The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-07
BROPHY TO BE REINSTATED
TERRE HAUTE CASE THAT HAS AT
TRACTED MUCH ATTENTION.
Warren Postmaster in Danger of For
port in the Western Union Case.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

I6SullS OI Luo lnNeSClSaIlOn WHICH mas DeSn
carried on by inspectors of the Civil-service
Commission have not yet been received, al
though they are overdue and appear to have
been advertised extensively in advance of
transmission. Unofficially it is learned,
however, at the department that efforts
made to implicate Postmaster Small in i'm
proper practices have been unsuccessful.
Candidates for position on the eligible list
might sell their chances of appointment to
others lower down on the list and the fact
not be known to the postmaster. This has
been done time and time again. 1t is an
offense which, if discovered, is a very
serious violation of civil-service ethics and
held by the Civil-service Commission to be
high crime, yet the practice Is common
and is usually confined to members on the
eligible list. If discovery is made the ap-
picant who benefits by the transaction and
obtains an appointment is liable to dis
missal. This is the condition Of affairs
which is said to exist in Anderson, although
nothing appears to have come to light in
volYing the postmaster in the deal When
the Civil-service Commission makes it's re-
port on the case to the Postoffice Depart
ment a postoffce inspector, probably Mr.
Fletcher, of indianapolis, will be assigned
to inquire into the case. Indiana comes un-
master General Heath, and when all the
facts are before him ne will take such
action thereon as may seem to him best. In
other words, he will do as he pleases, and
the Republicans of Indiana have come TO
look on his judgment in such matters as be-
ing sound. -
In the case of Brophy, the Terre Haute
postoftice clerk, who was dismissed owing
to a Misrepresentation of facts, it can be
stated by authority that he will be rein
stated either by the voluntary action of
Postmaster Benjamin or by order of the
Postoffice Department. 1t is believed, how
ever, that this action will be taken with the
tacit understanding that Brophy will resign
in the near future and make way for a sue
cessor in harmony with the local adminis-
tration of the office. Considerable attention
has been attracted to this Terre Haute case
by reason that it was investigated by
joint commission consisting of inspectors
from the Postoffice Department and Civil
service Commission. There have been six
similar cases of investigation in Ohio and
Indiana during the last five months over
dismissals. In five of the seven cases the
investigation has sustained the Postoffice
Department and in two of them reinstate-
ment was ordered, one of them being con-
ditional on the resignation of the party
complaining. -"
The Postoffice Department has no infor-
nation as to the outcome of the fight at
Warren, Ind in which Hamilton, the in
cumbent, refused to get out to make way
for Capt. j. 5. Elliott, appointed to sue
ceed him. The finish however, is plain.
1t appears that Warren was made a presi-
Dental office short time before the end
OF the Cleveland administration and Hamil-
ton insisted that he was entitled to serve
four years from such reclassification. He
accordingly refused to make way for Cant
Elliott. who reported the fact to the de-
partment. Mr.. Hamilton was advised hv
wire that he had been removed and his sue
cessor appointed. Captain Elliott was in
structed to take possession and advised to
take with him a deputy United States
marshal, who would have authority to ar
rest the obstructionist and forcbly eject
him from the premises. A. case in kind oc
Cured recently in Iowa, where an OBJ
streperous Democratic postmaster was
thrown bodily out of window and instrl1c
tions given to prosecute him for Illegally
attempting to exercise the duties of a
United states of1cial without authority.
The report which Perry 8. Heath. the ars,t
assistant postmaster general, has filed with
the Court of Claims in the claim made bv
the Western Union Telegraph Connnanv
against the government on business done
during the Harrison administration win
form the basis for an appropriation bv
Congress of over $250,0OO in favor of the
Western Union. The history of this claim
is an interesting one. When Mr.. Wana.
maker assumed the office of postmaster
general he fixed the rates for the trans
mission of official messages for the gov
ernment at very low figure, the minimum
rates being one-tenth of cent word.
The Western Union handled the business
under protest, and at the end of the Harr,-
son regime filed an application with the
court Tor permission to bring suit against
the government for what was considered a
fair compensation for the work done. The
matter dragged along indefinitely and the
government and the telegraph company NJ
timately both agreed on Mr.. Heath as
referee. He put several of the experts in
the department at work examining into
the papers in the case. Telegrams TO the
number of l, 7595O0 were examined and COM
putation made as to what the charges woulo
amount to at the valuation for such service
at the present time. He found that the
total amount would be $610 40. against
which payments have been made amounting
to $351, 600, leaving a balance due Of S25S. 500
An appropriation by Congress will be neces-
sary before the money can be paid over
but with the Endorsement of the Postofice
Department and SECRETARY of the treasury
which will come along in due form. the
amount will eventually find its way into
the treasury of the telegraph company. The
charge is made that Mr.. Wanamaker fixed
this extremely low rate on telegraphic busi-
ness for the government to prove how
cheaply business might be DONE thereby
hoping to score a point in favor OF the
government postal telegraph system
The Navy Department is more concerned
than it would have the public think over the
discovery that an attache of the Spanish
legation, in the person Of a Spanish naval
officer has been for several months engaged
in an inspection of our fortifcations along
the Atlantic seaboard. Uneasiness has been
augmented by the recent suggestive Ut
teraEces Of the new Spanish premier Aza-