Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-25
TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT
What Gen. Maxwell Says of the Oontro-
versy Over Surrender"
He Says the Change Was Made at the
Request of the Citizens Using
the Post once.

Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Maxwell thinks that the controversy which
has been started by the action of the Post
Office Department in changing the name of
AppomattOx post Office to that Of Surrender
is tempest In a teapot. II this action was
not right, he says, no blame can possibly
rest on the authorities of the department.
1.-TWO years ago." said Mr. Maxwell, "the
court house at Appomattox was destroyed
by fire. The question was then agitated
looking to the removal of the county seat to
the town Of Nebraska, about two miles
down the road, and on the line Of the Nor
folk and Western railroad. Then the name
of the town was changed from Nebraska to
Appomattox station. Appomattox station
and Appomattox court house were known
to the Post Office Department as Nebraska
post Office, and mail matter addressed to
Appomattox was sent to the office at old
Appomattox. This was a confusing condi-
ton Of affairs. A petition was received
from the patrons Of the Appomattox Office,
urging that a change Of name be made.
The department addressed a communicat ton
to Postmaster Rosser at that place, asking
him to suggest a new name. He suggested
Rosser.' This was demurred to by the
postal authorities on the ground that there
was an office named 'Rorrer.' and the
cause trouble.
Postmaster Rosser, who Is an appointee
OF the present administration, and a demo-
crat next sent communication to the de-
partment recommending the names Sur
render and 'Surrenderland.'
This suggestion was indorsed by Con-
gresham Tucker of that district, and by
the people who used the office The name
Surrenderland was not adopted because of
Its length, and on the I'd of last July Ap-
pomattox post office was rechristened Sur
render, and Nebraska post office was
changed to AppomattoX.
Nothing more was heard Of the matter
by the department till the subject got into
the papers. No protest against the name
Surrender has been received by the depart
ment NO objection to 1t has been heard
excepting through the press"
Since the publication of the matter In The
Star the department has been overrun with
newspaper men in search Of information on
this subject. 1t is probable that IL the
patrons OF old Appomattox post office do
rot ike the new name they will be given
another chance to choose one.
Gov. O'Ferrnll Denies Being Consulted
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND. Va. September 25.-Gov.
O'Ferrall was approached by The Star cor
respondent today and his attention called to
the statement In The Star of yesterday that
he had been consulted as to the change of
the post office Appomattox to Surrender
and had given his approval thereto.
When the governor read this statement
his face flushed up with indignation and he
said, emphatically: THE statement that I
knew of and approved this action Of the
Post Office Department in changing the
name of the post office Appomattox to Sur
render Is unQualifiedly untrue. / did not
know that the change was contemplated
until 1 saw in the papers that it had been
done, and 1 at once condemned 1t. So far
from being consulted in the matter, never
heard or even dreamed Of such an outrage
upon my people. and would not for one
moment given 1t my sanction"
The governor said further that he could
not speak for the Congressman referred to.
as he had never heard him mention the
matter.
The Congressman In that district Is Rep
resentative Henry St. q. Tucker, and his
friends here say that they are sure that he
never gave the change his approval.
The governor further stated that later in
the day he would write and give to the press
a formal statement in denial of this asser-
ton of the post office people over his own
signature. The governor Is undoubtedly
much wrought up over the implication, as
the change Is bitterly condemned by al
most every one here.