The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-13
Special Dispatch to the 1ntelllEenoer.


WASHINGTON. March 12.-Theroast
administered by members of the house
to the postoffice department, as mem
toned in yesterdays dispatches was
most severe and the spy system as well
as some other features Of the manage
ment win require a special appropria-
tlon for repairs. The most caustic criti-
cism, probably, OF the entire debate
came from Mr.. Cummings, CDemocrat),
OF New York. He related how, several
months ago. he discovered in the New
York postoffice a bridgelike the rialtoin
Venice, stretching across the apart
ment occupied by several hundred
clerks. This bridge was covered with
blinds-a sort OF duck blind, Mr.. Cum
mings saId-the stats OF which could be
raised FOR persons to look through upon
the main work room as women could
peer through the crevises Of . Turkish
harem.
The representative inquired what this
arrangement was for and was Informed
II was "a blind for the spies" In reply
10 an inquiry as to the duties OF the
spies Mr.. Cummings was told they
watched the clerks TO keep them from
stealing the letters.
And who watches the sples2" he
asked.
The answer was nobody"
The appropriation bill had In II a pro-
vision for the perpetaatioR OF this
"bllnd" service throughout the country.
which was introduced ut the instance OF
the department. When the house was
through battling the appropriation had
several holes in It. Where there was
legitimate need there was no disposition
laN
ed as Legitimate. Mr.. Cummings de-
manded to know why the assumption is
made by the department that AL spies
are honest and clerks and letter carriers
ali dishonest" He acknowledged, he
said. that inspectors are needed to In
yestignte offices where money Is lost
and where Irregularities exist, but
gee no reason" he reiterated. why
spies should be placed upon the heels OF
men whose honor has never heretofore
been questioned. The letter carrier
with an honest record Is entitled to the
same treatment as the postmaster gen
eral and his assistants receive but, un-
fortunately, the postmaster general and
his assistants do not think so"
The SPY system Is one count In the
complaint made by the employees recent
~ when the kick was made against
levyIng political assessments in the de-
pnrtment for the Ohio Democratic CAM
paInEn fund. Postmaster General WI.
sons order f6rbIddiRg postcface enl-
ployes from soliciting aid OF congress
men In frrthering legislation in matters
OF concern to them was also scorched,
This Is known as the paddock order."
Mr.. Cummings declared In this conrec.
tion that the subordlnntes are as much
entitled 10 appeal TO Congress as Is the
head Of the department.
The plan Of the department, II success
fil, would create a deficiency In six
months that wound render necessary the
dismissal of half hundred employees
and this makes the design very appar.
ent.
Representative Dovener received noe
tlce to-day that the clerks in the Wheei-
Ing postofflce, against whom charges
were recently preferred. will all DO 70:
taIned. But two will be punished, and
they by deduction OF ten days pay each.
This as the result Of the Investigation,
Their dismissal was recommended by
the Wheeling office.