The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-18
VINCENNES POSTOFFICE.
Benefits from Operation of Civil
Service Law During Past Four Years.
nannlis Iolirnal.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal;
My attention has just been directed to d
communication from Jonathan Keith in
your issue of Oct. u, which is ostensibly an
attack on the ciyil-service law but really
an attempt to cast reflection on my Of
fetal conduct as postmaster from May, 1893,
to June, 1897. If your valuable newspaper
circulated only where Mr. Keith is known,
should not trouble myself or burden you
with this notice of the vaporings of man
whose political disappointments are greater
than his newborn hatred for the civil
service law.
Mr.. Keith plaintively says that the only
soldier left in the service by my predeces-
sor was the first carrier 1 removed. While
this is not true as to the first removals
made, it should also be understood that
pCstmasters cannot make removals at ALL
but only recommendations to the depart
ment on specific charges as to the unftness
of the carrier, who is given ample Ioppor-
tunity to disprove the charges so that he
cannot suffer injustice Now, the basis of
the removal OF this "only soldier" inher-
tied by me from Republican predecessor
was a letter, the original of which should
now be on file in the department at Wash
ington, written by a radical Republican liv-
ing on the route of said carrier, the follow
ing being copy
"VIncennes, IND. June g. 1898
"Mr. Royal Il. Purcell, Postmaster:
Dear Sir-I have asked Mr.. Keith (the
carrier) twice 70 deliver my Wifes mail at
the house but he has refused me- He left
a letter here az the store this morning for
her If he leaves another here l viii re-
port it to headquarters There has been a
paper on the mail box here for two days and
he has not got it yet. Yours respectfuiiy,
E j. CA44LENDER."
Other complaints from Republican sources
had reached me, and l had often admon-
ished Mr.. Keith, who had long passed the
prescribed age for entering the carrier serv-
ice, but without avail; SO l forwarded the
complaints to the department, and he was
removed
Your correspondent further says that 1.-The
only son of veteran" handed down to me
by my Republican predecessor was next
removed. This is not true in substance nor
in fact The carrier referred to was not
removed next, nor was he removed at ALL
The department called for actual time made
by my carriers from June to 20, 1894. Upon
this statement the department, June 2S
1894, wrote:
You have too many carriers. You should
therefore rearrange your service for four
carriers giving them full eight hours serv-
ice to perform each day, and recommend
one for dscOntinuance."
To this | protested, but as is usual in
cases involving curtailment of expense dur
ing the panic, was without avail. Several
months later when an agent of the depart
ment had visited the field and reported our
needs new carrier was allowed and
reported for appointment my substitute car
rier, in strict accordance with the law.
The first two removals made by me were
the subject of an exhaustive personal in
VeStigation by Chief Clerk William H. Web
ster Ca stanch Republican,, of the United
States Civil-serVice Commission, when the
written testimony was taken of the COM
plants to the erect that they had no evil
dence that they had been removed for po-
litica1 reasons, and all this can be found
in the files of the commission at Washing
fnD on hn hnr
no better Republican lives, as president of
the commission, wrote me a letter contain
ing full and complete generation,
Why does not your correspondent allude
to the fact that the department removed
another Republican on the well-sustained
charge of lettering on his route after he
had ten DAYS to disprove the charge and
was unable to do so; and that three Demo-
cratic carriers were removed during my
or otherwise, of all these removals upon
the local postal service? March z, 1885, the
first assistant postmaster general wrote:
Postmaster, Vincennes, Ind:
''Sir-The secret agents of this depart
ment concluded an investigation of your
carrier force on Feb. 49, and I am pleased
to be able to inform you that they found
your service in excellent condition"
After successfully undergoing this crucial
test of official spies. June /, 1897, I retired
after over four years of conscientious eff
fort to do my whole official duty to the
public regardless of politics, creed or cUlor,
and was succeeded by the present post
l.
Commercial, who published at the time the
following Republican estimate of my official
conduct during more than four years, which
is a complete refutation of your CORE
spondents criticisms:
POSTMASTER Purcell retired from office
Monday, and his successor, Thomas H. Ad-
ans, took full charge. The Office
Will be conducted in the even tenor of it's
way, without any disarrangement of the
public service whatever In retiring from
the office of postmaster Mr.. Purcell is GER
tainly to be congratulated on the general
good will bestowed upon him by the cti-
zens of Vincennes irrespective of party. He
has conducted the affairs of the office with
great diligence and care. and has made a
model official. This fact is generally recog-
liked and commented upon by people Of
both parties. The greatest praise that can
be given any man is the moderate COM
mendation of the general public, and we be-
lieve sincerely that Mr.. Purcell has uni
versally received such credit and he re-
tires as an official having fulfilled all his
duties with complete success"
This is a high compliment coming from
my hOnOred successor and I present it to
the thousands of Journal readers as an an
Inhalation Of your correspondents unjust
and untrue charges against my official con-
duct To men not blinded by partisan
prejudice the logical conclusion will be that
the removals must have been in the right
direction to have so elevated the standard
of service as above indicated
ROYAL r. PURCELL.
Vincennes, Ind, Oct. l6 1897.
quite Popular.