Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-06-28

The postofflce secret service men who
have been doing the silent act in Phila-
delphia, Columbus, Allegheny City, and
numerous other cities and towns, for
several weeks past, have at last reach
ed Wheeling, and every letter carrier
and postoffice employee is "on to- the
strangers, and the carriers and others
interested are quietly keeping tab on
them, and are noting all their move
ments.
The detectives were promptly spot
ted on their arrival here, and every let
ter carrier was at once informed OF the
appearance of the men, and was given
description of them.
Up to last evening it was thought
that but two of the secret officers Of the
department had reached Wheeling, but
others are expected in day or two, and
full report of the habits, methods and
industry of the Wheeling letter carriers
will in due time be forwarded to the de-
partment at Washington.
The employees of the local postoffice
are naturally good deal worked up
over the presence of the detectives, for
they have not visited city yet, as far
as is known, without recommending the
removal of a number Of carriers. In
Philadelphia, where thirty-five addi-
tional carriers had been asked for, they
recommended the discharge of seventy
five men, in Columbus, O., they shook
I'D the force in great shape, recommends
ing number of removals; at Pittston,
Pa. the entire force of carriers was
recommended for removal; at Wilkes
barre. Pa, seven men were suspended,
and two were asked to show cause why
they should not be dismissed, and at
various other Pennsylvania towns there
was a vigorous rafting of dry bones
about the postOfices.
The detectives slip into a city without
the knowledge of the postmaster, en-
gage quarters in some quiet place, and
then start out to shadow the carriers.
They will pick carrier. as he leaves
the postoffice, follow him over his
route. note the volume of his business,
the length of his route, the time he
takes in covering it, etc, and pay
especial attention TO the private habits
of the carrier, whether he frequents sa-
looms either while on or off duty, and
note all his peculiarities. When the
detective gets through with one man
he will take up another, and as from
three or four to a dozen of the secret
service men work together in a city, 1t
is not long until they have full infor-
nation respecting every employe OF the
| postoffice. 1t sometimes happens that
they enter a city, complete their work
and depart without either the post
master or any of his men suspecting
their presence. while in other cases, as
in Wheeling, the first appearance OF
the detectives is known to the men, ana
they are watched quite as closely as
they watch the employees of the ONCE
The object of the detective branch OF
the service is to cut off unnecessary
men in the department, and estaDllsh
a better record for economy and ELL
cheney. There is deficiency in the de-
partment. and the idea is to make bota
ends meet by getting more work out OF
the employees, or rather to have the
same amount of work performed by
smaller number of men.
OF the detectives now in Wheeling,
one was first spotted on the Fulton
route. He is a man of medium height,
HEAVIEST. with black moustache. He
watched the Fulton carrier on two diff
ferent days the present week, and was
also seen in the Eighth ward. The
second man appears to be working in
the business portion of the city.
Yesterday the postoffice employees
were all notified of the presence OF the
officers in the city, and a close watch
will be kept upon all strangers for some