Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-10
POSTMASTER BROWNE
REMOVED FROM OFFICE
William Il. Head, Secretary Of the
Regular Republican State Com
mittee, Appointed in
His Place.
REASONS FOR MAKING THE MOVE
Personal Use of the Funds of
the Office.
APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY


The following dispatch from Wash.
ington was received by the Gazette YES
tsrday, through the Associated Press !:
The President today appointed William
d. Head as postmaster at Wilmington, Del.
AS Postmaster Brownies time does
not expire for more than a year, the
appointment oil another man to take his
place Is virtually dismissal from
Office OF Postmaster Browne. who has
never, so far as is known, rendered his
resignation.
REASONS FOR THE REMOVAL.
The REASONS for the removal OF POST
master Browne have been known to q
limited number of people for some
time, and they ARE. in plain words,
maladministration OF the affairs of the
office on his part, although to limited
extent. The full story, in this connec-
ton, as obtained from reliable sources,
is as follows:
In accordance with instructions from
headquarters, an unexpected eyamina
tion of the finances of the Wilmington
postoiiice was begun on Sunday, August
18th, by William j. Maxwell of this city
and Major Little OF Washington, two Of
the best known and most efficient cost
office inspectors in the employ OF the
government, and az a result of their
work, which ended at Q clock on the
following Tuesday morning, an actual
shortage OF 1895 was found in the money
order department of the main office and
proof that there had been a shortage of
something over $40 in the general
Office money up to the Saturday night
preceding the investigation. This latter
amount was made good, with the ex-
caption OF $50. which neither Mr..
browne nor his assistant. Harry II.
hillary, could account for, by deposit
at the First National Bank as soon as
u opened for business on Monday morn
ing.
The inspectors arrived at the Office
about 10 O'Clock Sunday morning. The
postmaster was there, but when he was
called upon for his hooks showing the
general accounts OF the office. he in
formed the inspectors that his assistant,
who was away, had the combination to
the safe and he could not open il.
Whereupon the inspectors Immediately
took possession OF the cash drawer 10
the money order department. There
they found.i in addition to the shortage,
checks and memoranda, which were
signi tioant, showing that thsre was 1902
OF the shortage credited to postm ,ster
Browne, $50 to Harrison Gould, the
money ordsr clerk, and So to relative,
who occasionally assists Mr.. Browne
around the office.
when asked for an explanation, Mr..
Browne told the inspectors that he was
OF the opinion that he had right to
use the money, 30 long rs he made il
good at the proner time. This excuse
wGs not accepted and Mr.. Browne was
called upon to make restitution i'm
mediatcly. He bowed to the ineyita-
hle, but us it was impossible to obtain
money from bank on Sunday the in.
spectors allowed him until Monday, ard
early on the following morning he paid
over the shortage to the inspectors,
giving them nine 500 bills, one $40
bill, one $40 bill and five 81 bills.
The work Of Investigating the AFFAIRS
OF the money order department at the
main Office was completed early on Sun
day afternoon, and this remainder of
the day was consumed in examining
the accounts in the money order de-
partments of the sub.stationa about the
city. which were found to be correct.
The inspectors returned to the main
Office on Monday morning and, although
Mr.. Billany, who was out of the city
for a brief visit, bad not returned,
Postmaster Browne was able to produce
some of the general books of the office.
The work of Investigating them was
begun immediately and continued until
it was completed, at IL o'clock that
night. AT about 9 O'Clock in the even
ing Mr.. Billany returned and his ac-
this examination on Monday that the
discovery was made that there had been
q discrepancy of something over $40
on Saturday night, but as the money
was in bank on Monday, with the ex-
ception OF the 800 which could not he
accounted for, the inspectors found only
an actual shortage of $50 in that de-
partment
Their work being completed, the i'm
spectors prepared complete report,
showing the exact conditions, as they
found them, also, citing the fact that
restitution had been made to the extent
noted above, and recommended the i'm
mediate removal Of Postmaster Browne.
The report WAS forwarded by the in
spectors to the chief of this division
and by that official to the Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General at Washing
ton, and he probably sent the report to
the Postmaster General.
tended throughout the past year and
the report showed that during that en-
tire period the postmaster had been
making temporary use of the funds oil
the Office in his own affairs.
TWAS supposed at the time that the re-
port would be acted upon Immediately,
according to the Recommendation, and
change In the management OF the
office was expected TO be made during
the week following the examination.
The. course would he for the Post
master General or his assistant to pre-
sent the facts to tine President and ash
for ths removal OF the incumbent, Ia
accordance with the recommendation,
and, II this action should be taken II
would deyolre upon the President te
nanlo his successor, which course Hat
probably followed.
While it as pretty generally believed
by the few who knew OF the stats oil
affairs at the Eostotflce that MIR. Browne
would be removed and Col. Henry A.
du Poet would be called upon to recon
mend person to succeed him, the de
lay in action is not surprising. as Col
du Point was abroad at the time ant
had been home only short time wher
the assassination OF President Mckinley
occurred, and thus interposed further
delay. President Roosevelt evidently
placed the investigation OF the Will
mington postoilice matter among thi
earliest OF bis official duties.
1t ia nertinent to state, in this con
neotion, that the investigation by thl
inspectors showed the accounts of As