The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-27
WILL NOT RESIGN.
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE.)

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE.)
specific averments has never been i'm
it is believed to be beyond successful chal-
lenge. These main points may be thus
summed up, each in a sentence: First,
names of military postal clerks were put on
the general roll till the military appropria-
ton became available; then they were
transferred to the military roll. Second,
the bond premiums of military postal clerks
were paid for good reasons which are plain
ly set forth and which had the approval of
the controller. Third, the purchases of
Porto Rico supplies were made from the
regular department contractors named I'M
der competition and at regular contract
prices. Fourth, the vouchers for expenses
of department officials travelling on official
business were made as required by the au-
ditor. Fifth, the lease of the Washington
pOstoffce was shown to be entirely justi-
fed Sixth. the apparently double payment
riers' claims Is fully explained.
LARNER AND SMITH CASES
These points embrace all that are spec
lating to appointments, including the in
dividual cases of Larner and o. III. Smith,
and thus the matters open to question are
reduced to the appointments which all told
involve thirteen clerks and seven cleaners
Even this is not irreducible minimum,
for several Of these appointments, as shown
in the explanatory statement. were per-
fectly right and beyond any question.
more than one-half of the inspectors re-
port is taken UP with minute and detailed
statement as to the cases of Larner and o.
II. Smith. OF the latter l had no knowledge
some recollection, as it was the only one
of the cases that was appealed to me. Lar
ner had been appointed a military postal
clerk for Porto Rico by the first assistants
bureau. He went under a promise from
that bureau of compensation at the rate
of 81. 400 year About that time L fixed
the general compensation of clerks in Porto
Rico, as / was empowered to do by law, at
81, 200 year. When Larner returned he
refused to settle his unsettled account on
that basis and appealed to me. He in
sisted that he had been promised 81, 400, and
/ found on inquiry that this was true. L
ordered that he should be paid what he had
been promised, as L had right to do. Out
of that question of rate and out of the ques-
ton of the actual length of his service grew
the whole story of alleged irregularity
which takes up one-quarter of the irf-
spector's report, except as ii involves few
| items of his expense account. One of the
questions at issue in the latter was the
| question whether in the special Porto Ri
royal and calomel should be treated as a
| personal expense or as chargeable to the
government.
when the charges OF, irregularity were
| them examined and, If there were irregu-
| larities, to have them corrected. This is
exactly what was done. The explanations
were reported as they appear in Exhibit c.,
| and TO me most of them seemed satisfac-
| tory. / was the more assured in this judg-
ment from the fact that the comptroller of
| the treasury, who made a searching inves-
| tigation at the time and thoroughly exam
| ined all the vouchers, allowed all except
sl6o in total amount. AS to those points of
| the explanation which were not satsfac-
| tory to me l said in my letter of May q,
| and can only repeat: 1 should not be alto
gether candid If did not say that in some
4 I not anI - he
| or propriety of the transactions. These
| questionable transactions consisted for the
most part of placing on the roll few per-
| sons the need OF whose services was not
| clearly shown. When these facts developed
| the proper officers were instructed that
| every proceeding which could not be justi-
fed should be remedied and stopped.
THE CHARwoMEN.
1.-The same report of the inspector made
in 1899 states at the conclusion that during
the course of the inspection. he. Beavers,
requested the inspector to inform the in
| spector- in-charge that when he struck the
| names of the charwoman off the stations
II would be well not to mention them i'm
| his report. they were personal appoint
ments of the Postmaster General. do not
| know whether this statement was made OF
! not but the fact is that OF all the appoint
| ments referred to in the report / had per-
| sonal knowledge of and personal interest
| In only one That was the case of a most
estimable newspaper woman. long a sue
| cessful Washington correspondent, whom
/ had known for twenty-five years. and who
| through misfortune. in much distress
| knowing her need and being able to help
her i should have been brute IL | had
failed to do As she was not the roi
| OF eligibles. she could not be made clerk
| and | requested that place should be
| found for her on the roll of laborers.
| Months afterwards 1 learned TO my sur
prise. that she was enrolled as a cleaner
| and though refined lady of education, had
conscientiously being doing cleaners
work. Immediately l sought TO find a place
J r,oro suitable to her position and ante