The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1903-06-18

PENDENT, by Charles A. Edwards)
1t now appears that all the trou-
bile in the Postoffice Department
the fayoritism, the wastefulness, the
| Irregularities. the deficits, the jobs.
the scandals, and the rest of it-are
the fault OF one Thomas w Gilmer,
an ST. 800 clerk in the Treasury De-
psrtment. Mr. Gilmer was an ex
pert accountant in the Office OF Mr.
Tracewell, the Comptroller Of the
Treasury, aud in that capacity he
had to examine accounts as to which
his superior officer might be in
doubt, or concerning which further
and more accurate iuform alton
seemed necessary. Among these
accounts requiring expert scrutiny
and competent analysis great
many came from the Postoffice De-
partment, and it now trauspires
that Mr. Gilmer's habit Of asking
for explanations gave great cffense
to certain high officials in that
branch Of the public service. When
ever be found charges, entries, sc,
which he could not understand
and he seemed to have found
great many-he went to the emil
nent peraonage supposed to know
all about it, and boldly asked for
light. l ueed hardly aay that he
was not doing this on his own &C.
count. but under the orders OF the
chief, Comptroller Tracewell. At
last, Mr. Gilmer's activities became
50 offensive to certain postal off i.
csre, who had more important cares
than thu accuracy Of their accounts
or the propriety of their expendi-
lures, that they complained Of him
to the Assistant Secretary OF the
Treasury, Mr. Vsnderiip. Gilmer
was rude. He was msdd some aud
intrusive. His requests for inform
alton which the eminent person
J ages in question could not impart
amounted to an insult. Off with
his hesd And it went of. ~ i.
This occurred 10 1899, nearly four
years ago Gilmer was put where
he could no longer off md the great
men of that day.
At the time Comptroller Trace
we'll was mystifsd. ladeed, as late
ly as the "a OF the current month,
he wrote to the Postmaster General
r these words: "Mr Gilmer was a
most competent p,instaking and
, industrious clerk. In my Office be
> displayed none OF the traits OF char
, act.r of which these complaints
were made."- Mr. Tracewell has
, amended aud quslihed this verdict
during the past three weeks-under
what inspiration shall not stop To
consider In his letter to the Post
master General, May AZ, the Comp
troller discovers all sorts OF short
cominge in the clerk to whom be
paid such a glowing tribute jus,
three weeks before. He now regards
Gilmer with suspicion and speaks oil
him in terms OF disparagsment. EVi
IDENTIFY the tim, has come whar
good men must stand together
add when virtue must re5uke wick
edness. There is further testimony
to the bad character OF this wretch
Gilmer. 1t comes from ex-AttorneJ
General Griggs and from ex- Assist
AIT Secretary OF the Treasury Van
derlip. If he had only refraiGet
;, from ask ug those silly questions O
/, such men as Beavers and Mach 81
and Perry Heath, the country woulC
not now DO shocked by the disgust
: log disclosures nov coming to ligh
every day In the Po,totfica Depart
ment.
What the governmental depa 1t
: ments at Washington need is
{ thorough cleaning out with a dem O
Il cratic broom and the psople Ca
0, furnish it. WILL they do in
70 Hanna's announcement tina