The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-03-25
Civil Service Officials Tell
Alleged Methods to Retain
Newlin at Post Of College
Office.
CHARGES CONSIDERED
Prospective Applicants for
Place Allege President An
n0unced Fisher as Choice
Room Rent Prohibitive.

Complications resulting from the
transfer Of the postmastership Of Earl
ham. Ind. which 10 Earlham college, to
the civil service may possibly result
in postal authorities making a com.
plant against President Robert l..
Kelly OF Earlham, to the United States
post office department It is under
stood that the charge contemplated
against President Kelly is that he has
attempted by intimidation to dis
courage at least two residents of this
city who were considering taking civil
service examinations to qualify for ap-
pointment as postmaster OF Earlham.
There were several people who made
applications to take the examination,
which is to be held Saturday.
Finley NewIIn Barred.
For several years Finley Newlin.
treasurer Of Earlham college, has been
postmaster at Earlham. With the
transfer Of the postmastership to the
civil service Mr. Newlin loses his
position as he is barred by the age
limit from taking the civil service
examinations.
The Earlnam postmastership in re-
cent years has been paying a salary Of
approximately $500. Last year Mr.
Newlin received $685., a sum sufficien.
to meet the bulk of his salary a
treasurer Of the college, it is said. Ii
other words Earlham college for som,
time has been paying out of it's ow,
funds only very small amount ar
nually to its treasurer.
According to the postal authoritie
the college officials have planned ts
continue to have the federal govern
ment pay the major part of the salar,
OF its treasurer by having Edgar Fish
er. purchasing agent for the institu-
ton, qualify for the appointment. If
Fisher should secure the postmaster
ship 1t was planned. the postal offic-
fals say. for him to appoint Mr.. New
lin his deputy and Mr.. Newlin would
continue to discharge the duties of the
office, the salary Fisher would receive
from the government to be paid over
to Mr. Newlin.
college Wants Fisher.
1t IS alleged that Ed Jay, a resident
OF College avenue, and not connected
with the college, was one Of several
people who decided to take the civil
service examinations for the appoint
ment. He informed the postal author
tiles. 1t is reported. that when he con-
suited with President Kelly he was in
formed that the college desired Mr.
Fisher to be appointed and that IL Mr.
Fisher did not qualify the rent of the
room at the college which is used as
the postoffice would be $50 q month,
which would amount to three-fourths
of the postmaster's salary. As the
jurisdiction Of the post office extends
only over territory occupied by the In
stitution the post office would have to
be located within the confines of the
college.
A young woman also consulted with
President Kelly about taking examina-
tions for the appointment and she was
also informed that 1t was his desire
that the postmastership go to Mr.
Fisher. She was also informed that a
$50 a month rental for the post office
room would be asked Of any other
appointee. postal officials report
Hold Second Exam.
The examination Saturday for the
Earlham postmastership will be the
second one conducted for the appoint
ment. When the first examination
was advertised it was provided that
applicants must be residents Of the
territory served by the office. Mr..
Fisher and Mr.. Jay took the examina-
ton and passed it successfully. How
ever. they did not qualify because
neither was a resident of the territory
served by the post office. Consequent
ly the department had to advertise for
a second examination.