Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-06
R, F. D, MAN DISCHARGED
TOstmnstcr Dodge of Randolph. For
Mcr'y of burlington, Caused Dis
missaI. Then Wished to with
draw Charges.

Randolph, Jan. 2-Messrs VIII +.
Rand and Elmer NJ. Montgomery. mai
carriers ON rural routes and . respect .
lively. have received notice from the pos. -
office department that they would re
dropped from the service ON December 81
The notice set forth that the two carriers
having been suspended last summer an !
being resentful toward the postmaster a
Randolph. +. c. Dodge formerly of Bur.
iington, Tor having in the proper discharge
of his duties made official reports in con-
nection with the delnquencics in question,
Mr. Montgomery had villified such Official.
failed to deal directly with him in regard
to postal business and endeavorcd to
arouse prejudice against him in the com
munity, and in addition had been tardv in
reporting for duty and had failed to make
stated. had announced his intention to use
every means in his power to bring about
the removal Of the postmaster, had failed
to deal directly with him. had sought to
arouse prejudice and had failed TO mako
proper records
With reference to the previous suspen-
sion. it resulted from complaints made
against all three carriers from the local
IT, Holman. that they had been PERSIST
emily late in reporting for duty and Ieav-
ing on their route trips and had made
incorrect time reports and disregarded tho
postmaster's adnonitions. The carriers
answered the charges TO thc effect that
there was not sufficient time after the mail
was available IN the morning for them to
prepare II and leave at exactly the sched-
"Ied moment and maintaining that when
lheN were ate the entries on their time
records showed it correctly postoTce
Inspector visited the Office and investl-
gated. As the result II Is supposed or
ms report. Carrier Montgomery was laid
on for one month without pay last An.
gust and the other carriers Tor two week:
each.
Following this Postmaster Dodre
hecam" convinced that Messrs Rand
and montgomery were actively on
gagged in campaign to Giscr.dit him
ana to cause his removal ,atn in IN.
isll he made . trim to Washington. u
g., and there conferred with the fourth
assistant postma ter-genoral about the
matter, that official being the one who
mas the determination OF such com
plants. Mr. Dodge soon rrercrrod
charges AGAINST these two men as
stated In the first paragraph OF this
article. \ second inspector came and
put in nearly IA week here ON the case
Tn" carriers answered the complaints
and furnished letters from business
men OF the community sustaining them.
1hcN were not then advised as to the
nature Of some Of the evidence sub
mitted against them. hut when they
learned of II later they took prompt
steps to disprove il.
As the result of q conference Novem-
Der % with Mr.. Dodge. the latter of his
own voi'ion signed and sent to the
postotficc department a sworn affidavit
TO the effect that Wien lie made the COM
plants he hGd Information which he
thought relinI'e that caused him To be
heVe the charges 10 be true. b',t that
he had recently come into possession of
Information that convinced him that
neither Montgomery nor Rand were gull
ty of these charges and that he now
wished to withdraw the charges IN jus
tce to these men.
II Was supposed that a poaceahle and
satisfactory solution had thus been
reached and that no more would be heard
of the complaints, until notice of the
departments action.
Messrs. Rand and Montgomery began
as carriers on the routes they have
served with the establishment OF these
routes - years ago. II is the universe!
testimony that they have been faithful
and efficient carriers, 81 least in their
field work.
Noicing this feeling petitions setting
forth their understandings OF the facts
in thc case and their desire that Messrs
Rand and Montgomery should be rein
stated have been circulated among pa
irons on both routes, as well as among
citizens of this village. on Mr.. Rand's
route every patron but two signed and
on Mr., MontgomcrN's all but one, while
over so names are on the village petit
ton, practically al business men. These
petitions are To he presented at NASH
ington in the hope that the cases may
DC reopsasd w uRa dndinxs Xavlsads