Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-05-09
.P|EPENBR|NG ASKS
WASHINGTON WHY He
LOST HIS MAIL. JOB
Democrat Summarily Fired
From Brandywine Hundred
Route After Five Days.
SUBSTITUTE SEVEN YEARS

George Piepenbring of Penny HIM
has written Postmaster General Work
and Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Billany. at Washington. to
know why he was summarily fired as
rural mail carrier in Brandywine hun
dred. He claims that, after serving
seven years as substitute, and. In
his opinion, giving efficient service. at
the end OF five days as n regular car
rier. last Friday night. he was dis
charged without notice. He admits that
the appointment was only temporary.
but evidently believes he had earned
u regular berth. What, to him, how
| ever, seems particularly CALLING ie
that. with the expectation OF continu-
ing in the service for some time, he
had. after being appointed, provided
himself with a new horse and wagon
at cost of Sl25. And what's more. up
to today he had not been paid for the
| five days he did serve. This fact is
not overlooked IN his wireless" to
| Washington.
But what could the man in the
bleachers expect? Piepenbring il a
| Democrat. and he makes no bones
| about 1t. When he was appointed a
substitute on route No. !. out of Edge
Moor--which covered the territory he.
tween Shellpot and Claymont and as
far over on the west side ae Silver
side-the government at Washington
hence the appointing power--wa.
| Democratic. Though he was only
substitute. Mr.. Piepenbring was Otter
on the job, when the regular carrier
John Shaw. was III. and many timee
he sal; today, he had 10 dig his way
through snow drifts. going on foo
where a horse could not navigate. II,
believes the people he has served thes,
past seven years were satisfied an,
was not at all surprised on May
when he received word that he ha,
been temporarily appointed as regulat
carrier. SO he went ahead and equip
ped himself and started right out oi
the jCh. serving the mail five DAYS. a
the end Of which the blue slip cam.
as surprise. His letter TO Washing
ton for an explanation followed.
Here's the situation: Spencer II
Foulke. a Republican. who has tn
Old Homestead farm. at Holly Oak
received notice OF his appointment a.
rural carrier for route No. I. effectiv
May !. But Spencer. il seems. hadn'
hen hankering after the job and whel
the papers Came--commission. Grea
Seal Of the L. :. and all ihat-he de
cided that sl.260 year couldn't temp
him TO neglect his own affairs TO serS,
Uncle Sam. even IL the afoi.ssai uncl
considered IL n patriotic sscriflce." s.
I hi, Harlfs,aI
how. That left Postmaster William 5
Day. Democrat, OF Edge Moor. in
quandary. He appealed 10 Washing
ton. with the result that he was au
thorlzed 10 make a temporary appoint
ment. And Piepenbring got the iot
Al the end OF the fifth day II wa
Postmaster Days duty TO read to PIE
penhring the letter directing the LAT
teris forthwith dismissal.
Oh, yes, this letter had somethin
else in 1t. 1t announced the appoint
ment or Clarence Br2ndenberg Of Hol
ly OAK as permanent carrier for tina
route. While the note made no men
ZION of Mr.. Brandenberg's politics. hi
name could not be found TODAY On III
Democratic roster OF Brandywine hun
dred.
But that isn't all. When Mr.. Piepen
bring was told he had been fired h
believed he understood the Englis
language. and when ne was asked tn
next day, Saturday. to take the ma
out, as favor" he naturally fel
: under no obligation to do 80. NJ
F'oulke pleaded with him. as frien
. OF long standing. TO perform this ser
vice. But George was adamant unit
somebody appealed TO Postmaste
=, James J. English OF Wilmington. TIL
latter remembered that Mr.. Pieper
bring was under bond, and as a favo
10 Mr. English and because of tn
4 bond. he consented 10 handle the first
class mail on Saturday
Since that day Brandenberg ha
been on the job and Piepenbring ms
gone on the warpath. The latter
after big game, however, the author
ties at Washington. from whom h
demands 10 know why ne was fire
: | and of whom he rs demanding mis- pa
forthwith.