The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-03-23
INSPECTOR CHECKS
LOCAL POST OFFICE
POSTMASTER FACES SERIOUS
SITUATION FRANKLY
MAYOR MAY BE P. M.

R. H. Mark, post office inspector
has spent several days at the loca
office the past week and was callet
away yesterday, it is reported on ac
count of burglary at the post of1lce
at Richey The report IS that the
burglar was promptly caught and the
inspector was needed to deal with
the situation. Mr.. Mark is expected
to return here in a few days wher
something definite will probably de-
yelop from the unfortunate situa-
ton in which Postmaster Hanson
fnds himself.
The inspector, having left the city
was not interviewed and it IS highly
improbable that would have felt at
liberty to give out information If ne
had been SEEN Mr. Hanson, who has
served as postmaster of Wolf Point
since April, 1915, was willing to be
interviewed and went briefly over the
matters leading up to the present
climax. 1t would be inappropriate
to attempt to go into exact details
of the history of the case without
the representative of the department
having been interviewed. Mr.. Han
son says that he told the Inspector
frankly that his balance was short
and why it was short. He says his
present dilema results from numerous
sources and that he is the victim OF
circumstances which he was power
less to avoid, that the department
does not and cannot accuse him OF
any willful crookedness or desire to
nisappropriate postoffice funds, that
he has made a hard struggle to get
out of the hole, into which he slip
ped in spite of good intentions.
Chain of Events
Several years ago big difference
in accounts came up between this
office and the office that was then
the supply office for this district
It was matter of a large package
of stamps that was either lost or
not sent. The matter was fought
back and forth and was finally COM
promised by each office standing part,
Mr.. Hanson says. 1t was matter of
over 500 and was a heavy personal
loss to the local postmaster.
The town grew rapidly and with 1t
the work of the office, which, while
still in the third class, paid small
salary and an insufficient allowance
for help with everything else at war
time standards of prices.
Then the office became second
class and required a building and
equipment of certain specifications.
The bids submitted failed to satisfy
the department and Mr.. Hanson says
The situation made it almost lmpera-
tive that he submit bid on his own /
building. When he came to fulfill
the specifications he found the cost
sf construction and the items of /
equipment, such as the steel boxes !
and safe, far exceeded his estimates. !
Overdue deferred payments on such
pieces of equipment as the big safe
aave lately pressed upon him and
aad to be met. Sources from which
le had expected to get funds failed
lin and his financial status went
rom bad to worse.
A shortage is a shortage, even
hough not great, and this is not in
ended as a brief for Mr.. Hanson,
,either is it an apology by him,
,ut merely a suggestion Of some of
he circumstances that he points out
Is having led to the financial diff
ulties that now confront him.
Riddick Wires Smith
An incident that indicates the sit
lation to be acute in the eyes of the
postal department was the receipt
oday of a telegram by Frank H.
smith, mayor of the city, from Carl
aiddick, asking Mr.. Smith if he
would accept an appointment as act
ng postmaster. From this it is
judged that the department contem-
lates the suspension or removal of
Ar. Hanson.
Mr.. Smith says that he has de- ,
ided to accept the position if the
is made. The offer
anne to him, he believes, as result !
f his application made soon after
he republican administration came
nto power, when it was presumed a ;
change in postmasters would be {
lade here. 1t is understood that $
Ir Smith at that time secured the
of the party organiza-
ion.
Second class offices were placed
nder the civil service few years s