Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-11-25
CASHIER OF POSTOFFICE FIRED BY
THE POSTMASTER.
|"ABsENT WITHOUT LEAVE
SAYS HE HAD THE VERBAL PERMIS-
SION OF WALTER DAVIS.
First Intimation He Had of Trouble
Was When He Called ut the De-
partment in Washington
Yesterday-Gossip as to
His Successor.

I WASHINGTON. Nov. 24-(Special) Mr..
Stewart, the cashier of the Kansas City
postoitice, has been discharged from his
position by Mr.. Scott, and the postoffice
department here has been officially notified
of this action. The grounds for Mr.. Stew
arts dismissal is that he absented himself
without leave. Stewart declares that he
had the permission of Assistant Post
master Davis, that it was given him YER
baIly and that he told Mr.. Davis that he
was going to Ohio and thence on for a
visit to Washington
The first intimation of his dismissal came
from officials of the postoffice department
here, when Mr.. Stewart called there this
afternoon to pay his respects, and the an
nouncement gave him decided shock The
order of Postmaster Scott will undoubtedly
stand, but Satwart will probably make a
determined fight on the postmaster by way
of evening things up 1t is surmised that
he has had talk with the president with
a view of having himself reinstalled-
Stewart, who is an Ohio man, was one
of the earliest supporters of. Mckinley for
the presidency. After the election and in
auguration he came to Washington and
filed his papers for the appointment of third
assistant postmaster general. While here,
he afforded considerable innocent amuse-
ment. to people by his persistent claim
that the office for which he applied could
not escape him. He was heavily indorsed
by leading Ohioans and by railroad and
packing interests, but was not appointed.
At the urgent solicitation of Major Dick,
Representative Grosvenor, Judge Thomp-
son and others. he was assigned to the
.cashiership in the Kansas City postoffice.
But from what can be learned here. Stew
art was not received with popular ac-
claim and aggravated matters by making
personal reports to the president and the
postoftice officials here on the workings of
the Kansas City postoftice over the head
and without the knowledge of Postmaster
Scott The postoftice department conceded
the right of the postmaster to exercise
his discretion in the matter OF discnarglng
employees not under the civil service, and
as Mr.. Stewart is not SO protected, his
dismissal will doubtless be approved unless
the president should choose to interfere
in his interest.
1t s suggested that possibly Stewart will
be given a job here in one OF the depart
ments. This will be done provided the
president desires to take care of him.
The position pays $3.50 a year and the
scramble for it will undoubtedly be lively
one
Postmaster ST. Scott. who has returned
from Washington, said last night:
Il suspended Stewart on account of abb
sence without leave. As TO whether he
will be dismissed or not depends upon the
department II the department. sustuins
me. the suspension will be permanent
Colonel Scott said that Stewart had not
been at the office since Wednesday. He
did not know whether he was in the city
or not. nor could he say why he had abb
sented himself.
Stewart is disorganizer.'' he said, '.and
has stirred up dissatisfaction among the
boys in the office. or has tried to-
Colonel Scott refused to go into details
and tell in what way Stewart had been a
disorganizer. Colonel Scott repeated:
Il suspended him for absence. We must
have discipline, you know. and in order
to maintain ii L couldn't overlook anything
of that sort
When asked whether this was Stewards
first offense. Colonel Scott said he had Of
Tended repeatedly. Stewart has been in the
postoffice for five or six years. having been
employed there under Colonel Scott's
predecessor. No appointment will be made
to fill Stewards place until the department
has acted