Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1889 — WASHINGTON NOTES. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON NOTES.

The Civil Service Commission has submitted to the Postmaster General report upon the condition and management of the postoffioe at Grand Rapjds, Mich.' _ “In the course ofthe examinainto the condition and management of the postoffice at Grand Rapids, Mieh., and in so far as it is affected by the provisions of the civil service act, certain charges were made against the- postmaster, Mr. Blair, and against the then chiel clerk of the railway mail service, Mr. F. A. Hudson. The charges are backed up sworn affidavits, and are of each a nature that the Com* mission, in’ view of a lack of power to suhpena witnesses and administer oaths, deem it proper to turn the whole matter over to the Pdstpffiee Department.

The only affidavit affecting Mr. Blair is that of McConville, which asserts that Mr. Blair was present in the Government building, at Grand Rapids, one day in October, 1888, and assisted the clerk, Hudson, in attempting to extort from John McConville a contribution of money for political purposes. On this point the affidavit is unsupported by any others, while it is explicitly contradicted by the affidavits of both Mr. Blair and , Mr. Hudson, and the Commissioners do not consider that in itself it is sufficient to warrant their asking any action to be taken thereon. Butin the case of Mr. Hudstfh, all seven affidavits charge him with having collected or attempted to collect money for political purposes from Government employes, The affidavits of L, K. Salisbury and Geo. J. Ergenzeigner set forth, that, at Hudson’s request, they paid him money for campaign purposes in the Government building, at Grand Rapids, last fall; they also set forth that, at his reJuest, they wrote him letters, about une 10,1889, stating that they had not been asked to make, and had not made, such contribution. Ergenzeigner states that he wrote the letter for fear of losing his place, while Salisbury asserts that he wrote his from motives of friendship. If the assertions contained in these affidavits are not disproved <jr explained by other evidence, ’ the commissioners believe that they warrant Mr. Hudson’s indictment under sections 11,12, 13,14 15 of ihs civil service act. But Mr. Hudson has submitted, together with his affidavit, dtnyiag specifically all the charges, the affidavit of the Chairman of the Local Democratic Party Organization, denying that Mr. Hudson turned over such sums as were alleged, and also copies of letters from Mr. Ergenzeigner and Salisbury, denying the very facts they set forth in their affidavits, as well as letters and other matter tending to Bhew the bad character or the improper animus of the other men, who make affidavits against him. If Mr. Hudsoq is guilty he should be prosecuted; if he is not guilty, then the men swearing falsely against him should themselves be prosecuted for entering into a peculiarly infamous conspiracy to blacken his character.

The Civil-service Commissioners are at work upon their supplementary report in relation to the conduct of affairs in postoffice at Milwaukee. This report will be ready for presentation to the President upon his return to Washington, and if he does not come back this week, as now seems lixelv, it is probable that it will be sent to him at Deer Park. Postmaster Paul, the Milwaukee official, was censured by the full board of commissioners on account of his action in permitting violations of the law in the selection of civil-service employes. He was not satisfied with finding of the commissioners,and created a great ramp us,although their report did not recommend his removal. Commissioner Roosevelt proceeded to Milwaukee again, and made farther examination. While the result of this has not yet been made public, it is generally understood here that Postmaster Paul’s removal will surely follow its publication, and that a postmaster will be appointed for Milwaukee who will be more likely to keep himself strictly within the limits of the law. The Mahone and anti-Mahone factions of the Virginia Republicans, it is announced, nave been harmonized by a committee of the National Republican Committee and the white dove of peace is to float peacefully over their deliberations in the coming State convention. The campaign for 1892 seems to be on. Secretary of Agriculture, Rusk, in an interview Tuesday declared that Harrison will be renominated and re-elected in 1892. Ex-Congressman Horr, of Michigan, positively declines the Consulship to Va’paraiso, which appointment was tendered some weeks ago. Congressman Cannon does not think there will be an extra session of Congress.