Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-29
CASE OF. KEMPN E R
THE PRESIDENT BIAS ORDERED A
RECONSIDERATION.
Former Will Be Given a Hearing on
the Charges Against Him
Mr.. Louis Appeal.

The President has ordered q reconsidera-
ton of the case Of Lewis kempner, the
former superintendent of the registry sys-
tenn of the Post Office Department, recently
removed by Postmaster General Payne, and
Mr. Kempner will be given hearing on
the charges against him. In his petition
to the President Mr.. Kempner says that the
alleged charges are inconsistent and unjust,
that he has never been furnished with a
copy of them nor informed of the charges,
as required by the civil service rules, and
that he has performed his full duty in the
nineteen years he has served in the postal
service He says that no facts are stated
in support of the charge of incompetent
and negligent administration. and as to the
charge of wasteful and reckless eXtrava-
gance in sending expensive manifold regis
tration books to many fourth-class post
Offices he says that he had nothing what
ever to do with their purchase or the send
ing of them.
AS to the other charge of petty smuggling
MI. hempner says in his petition that he
received cigars in the mail from Cuba in
strict observance of existing orders of the
Postmaster General, and that his receiving
them violated neither the revenue nor the
postal laws.
Mr.. Louis Enters a Protest.
M j. Louis, the deposed superintendent of
the supply division of the Post Office De-
rartment. has entered a protest with the
postmaster General against the order of
dismissal, claiming he had no opportunity
10 answer the charges. right which he
says is guaranteed by section Q Of rule - of
the civil service commission
Mr.. Louis writes Postmaster General
Payne. under date of October q, as fol-
lows:
Lest my silence respecting your letter of
sme -dst list, instant to me, notifying me of my
supposed removal from the position of SUI
perlntendent of division of supplies, should
hereafter be construed to my disadvantage.
nave the honor. in acknowledging receipt
OF same, to protest that have never been
furnished with either the substance or the
details of the charge to which you refer,
namely that / have influenced the award
ing OF contracts for supplies to favored bid
GERS and that my administration of the
ONCE has been eXtravagant and wasteful:
that have not been made aware of the
testimony offered in supposed support of
the said charge and have had no oppor-
Iunlty OF defense against the same; and,
1urther, that my supposed removal is in d.
rect violation of section of rule No. XII of
the civil service rules now in force. proyid-
ing as follows:
No person shall be removed from
competitive position, except for such cause
as Will promote the efficiency of the public
service, and for reasons given in writing
ana the person whose removal is sought
shall nave notice and be furnished copy
1
Tor personally answering the same in writ
ing; but no examination of witnesses nor
any trial or hearing shall be required except
in the discretion of the officer making the
removal. Copy of such reasons, notice and
answer. and of the order of removal shall
be made part of the records of the proper
department or office. as shall also the rea-
sons Tor any change in rank or compensa-
TON and the commission shall upon request
be furnished with copies or the originals
thereof
Moreover. this rule has been ignored in
my case. Notwithstanding that on January
q, 1S3, in view of certain publica lions then
appearing in the local press I requested in
writing of my direct superior, the first as
slstant postmaster general the appoint
ment OF committee of persons outside of
ms bureau to investigate fully the system
and mode of transacting all business in con-
nection with all supplies received and ship
ped and contracts made. and to consider
any and all subjects that he might choose
was denied for the reason. as given YER
bally by the first assistant postmaster gem
eral, that it was incompati ble with the adj
ministration of the Post Office Department
to undertake the Investigate ton of charges
made through the press.
Il am therefore constrained most respect
fully to protest against your action in the
premises, and to notify you that | consider
the same unlawful and nugatory, and l
hereby tender myself ready to resume the
discharge of the duties of the position men
toned at any moment. or failing my desig-
nation for that work. to DISCHARGE the du-
ties of any other position within the service
to which / may be assigned"