Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-07-03

believing the public has a right to
whatever information may be able to
give concerning the apparent shortage
I'm the postal funds OF the Cedar Falls
office. l have withheld public discus
sion OF the matter until this time be-
cause I am old enough to have observed
all these years that there Is certain
amount of gossip that must hoat
around until 1t vaporizes and Vanlshes
into thin air before people are ready for
Il statement Of facts.
On Friday. June %. Postoftice In
spectors Patterson. OF Waterloo. ana
Stewart, Of Iowa City. came to CedaT
Falls for the purpose OF making spe-
cial examination OF the ONCE. Ihey
were not making this examination
merely 10 ascertain the financial conai-
ton of the office because no intima'ioh
had been made TO them that anything
wrong was apprehended but they were
out on an entirely different mission anu
hence the financial condition or the
Office as determined by the inspection
was purely an incident In larger plan
that was to be for the beneht OF the
governments business here. These IN
spectors had finished the work at MUS
Catine and Dubuque and were Inakihs
tour OF the postoftices OF the hrst ana
second class in this section of the state.
The balance sheet OF the quarterly
business of this office submitted from
the office Of the auditor at Washington
showed that up 10 Jan l Of this year
the accounts Of this office tailed with
those OF record in Washington TO a
penny. The balance sheet from the
auditor for the quarter ending March
81 last showed that this Office owed the
department cents. on March - and
2S Inspector Farrall. Of Mason CITY
inspected the office and he reported
that my cash was correctly accounted
for Taking this view Of the matter
the public can imagine my surprise
when on last Saturday l was informed
that my cash and the inventory OF the
supplies on hand did not balance by
nearly $500. Farther investigation
made it s741.12 ! Immediately tele-
graphed First Assistant Postmaster
General Granfeld, at Washington. that
an apparent shortage existed and
assured him that I had not diverted
one penny of the government funds to
my personal use.
The shortage was made up in very
short time by host II loyal friends,
God bless them every one, because |
UlG not nave the ltCtSStIy tt-i+
a receipt was given me for the fun
amount. II was not contributed by my
bondsmcn as has been reported, altho
my bondsmen who We're in the city
gladly Joined the other friends in help
In me to raise the required a amount.
We are now at work on the quarter
ly report The quarter closed with Fri
day night and it may be that the report
u.ii wine the lfIigit tsnf he this
a it may, I desire to assure my friends
and the public generally that | have not
appropriated embezZled nor in any
manner used the money represented by
the apparent shortage.
In making an absolute and unqual-
flied denial for myself ! do not wish to
convey the impression that / suspicion
any Of the office force as being re-
spOnsiDle for the deficiency. In fact /
do not believe there Is any shortage. y
comparison of the amount of cash TAX
en- in for April and May and the first
half Of June this year with the amount
taken in during this same time last
year shows a gain and If s742 had been
diverted in SO snort time It would
have left hole that would have been
Immediately discovered.
have been gratifed az the express
sfons Of confidence in my integrity so
freely given me personally by hundreds
of substantial citizens Of Cedar Falls
and BY the press of the county and
state with the exception of the Water
loo Times Tribune and the Cedar Falls
Gazette i beg the public - withhold
Judgment because I am satisfied that
in due time l will be absolutely vindi-
Gated.
Very truly,