The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-12


1T appears from the evidence that AS
sistant Postmaster Woolley has held the
position of President of the Hudson Coun-
ty Republican Committee. and of the Jer-
sey City Republican Committee during all
the time he has been assistant postmaster
and continues still 20 hold them: that
the Hudson County Republican Committee
had charge of the fall campaigns and the
Jersey City Republican Committee of the
spring campaigns; that beginning with
March. 1898, these two committees have in
turn sent to the carriers letters request
ing or soliciting subscriptions or CON
tributions' to meet the expenses of the
campaign; that where these requests
were not complied with they were follow
ed in some cases by a second notice; that
the last of these requests were sent to
the carriers in the fall of 1900 asking con-
tributions for the national campaign; that
Assistant Postmaster Woolley during all
this time was known by the carriers to
be the president of these committees and
in some cases his name as president APP
pears on the letter heads on which not
only the solicitations were written, but
also the receipts for contributions. The
evidence for this is contained in the origi-
nal letters of solicitation and receipt.
handed over by carriers. and now on file
with the Civil Service Commission.
Mr.. Woolley made the following state
ment to DR.. Washburne, June s, 1900:
Q.-Are you member of the campaign com
mittee IN this city?
Ayes, sir.
Q.-What is the name OF the committee, and
what is your connection with it?
A-The Hudson County Republican Committee
and the jersey City Republican Committee.
Q.-What is your official connection with these?
Al chairman of both % them.
Q-Were You not aware that these circular let
tiers We're sent to the carriers in this office?
Al was not unaware OF it; no, sir
Q.-You were aware of it?
Al was aware OF the fact; yes, sir.
Q.-As chairman of the county committee and
the city committee?
AIS chairman OF the county committee; yes,
sir.
Q-Naturally, as the head OF the committee
you desired many contribute would?
A-Naturaily so; yes. sir.
1T is evident from the fact that he was
president of the committees actively en-
gagged in the solicitation and receipt of
campaign funds that he was concerned
in such solicitation and receipt within the
meaning of the law. The solicitation was
made by his own committee with his
knowledge; 1t was therefore his own act
When the committee received the money
he received it, since it was received in pur-
suance of his solicitation. He being an
officer of the United States has therefore
solicited and received from carriers, en-
ployes of the Government. money for po-
litical purposes; and no amount of mega
tive testimony can overthrow this con-
clIsion
Rule II. paragraph l, of the Civil Ser
vice rules provides:
Any person in the executive civil service of
the United States who shall willfully violate
any provision of the Civil Service Act or of these
rules shall be dismissed from office.
Il respectfully ask on behalf of the
National Civil Service Reform League
that this rule be enforced by the dismissal
Of Assistant Postmaster Woolley.
In addition TO the charge of violation
OF section . of the Civil Service Act. /
also call your attention to charges against
Mr.. Woolley and Superintendent of Car
riers Bertsch of coercing the political ac-
ton of the employees in the matter of as
sessments In violation of section 2, clause
.. subdivision of said act and pretudic-
ing persons in the public service for re-
fusing to contribute to political funds. In
violation of subdivision of the same
clause; and also of pernicious activity in
violation OF section I35 Of the postal laws
and regulations edition 1889.
The evidence collected by Dr. Wash
burne shows that these contributions were
not made voluntarily by the carriers. but
were made through fear of persecution by
the officials under whom they We're serv-
ing. That this fear well grounded
and that the failure to contribute was
generally followed by changes of routes
injurious to the carriers affected and by
the assignment of vacations in the win
ter season, an undesirable time Is also
shown. Briefly summarized. it appears
from the evidence that Carriers Sherman,
LauX. Knobloch. Stock, and others did
not contribute. that they were pounded
by having their routes changed. and get
ting bad vacations in the winter time
that others like Coleman. Pete Theurer
Edge
tribute. and avoided trouble. while still
others. like Freund. Loeney. Theodore
Johnson. Joseph Johnson, and Wines 6f
ter having suffered in this respect by
failing to contribute finally made their
contributions, and were not further mo-
Tested.
The testimony of certain witnesses is
50 significant that | feel justified in cali
ing your special attention to II.
Joseph Freund states that he asked
Superintendent Bertsch for the reason
why his route WAS changed, and the sup
erintendent refused TO answer. Mr.
Bertsch said to him. When you had the
route you did not know how to keep It,
to which Freund replied. i never had any
Mr.. Bertsch admitted this
Freund then said. I did my work all
right. Mr. Bertsch,' and received the re-
ply. Well. | am not here to tell men what
to do to keep their routes
William Fink testified that although
in hard straits for money. ne contributed
81 and had the following conversation
with superintendent BertSch a Few days
afterward: The superintendent asked
me If # was me that put that 81 in the
box. and | said Yes, sir" and | said |
Why. what of it, And he said the !
committee had mentioned that it was
such "A small amount, and | said 'Mr !
Bertsch, you know as well as | do that /
| could not afford to give them that"
and he said We'll, they did not notice |
that: they did not think anything of
"Thomas Knoboch testified that just 1
previous to the spring election of 1899. a I
man came to his house and handed him |
"A written letter. requesting him to con-
tribute toward the ward or district COM
mttee and that this letter was signed by !
John H. Weastall and T. w Woolley. .
assistant postmaster. knobloCh refused 4
to contribute. He further testified that
he had not contributed since 1880, and
that last year his vacation was in Janu- /
airy. the year previous it was about mid |
winter, and this year he is assigned for |
vacation as No. % very low down ON |
the list.
Since the examination conducted by |
DT Washburne an investigation has been |
made by certain inspectors of the Post |
Office Department and the charges |
against Mr. Wooley We're dismissed be- |
cause he denied under oath that he had |
any knowledge of the use of his name |
by the campaign committee. and because |
none of the sixty carriers examined by |
the inspectors alleged that any official |
In the office had suggested the advisable
of contributions This la at |