Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-11
Political Firing
Charge Hi as
[DistoItinq Facts

Norman r. Abrams charged to-
day that Senator Johnston.
Democrat of South Carolina.
was guilty of downright dis
tortion Of facts" in asserting
that the Eisenhower administra-
Ition fired postmasters by Illegal
and political means.
This was the answer of the
Post Once Department to the
South Carolina Senator's state
Iments last night In announcing
a sweeping Investigation by
the Senate Post Once and Civil
Service Committee Of which he
lis chairman.
This administration win more
than welcome any objective in
quiry on the illegal and politi-
|cal removal Of postinasters' in
|ferred in Johnston's irresponsible
and reckless statements" Mr..
Abrams declared in a speech at
Ia national convention of post
masters in Detroit.
This criticism OF Senator
Johnston was far stronger than
lin a preliminary statement
issued earlier today by the de-
lpartment. That statement said
the Senator was wholly mis-
informed" and totally incor-
rect"
Lists 53S IS Removed
Mr.. Abrams reported that 53S
Ipostmasters, out Of q total Of
80, 900. have been removed since
January 20. 1858.
"of these 5ss removals" he
said. approximately half. or 203,
have been removed for embezzle-
Iment Of funds. The remaining
1886 we're removed for poor man
agement, 1874: failure to devote
required time to duty. 80; OUT
side sales to increase compensa-
Ition illegally, 81: Justification Of
records, 30: personal misconduct.
%; failure to answer ofilcial cor
respondence. Is; theft Of mail.
IlS; mistreatment Of employees. Q.
land Illegal political activity. I.
aNot a one Of the 53S post
masters removed was removed
for political reasons.
H. w. Brawley, committee
counsel. indicated today that the
inquiry would center on new
regulations he said the postal in
spection service has issued. He
estimated that the Eisenhower
administration has filled about
1900 Of the $4,000 postmaster
ships.
Welcomes Inquiry
The top-ranking Republican
member Of the committee. SEN
Iator Carlson Of Kansas, said to-
day he had not been notified
officially Of the inquiry but that
|"the investigation is welcome"
In some cases." he said. "the
postmasters resigned rather than
see their cases taken into open
court"
IN announcing the investiga-
ton last night Senator johnson
said:
1.-THE committee has received
thousands Of documents from in
ldividuals showing that the postal
inspection service under new and
Icleverly devised instructions from
Washington Is being used simply
to Dust postmasters because 1t ID
thought they did not vote for
President Eisenhower in 1852"
Comlaints Reported
Mr.. Brawley explained that
these new instructions to the
inspection service are con-
fidential. But he said the COM
mittee has received complaints
that some postmasters have
been forced out Of their jobs by
giving them low inspection
ratings.
Senator Johnston said "the
tactic seems to be to force or
scare q postmaster into submit
ting his resignation. Many thou
sands have done this rather
than spend their hard learned
money in = fight to save their
Jobs
Senator Johnston said the
committee has information in
ldicating that the Jobs Of post
masters and other postal en-
Iployes in Texas and several
other States have been sold to
the highest bidder"
There is also much evidence
indicating that the sale Of rural
mail carrier jobs in many areas
is being used as device to re-
plenish the Golfers Of the local
Republican committees"
Some Of the hearings viii be
held outside of Washington, but
no date for launching the hear
lings has been set.