The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-20
THE OLD CARRIERS.
Congressman Curtis Still Working for
Them

If the Topeka letter carriers who were
discharged by Postmaster Frank Thomas
are not reinstated it will not be the fault
of Congressman Charles Curtis. Con-
gresham Curtis has forwarded the fol-
lowing letter to the first assistant post
master general who will decide:
Il herewith hand you the application
for the reinstatement of the letter car
riers of Topeka, Kan, who were wrong
fully discharged June 10. 1-.3. The state
ment of the case herewith shows that
their treatment was the most outrageous
ever recorded in the history of the post
office department. In January, 1898,
President Harrison placed all the post
offices where letter carriers were en-
ployed under the civil service. But here
it might be well to note that the Topeka
office had been under the civil service
basis for years, by both Republican and
Democratic postmasters.
In May, 1898, Mr.. Frank Thomas, a
Democrat, was appointed postmaster and
the 18th day of June he discharged
Is carriers and four sub-carriers. He
stated to the carriers that they had been
discharged for political reasons, but in
a few days letter was received by each
of them, informing them that they had
been removed upon the recommendation
of the postmaster at Topeka, for incom-
potency and violation of orders and in
structiOns.
Il presented the case of the carriers to
the postmaster general and the first as
sistant, Mr.. Jones, and it was considered
so strong a presentation that an inves-
tigation was ordered, and after the mat
ter had been fully examined into, Mr..
Thomas was discharged because of his
conduct in the matter of the discharge
of the letter carriers.
But this did not help, nor restore the
discharged carriers. I then pushed their
claims, and a result, the civil service
commission found that the charges on
which they were dismissed were utter
ly and wholly without foundation, as in
dicated in letter from Mr.. Roosevelt,
head of the civil service commission, dat
ed November q, 1893.
t"The discharged carriers were restored
to the eligible list, and could be rein
stated, but the superintendent of the pos
tai service held that the action looking
to reinstatement must originate with the
local postmaster, (see letter from Super
intendent of free delivery, December 13,
1889
This was in December, 1893, and two
of the men were put on as substitute
carriers, there being several vacancies,
and additional carriers have been allowed
but Notwithstanding all this, and the fact
that it is nearly four years since they
| were unjustly and wrongfully discharged
and three years and a half since they
were put on the eligible list (for one year,
not one of these men has been put on
| as regular carriers. The letters herewith
submitted, show that the II discharged
carriers are competent and faithful and
1 do not believe any better qualified men
ever wore carriers uniforms.
Now 1 ask that these men be rein
stated. 1 submit that if the conduct OF
the Democratic postmaster was such to-
ward them, that it Justified Democratic
| postmaster general in dismissing him
! from the service, and that their case was
| so strong that a Democratic administra-
| ton was forced to put them in the eligi-
BILE list, that justice demands that Re
| publican administration restore them to
their former places"