Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-14
In the Fine Art Of DISQUALIFICATION Babu
Tara Chand Made His Pretentiou,
Auditor General Appear tiL. . Rank
Amateur-A True Story.


concluded the annual or biennial over.
haul OF the books Of the cutcherry II
wis discovered that by some un-
heard OF turpitude one stamp of the
value OF three pies q farthing) had
been unaccounted, for. The stamp
could be clearly traced TO the desk
and control OF Babu Tara Chand
Thence II had disappeared.
Babu Tara Chand was not summa-
rlly dismissed; neither was he made
the target OF n criminal prosecution. In
stead he received lengthy letter ON
blue foolscap paper. pointing out In
detail how certain property OF her
most gracious majesty the queen en-
press-to wit, one Indian postage stamp
OF the value OF three pies-had been
committed to his care ON certain
date and that up to the date OF writ
Ing no adequate explanation had been
forthcoming OF said postage stamp.
The communication fell upon the
luckless Tara Chand like a bolt from
The blue. 1t left but three courses
open TO him-viz:
(al Resign from the service.
farthing postage stamp IN manner
deemed satisfactory by the auditor.
(c) Recoup the farthing.
or these three courses It will be
obvious TO any person with the shall
lowest, knowledge OF. the Bengali chan,
acter dat The third 'bne (cJ~as from
the outset beyond the pale OF con
sideration. The first (a) was also too
terrible TO contemplate. Therefore
Babu Tara Chand sat down and COM
posed letter which was masterpiece
In its way and in which he requested
to be relieved from routine service for
period Of four weeks to enable him
to make such search among the rec
ords Of tho department. etc, MS might
enable him TO trace the missing stamp.
! This reasonable request was readily
granted.
-Four weeks later Babu Tara Chand
applied for further term OF two
weeks wherein to draw up a report
upon the results Of his Investigations
In pursuit OF the Grant postage stamp.
This. having passed through the eight
cen or nineteen different hands neces-
sary for such an application. was In
turn duly granted, and at the end Of
the fortnight Tara Chand submitted a
report OF 216 foolscap pages. explain
Ing that, despite the most diligent eff
forts and Inquiries on his part, he had
been unable TO secure the slightest
clew TO the cause OF the deficiency.
When the department OF audits and
fnII
n,ent and presented report OF the
same In official precis TO the auditor
general tho auditor general through
the secretary OF the assistant auditor
general OF the presidency of Bengal
notified Babu Tara Chand that Il was
not wholly satisfactory and that the
circumstances bearing upon the loss OF
the stamp would have to be definitely
explained and proved or the deficit of
three pies would have TO be made good.
Babu Tara Cband stuck TO his guns
and wrote again. He wrote many
times. AS often as he wrote hlI ex-
plantations tho auditor general wrote
Simplifying his official dissatisfaction
with the same.
Eventually, one 6ne day about nine
months subsequent 10 the discovery Of
tho loss and some two years subse-
quent TO its alleged perpetration, tho
auditor Renerai--lfis interest I'm the
matter OF farthing postage stamp be-
Ing overwhelmed IN a frontier war
budget-eent an ultimatum 20 Tara
Chand. Tho loss OF the postage stamp
would have to DO definitely explained
or its value, the sum OF three pies, be
duly refunded TO the treasurer OF tho
Swnnxigabh district
Then Babu Tara Chand became DOS
sessed OF an inspiration which even
10 this day is posted 20 with pride
and complacency by even the most cir
rumiOcutory Of the red tape depart
ments within the purview OF the gov
'rnment OF India.
Babu Tara Chand wrote 20 the audi
tor general ms follows.
sir-in reply 20 your memo. OF eth inst.
have the hoppr 90 state terrible conha-
grafton OF my cook house ON 9Th inst
hopelessiy sunihilaung all documents I'm
tho case % lost postage stamp OF three
pies. property OF her most era ciOus mai
esty tho queen empress Therefore by
grace Of Cod and under regulation para.
Aesfpfs AtgAloU cAAAl OF departmental reg
uiatious. volume 81 CBenEaD. 1 request you
forward FOR my Information complete
copies 81 entire file OF correspondence in
this case. 50 that I can report again upon
same 20 your satisfaction. I nave the
honor 60 be. sir. your most obcdient. hum
Die servant, TARA CHAND
Deputy Subassietant Clerk 70 the Deputy
Collector. Swaukibagh
The auditor general never replied.
Tara Chond had won his case.-Ion-