The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1922-03-31
POSTMASTER AT
Wolf POINT SHORT
Says He Was Victim of Circum-
stances. Mayor Frank Smith APP
pointed Temporary Postmaster
Pending Permanent APP
pOintment.

HA@S
office the past week and was called
away yesterday, it is reported on &C
count of a burglary at the post office
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 when
something definite will probably de-
velop from the unfortunate situation
in which Postmaster Hanson finds
himself.
The inspector, having left the city,
was not interviewed and it is highly
improbable that he would have felt at
liberty to give out information if he
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 Ease without the
representative of the department hav-
ing been interviewed. Mr.. Hanson
says that he told the inspector frank
ly that his balance was short and why
it was short. He says his present
dilemma results from numerous sources
and that he is the victim of cirtum-
stances which he was powerless to
avoid, that the department does not
and cannot accuse him of any willful
crookedness or desire to misappropri-
ate postoffice funds, that he has made
a hard struggle to get out of the
hole, into which he slipped in spite of
good intentions.
Several years ago a big difference
in accounts came up between this Of
flee and the office that was then the
supply office for this district. 1t was
a matter of a large package of stamps
that was either lost or not sent. The
matter was fought back and forth and
was finally compromised by each Of
flee standing part, Mr.. Hanson says
It was a matter of over $500 and was
a heavy personal loss to the local
postmaster.
The town grew rapidly and with it
the work of the office, which, while
still in the third class, paid a 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
sumitted failed to satisfy the depart
ment and Mr.. Hanson says the situa-
ton made it almost imperative that
he submit a bid on his W building.
When he came to fulfill the specifi-
cation he found the cost of construc-
ton and the items of equipment, such
as the steel boxes and safe, far ex-
ceeded his estimates. Overdue de-
ferred payments on such pieces of
equipment as the big safe have lately
pressed upon him and had to be met.
Sources from which he had expected
to get funds failed him and his finan-
cial status went from bad to worse.
A shortage is a shortage, even
though not great and this is not in
tended as a brief for Mr.. Hanson.
neither is it an apology by him, but
merely a suggestion of some of the
circumstances that he points out as
having led to the financial difficulties
that now confront him.
An incident that indicates the sit
uation to be acute in the eyes of the
postal department was the receipt to.
day of a telegram by Frank H. Smith
mayor of the city, from Carl Riddick
asking Mr.. Smith if he would accep'
an appointment as acting postmaster
From this it is judged that the de
partment contemplates the suspension
or removal of Mr.. Hanson.
Mr.. Smith says that he has decide
to accept the position if the appoint
ment is made. The offer came t;
him, he believes, as a result of his APP
plication made soon after the republi
can administration came into power
when it was presumed a change il
postmasters would be made here. l
is understood that Mr.. Smith at tina
time secured the endorsement of tn
party organization.
Second class offices were placed IN
der the civil service a few years ago.