The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-30


vile, Avon, and CoGmsn. who depended on
him and his mule for the prompt receipt o.
their letters and newspapers. but also 10
American ideas OF good citizenship and
loyalty TO the constituted authorities. All
| who know the circumstances testify that
MosEs's conduct. at a crisis 80 impor-
| tant to himself was very honorable, disin-
terested, and patriotic. Greater men than
| he. In greater emergencies, have manifested
| less fidelity to the public interests. Actu-
ated by such q spirit, and comforted, no
| doubt, by the belief that so obvious and
simple an error as was involved In the
matter Of his annual pay could be rectifed
| without much delay by q Government as
great and powerful as that Of the United
| States OF America, MosEs determined that
TO accommodate the Department and his
friends In Lbertyville. Avon. and Oofman.
he would continue to carry the mail bags at
the annual rate of t5.72, extra compensa-
ton included, until the tangle could be
Strengthened out at Washington; even
though the pay was hardly enough to keep
properly shod the OF hind foot of one OF his
mail mules. And he actually performed
the service at that ridiculous rate Of pay
until April 10, 1888.
But the tangle was not Strengthened out
at Washington. The red tape got snarled
around MOSES worse and worse as the
months went by. 1t twisted itself around
the legs OF PENDERoRAss's bondsmen. some
members Of Congress from Missouri. the
Senators from that State. and the higher
officers OF the Post ONCE Department and
the Treasury Department., both under Mr..
n, tnig nj
HARRIsoN's. Serious questions Of law. OF
statutory construction. of Department preo-
edent and routine arose, and the official
correspondence during several years, con-
corning MOSES and his "a contract. became
80 voluminous that 1t would fill q small
volume. MOSES understood nothing OF all
this he kept on In his simple. straightfor-
ward way. carrying the malls. In order
that the service might not be interrupted.
and depending on the Government to set
him right In the end.
Finally It became apparent that the only
way to cut the red tape and let MOSES out
was for him to become technically de-
fauter on his contract by refusing to per-
form the service. He gave months no
tice in the spring OF 1883. and. at the same
time, wrote. or rather dictated, personal
letter to the Second Assistant Postmaster
General. 1t Is not without pathos and
homely dignity:
"KSos LICE No.. March I. 1883
"DELR sni Inotined the honorable Postmastsr0en-
sral that was compelled to give up my contract
my bid was $500 The Postm astsr At Knob Lick
made Il for me- and made 10 - when he wanted
make II s4oo The Postmsster-Gsnsral wrote me that
for further information TO communicate with you and
state the reason for quitting my contract poor
and fau snA hn- hnl
on - ysarf
1T would be . limited support and II you can do
something for your favor shall be forgotten.
assure you have carried the mail three quar-
tiers Am bound Co quit II there is not . change
NADIA Please let me hear from you soon am yours.
truly. "hosks PEEpxlaRAHa"
In reply. MOSES received curt note from
the office OF the Second Assistant Post-
master-General informing him that II he
abandoned the service 1t would be relet at
the expense OF himself and his sureties.
MOSES held on for thirty days. and then for
ten days longer In order not to embarrass
the United States Government. Then he
quit. and the Department engaged some
body else to carry the mail bags. paying
the substitute So trip. where MOSES had re- |
ceived about one cent and one-eighth trip. |
or $5.72 for year OF $40 thirty-mile trips. |
Then the Hon. ADLAI E. STEVENSON. as Act |
Ing Postmaster General. issued an official |
proclamation declaring MOSES PENpEB-
GRASS o defaulter on his "a contract with the |
and the Sixth Auditor OF the |
Treasury ciphered out the Governments |
claim for damages against MOSES and his |
sureties. The exact amount for which the |
Of the United States held MOSES |
was $1.459.s5.
Such Is red tape. The claim OF the United |
States against the poor faithful fellow was
alive until 1890. when 1t was graciously
or compromised. on consideration
Of the payment by MOSES Of one dollar into |
the United States Treasury. MOSES paid |
his dollar. thereby parting with about one
quarter OF his entire gross receipts for nine
months OF diligent work as q Government
contractor.
No way was ever discovered by the au-
thorities Of the Post Office Department to
square accounts with MOSES PENDERaRAss
On the basis Of equity and plain justice to
that innocent sufferer from the clerical
Dlunder OF another man. He has waited
seven years for the money which he hon.
sstly earned. A bill to pay him for his nine
months service In 1ss7-Ss. at the rate pro-
posed by the next lowest bidder In the COM
petition wherein he figured at 81 a year,
has just been reported favorably by the
senate Committee on Post Ofices.
We think most Of our eaders will agree
With US in the opinion that tho MOSES PEN
bill ought to pass.
rha T..Id O.. .ha ns,ax..o n.-.,.. /