The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
Though Indicted and Under a Cloud
the Indianian Is Honored as an
Ex-POstmaster General.
CONTESTS FOR NEXT HOUSE
TEN MEN, INCLUDING TWO NEGROES,
ARE CLAIMANTS FOR SEATS.
Losses Through REGULATIONS of Postal
OmciaIs-Machen's Property in
His Wife's Name.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Oct. I.-Another con-
tribution will soon be made to what is
known as the 'morgue in the Postoffice
Department. In the Office of the postmas-
ter general are hung the portraits of men
now living who formerly occupied the posi-
ton. In the ante-room. adjoining the Of
flee OF the postmaster general are portraits
dead. This is the "morgue" The hand
some oil painting of Wilson S. Bissell, of
Buffalo. recently deceased, who presided
over the postal service during the second
Cleveland administration, will soon be
placed in the 'morgue." 1t is customary
to wait until thirty days after the death
of former official before transferring his
portrait from one room to another and that
period of time will soon have passed in the
case of Mr.. Bssell.
There are now living eight men who for
merly occupied the position of postmaster
general of the United States. Their pictures
adorn the walls of the Office of the present
head of the department. The portrait that
attracts the most attention nowadays is
that of Gen. James N. Tyner, of Indiana,
the venerable man whose closing days are
clouded by troubles that came to him as a
result of the recent postal investigation.
The other men whose pictures are seen by
the visitor in the Office of Postmaster Cen
eral Payne are: James M. Marshall, of
New Jersey: Thomas L. James, of New
York; William F. Villas. of Wisconsin; Don
NJ Dickinson, of Michigan; James A. Gary.
of Maryland: John wanamaker, of Penn
sylvania, and Charles Emory Smith, of
Pennsylvania.
There have been forty-two postmasters
general in the history of the country. The
first three, who served under the Continent
tai Congress, were Benjamin Franklin,
Richard Bache and Ebenezer Hazard
Pennsylvania furnished six of the total
number; New York, five: Wisconsin and
Connecticut, four each; Ohio, three and
Indiana, two.
Pictures of Gen. Tyner are in at least
three offices in the Postoffice Department
One, which represents him as a man in the
prime of life. handsome and distinguished
looking, is in the office of the postmaster
general. Another is in the Office of the
first assistant, and another in the room
occupied by the second assistant Gen.
Tyner succeeded Marshall Jewell, of Con-
necticut, as postmaster general July r.
1876, having been appointed by President
Grant He continued in the office until
March II, 1877. His successor, appointed by
President Hayes, was David NICK. Key, of
Tennessee. Gen. Tyner then served as
first assistant under Key. Previously, in
1875, he was second assistant postmaster
general. AS is well known, Gen. Tyner was
assistant attorney of the postoffice depart
ment until the unfortunate incident which
resulted in his retirement from the service
which he had served faithfully for many
years.
Indiana furnished one other first assistant
Perry s. Heath, who was appointed by
President Mckinley. In addition to Cen
Tyner. two other Hoosers served as second
assistant. One of them was Thomas j.
Brady, who held the office during the star
route frauds of 1876, and William j. Brown
who was appointed second assistant by
President Polk in 1885,
The "morgue" of the Postoffice Depart
| ment is one of the most interesting rooms
| in the big granite building on Pennsylvania
| avenue. 1t contains numerous portraits
many of them of historic value. Several of
| them, notably those placed there in recent
| years, attracted attention for their artistic
| merit. Others are cheap crayons that excite
adverse comment All of the departments
have their '.morgues," but the postoffice is
| probably the only that has room set
apart for the portraits of officials who are
living and another for those who are dead
| Ten seats will be contested in the next
| House of Representatives in the Fifty