The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-01-21
HITS FISK
HARD But
HOLDS JOB
I. ]. Ford, Superintendent of
Mails, Files Serious
Allegations
Hitchcock Buries Document in
Archives and Scouts Idea
of Investigation
Astounding Revelation of Fisk's
Official Acts Is Made
TO The Call
Deputy Derides ROOseyeIt's
"
Deputy Derides ROoseyeIt's
Order to Keep Clerks
Out of Politics

Charges against Postmaster
Arthur G. Fisk, which, if fairly
investigated, must have resulted
in the removal of Fisk or the
summary dismissal of the subor-
dinate who preferred them, were
lodged with Postmaster General
Meyer under date of May 4, 1907,
by T. ]. Ford, superintendent of
mails in the San Francisco post
office.
Charges involving pernicious
political activities ascribed to
alleged orders from the post
Office department. Suppression of
knowledge of a postal service
contract said to be illegal. per-
mission given to fsvorite subordinstes
10 engage in private enterprises to the
detriment OF the service; employment
Of incapacitated relatives. gross vio-
lation Of civil service laws; promotion
of incompetent favorites and resulting
generalization OF the service; neglect
Of duty. incompeteney and failure to
account for moneys received from pos
tai employees throughout the country
for the benefit of the local employees
after the disaster of April, 1906. have
49, -1-s-1e,,fT-- ,s,~oo,, l,olad IN 41e
chives Of the postofice department.
The friendship OF First Assistant Post
master General Frank Hitchcock and
Senator Flint has served TO stall off
an Investigation which II honestly
made would have shown up the rot
tenness OF the san Francisco post
Office or would have resulted in in
valuable vindication of Fisk.
ASKS ONLY REAPPOINTMENT
Reappointment was the only vindica-
tion Fisk sought or that was demanded
for him by his sponsors. Flint and
Hitchcock. The charges have slum-
bered to the soothing tones of Hitch
cocks lullaby. Postmaster General
Meyer has pleaded ignorance of the
existence OF the charges and kept his
promise TO Senator Flint by securing
Fisk's nomination. which. according TO
Information from Washington. is to be
confirmed without further investiga-
ton.
superintendent Of Mails Thomas j.
Ford, who preferred the charges
against Fisk. declined yesterday to dis
cuss them in any way or TO admit or
deny that he had made tha~chargss
sscribed to him.
1T is reported" said a representa-
tive Of The Call to Ford yesterday,
that you fled charges involving in
competency. pernicious political activ-
ity and neglect Of duty against Post
master Fisk. Is that report correct7"
1T would be highly improper for me
20 discuss with the press or with any
one outside the postofice department
the subject Of charges against any one
in the postal service" was Ford's re-
ply.
But did you or did you not make
such charges2r the reporter insisted
POINTS TO RECORDS
The records of the department are
the proper source of such information. .
rs the report that you made such
charges untrue?~
7 must refer you to the depart
rnent," deprecated Ford, declining TO
give a positive answer.
Has any Investigation Of the charges
preferred by you been made by the
Department.
I know of no investigation Ford
replied. as he tried>to close the inter-
view.
cSnfronted with a summary Of the
contents Of the charges filed by him.
Ford declined TO admit or deny that he
had made them or that he knew any
thing OF their truth or falsfty.
The fact is that Ford did prefer
charges. the purport of which The
Call has received from Washington.
in spite Of Hitchcock's efforts to sup
press the accusations. made, as he al
legged. BY an fnsubordinate clerk. whose
dismissal had been recommended. 1t
has NOT been possible to secure q
(-onffuwe5 --sp.r~ n nfsa11e f,o1uxnn 4