The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-11-19
FAIR MONT CASE
Is NOW CLOSED
AT LEAST so FAR AS THE POST.
OFFICE DEPARTMENT is
CONCERNED.
Dismissal Of Men Based on inspectors
Report-Partisan Politics A.
legged Responsible.
10y CHARLES BROOKS smIrHl

wv vi
WASHINGTON. ID. C.. Nov. is
From reports received here the news
OF the summary dismissal OF the AS
sistant postmaster OF Fsirraont and two
other employees, q a clerk and an
other a man carrier. has stirred up a
sensation in that town which is still
I'M high. Numerous telegrams
received from there requesting the lat
est developments in this case tend TO
prove the latter assertion.
Inquiry at the Office OF Daniel C.
Roper. first assistant postmaster gen
eral, elected the response that there
are no late Developments" and none
are expected. So far as the postofice
department is concerned. the Incident
Is closed it was stated. An oppor.
tunity TO look at the papers in the case
was. however. given.
The order Of dismissal in the case
OF Wilbur II. Brand. for -ventee
years assistant postmaster az Fair
mont and secretary of the local civil
service board. and Perry Burton. a
clerk in the office. is contained in a
letter addressed To the postmaster al
Fairmont. G.. T. Manley. and is dated
November y, 1915. The following is a
copy Of that letter:
Letter Of Dismissal.
To the Postmaster at Fairmont. W.
Va.
Dear sir:-The department is in 70.
.ceipt OF a report from a post Office in
spector in which the removal OF the
named employees in YOU
office Is recommended.
Wilbur II. Brand-Failure 10 repor
charge against a special delivery mes.
senger; assisting applicants to mass "a
OlNl service examination. perjury.
etc.
Perry ID. Burton-Reeeiving assis-
lance In C~lerk-carrier examination held
May %, 1908. INSTRUMENTATION: refusal
TO lake examination when instructed
to do so; perjury. etc.
The evidence on file shows that Mr.
brand assisted Mr.. Burton and others
To pass the examination. II appears
mat Letter Carrier Cochran. whom Mr..
Brand also assisted to pass. is of a
very low order OF intelligence and
when interviewed he was unable To
spell b simplest words. while al the
same time the examination was con
Quoted he received a perfect rating i'm
spelling. Mr.. Burton was afforded an
other opportunity 20 take the examina-
ZION but refused TO do so. II urtherl
appears that Mr.. Burton was guilty Of
perjury In stating that J. 4. Cochran
was u OF the board OF Civil service
examiners.
As the Investigation revealed the
fact that both Mr.. Brand and Nj. Bur
ton have long disrr-arded the civil
service regulations o have permitted
laNorltism TO exist 20 the detriment OF
eulclcnt service. 10 is believed that.
IheE are not suitable persons for re-
i'hilon ~ D. service You are. there
Tore. directed to- remove them. and to
INFORM them ln writing of the reasons
Tor the departments action In the mat
ter. reporting their separation on form
C-2U2 in t~ripliCatc."
This letter bears the signature OF
Daniel G. Roper. first assistant post
master general.
inspectors Report.
tn" basis Tor 10 is 10 he found i'm a
typewriter report OF twenty or more
PAGES, which is ON file. made by Post.
uN1Cr Inspector knight There d., a
similar report equally as ~unfayorabIe
To lh' employees charged. on file in the
ONO" OF the Civil service commission
written 10y "a representative Of that
body named Hess. which report was
NOT accessible" tO the correspondent.
10 tho defendants in this case had
much opportunity to meet th. charge.
or their enemies. that fact does NO.
appear m the Official records so lar as
iH" correspondent MAS allowed to .u.
v~"-tlgaf" ~ i- not believed that they
haa wuoh of a chance 90 defend them.
selves.
o. is % fact. however. tina, for the
many years Doe BIAS been boz the service.
ana up iI| fNu Investigation lust con.