lettering and not entering time cor
but was dismissed on the new charges
which Holmes appears to have investigated
anything about them. Slater then pro
cured a certificate signed by more than
three hundred persons on his route. embrac-
family stating that he was courteous, oblig-
Ing. prompt and accurate; that he did not re-
fuse letters nor loiter. and that they were
In regard to the Slater case Mr.. Rock
hill declined to make any statement or dis
were the facts regarding his insubordina-
ton and causing discord among the office
force. Rockhill answered that there were
three or four men In the office with whom
Slater would not speak.
UNWILLING TO UNDO y WRONG.
He was asked in specific cases whether
II the charge turned out to be incorrect he
would be willing TO restore the men dis
missed; he said he would not in some
cases; in others that it would depend upon
circumstances, and in another case that he
would if the department ordered him TO
do so. In every instance he refused to say
he would restore the removed employee.
There seems to have been a disposition to
get Slater out whether the charges We're
true or not, and to make changes as often
as might be necessary for this purpose.
I'm conclusion, it appears TO us that, with
two, and possibly three, exceptions, the re-
movals of employees who We're in the clas-
sif1ed service when Rockhill became post
master were either without cause or for
causes which nave the marks of having
been trumped up to make vacancies. Some
of these removals seem TO have been eff
VIII Viii be ~ accented. sal AND by putting a. new sSV
one in the place, though no resignation was
ever given. Whether these were reported
office Department at Washington will dis
close.
I'VE desire TO express our earnest rcmon-
STRANGE against a system which permits
employees to be removed upon charges
which they are not permitted TO see nor
to answer. Such a system Is unjust, un-
fair, unamerican. We submit that a fair
minded business man, when dissatisfied
with his employee. does not find 1t difficult
to state the causes of his dissatisfaction.
II these are not removed the man Is prop
erly discharged. But to prefer in the dark
charges against the subordinate s conduct
or character, and TO inform him for the
first time of any complaint after ne has
been turned out Is unreasonable end in
i~quitouS. Even in this -esoect, however,
there appears to have been some improve
ment upon the methods of the past eight
| years. During much Of this time the men
were never permitted to know the charges
which (often untrue and libelous) were
filed against them In the departments. =.
Now. however, the Postmaster-generai
| appears to furnish this information, but
too late TO be of any practical value. Re
| in~statement, even when an error has been
committed, is difficult to secure. We be-
lieve reasonable Information of the ground
OF complaint should, as n general rule. be
given the man whom it is proposed to re-
move before final action is taken"
After this report submitted by MeSSrS.
| Swift and Foulke was disposed of, the COM
mittee went into executive session to con-
slider recent charges pertaining to alleged
abuses OF the civil-service law in the rail-
way mail service in the Fifth division.