The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-01
LUNDQu|ST IS
CAUCHT-ASHE
PLIERS mail
CONTINUED from First Page.)

been deeply concerned about the
matter. 1t has been source OF
deep anxiety both to myself and
others Who knew about it. AS d
matter of course every instance OF
loss in the mails that has been
brought to my attention has been
promptly reported to A. E. Germer,
inspector in charge at Chicago. The
result was that Inspectors Kinney
and Butler were detailed on the
case, and came here recently to
make an investigation OF the entire
Office at my request. The result
was today's development.
Trusted EmplOye.
"It is unnecessary for me to at
tempt to say how deeply depressed
l feel that any trusted empioye
should have been detected in such
way. Mr.. Lundquist, l am frank
to say, has been one of the most
trusted, and as far as his work is
| concerned. one OF the valued en-
pioyes in the office. l have had the
utmost confidence in him, which has
been shown in the responsible pro-
motions he has had under my ad-
ministration. Some years ago l
made him assistant superintendent
of mails, placing him in charge Of
the division Of outgoing mails, and
when the reorganization bill was
adopted by congress applicable to
oil nd ha n
abolished, l still retained him in.
| the position of foreman, and his
authority was continued. My con-
fidence in him 30 we'll as faith in
! him, was thus shown.
"A few years ago, when a num-
Der OF special delivery letters be-
tween this Office and another Illi-
nois postofice'and one OF the most
important in the state, were disap-
pearing, both the postma ster Of
that city and / had considerable
correspondence on the subject, and
while poStmasters are strictly for
hidden to investigate depredations,
we did what we could, without vio-
lating the law, to locate the cause.
At that time, as now, had inspec-
tors come here, and they also went
| to the other postoftice referred TO,
, with the result that the blame was
placed on the other postoffice, where
an employe was detected pilfering
letters, and this Office got clean
| slate. l was indeed happy over
the disposition in the matter, and
the assistant postmaster and my
self congratulated ourselves that
there was no one in this office
guilty at that time. We hoped
that a similar circumstance would
never occur again.
Mail Loss Reported.
"For some time complaints have
been coming in Of the loss of val
liable mail, mailed for delivery
right here in Rock Island. Our
suspicious were naturally aroused.
but it was impossible to locate the
blame, particularly as We were not
allowed to do more than report
every case to the proper depart
ment. l conferred with A. f. Ger
mer. inspector in charge. at Chi
cago, and the inspectors came here
to locate the cause Of the trouble.
Il am glad to say that of all the
employees tested out. before the dis
coyery this morning, every one
came through clean. in the eyes of
the inspectors, who, from their
point Of vantage, were able to de-
tect every move in the office, and
they complimented me on the clean,
expert work of all the other clerks
who, without knowing that they
were being watched. had come un-
der the observation of the inspec-
tors.
Lundquist Suspended.
I am sorry for MIR. LundQuist.
who has been employed here for
q years. and for his family. Moth
ing would please me better than
had he INDICATED himself Of the
ichargee."
Foreman Lundquist was, OF
course. suspended by Postmaster
Simpson at once, and Foreman
Thomas G. Gillespie and Joseph
Goldsmith were given the respon-
sibilities between them, heretofore
held by Mr.. Lundquist.
IRISH BILL PASSES.
London, Dec. 1-fBy the Asso-
ciated Press. Tho Irish constitu-
ton bill was passed unamended to-