The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-01-24
Wilkinson Removed
From Fargo Posto6ce

Fargo, Jan. 1S.-George Wilkinson,
postmaster OF Fargo, has been remOv-
ed from office, and c. f. Alfred, as.
sistant postmaster, has been appoint
ed by the National Surety company to
take charge pending the appointment
Of new postmaster.
Charges OF incompetent administra-
ton Of the postoffice, together with
information holding that the outgo-
ing postmaster was tempermentally
unit to deal either with the employees
CT with the public, form the basis for
the removal. %
Mr.. Alfred received notice at $50
o'clock Thursday afternoon of his
appointment to take charge of the
office, and Mr.. Wilkinson was notified
at 10 o'clock this morning by j: c..
Rooms, first assistant postmaster
general, to surrender the Office to
whomsoever the surety company des-
ignated
The formal transfer will take place
Immediately. and it is likely that a
postofflce inspector will supervise the
shift in administration.
Pending Several Weeks ~.
Thursday evenings order has been
pending for several weeks, or ever
since an investigation was made of
the Fargo postoftice, ending Nov. 81,
last. Four inspectors made check
up of the affairs in the Office OBJ
tanned over score Of affidavits from
postal employees, and upon the infor-
nation thus furnished, and upon the
check up of the Office itself, the in
! inspectors recommended the d:smis.
sal OF Mr.. wilkinson.
| The investigation by the inspectors
was conducted by R. NJ. Hugdal, J.
H. Lucey, NJ. I. Ryan and Roy La
Forge. -.
Mr.. Wilkinson, several days ago,
circulated petition among a num-
Der Of Fargo business men, the petit
ton being addressed to the postoffice
department in Washington, asking
that the postmaster be retained. Sew.
eral postal employees also signed a
similar petition, but withdrew their
names in telegram addressed to the
postoffice department at Washington
Mr.. Wilkinson announced today his
purpose to ask the postoffice depart
ment to make recanvass of the sit.
uaticn, insisting that he was not given
a hearing under the charges made
against him.. Further than than that
he had nothing to say.
The acting postmaster, Mr.. Alfred,
has been in the Fargo postoffice for
81 years, being continuously identi
| fed with the Office since 1881, except
for four year period during the
second Cleveland administration.
i No advices have been received in
Fargo yet of call for an examina
ton for the selection of a succe ssor
Under the civil service act now gov
: erning first class postonices, candi
dates must pass an examination, such
examinations being held in Wash.
ington, according to Mr.. Wilkinson.
Mr. Wilkinson, publisher of The
North Dakota Democrat, will give
his whole attention to the publication
in the event he fails to obtain a re
orening of the case, he said this af-
ternOOn. ....
= Mr., Wilkinson was appointed il
March, 1915, and his term would have
expired in March. 1919. Under the
present civil service rules, the an.
pcintment had been regarded as life
time proposition ...
The Fargo postoffice pays $1,000 {
year.
Fargo, Jan. 20.-Gecrge w. Wilkin.
son, who was removed from office as
Fargo postmaster Friday following
an investigation by the federal au.
thorities, left yesterday afternoon or
No. over the Northern Pacific, fol-
Washington, to lay his case before
the postmaster-general and ask fo1
a canvass of the whole situation, with
a view to being reinstated in the Far
go office.
my address while in Washington