The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-01
AFTER HIS OFFICIAL SCALP.
A SOAP AND TOWEL AND ICE
WATER INVESTIGATION.

partnent Came Here and Exam
tined Wftnesses-I2epOrted That lie
Was Going Over Postmaster
Haines' Record-Somc Alleged Dis
examinations Against COIOred En-
pIOyes--LOcHI politicians Deny
That They Had Anything to Do
With the Matter.
II looks as If sorae of the politicians
were after the official scalp of Postmaster
George S. IIaiues, whether at this end
or in Washington is not known. Inquiries
made here failed to throw much light upon
that point, but OF the fact that the post
Office has beea, ana probably is be-
ing. looked into, there is no doubt.
A day or two ago W S. MeGinnis ar
rived at the Pulaski house and registered
from Chattanooga, Tenn. Mr.. McGinnis
is special agent OF the postoffice depart
ment, and one who, 1t is said, is way up
in the ranks OF special agents in that
branch of the service. The fact of Mr..
McGinnis' presence here was kept very
quiet, and even now it is not known pre-
cisely what he was after or just what he
found out.
There is no doubt, however, that Mr..
McGinnis was sent here to make inquiry
into matters at the Savannah pOstofiico.
During the day and night that Mr.. Nc
Ginnis spent here there met him in room
a, some fifteen or twenty parties, it is
said who were examined as witnesses as
TO what they knew with regard to the
conduct of matters in the postofhce
These witnesses were in the main, it is
said, employees of the Savannah postofiice,
and included both white and colored. Some
of them were, perhaps. also ex-employes
of the postoffice.
II is said that Mr.. Haines has conduct
ed the postohice here on an economical
basis. Among other things the services
OF three or four clerks and
other employees were recently dispensed
with. one of these was Mr.. D. b. Hull,
formerly employed as assistant registry
clerk.
In addition to this il is said TO have been
charged that Mr.. Halnes has discrminat-
ed between the colored and white employees
furnishing better accommodations for the
latter than for the former one OF these
charges is stated to have been that ice
water was furnished for the white employ
es and was not given to the. colored.
These and similar details are reported to
have been mentioned TO the department,
either in a letter OF information, or in the
shape of charges against the postmaster.
1t is supposed the investigation con-
Quoted by Mr.. McGinniss had to do with
these matters but just what the witnesses
testified to is not known.
Several of them were asked about
the matter, but they refused to say any
thing whatever, saying they had been in
structed to keep quiet. 1t Is thought
however, that Mr.. McGinniss completed
his inquiry here and will make a report
to the department. one party stated that
Mr.. McGinniss' trip had to do with the
discharge of the clerks in question and
the cutting down of the force. The dis
charges came about the time of the in
vestlgation into the charges against Clerk
J. S. Connolly, who was alleged to nave
tempered with the mail.
one report with regard to the matter
has it that the politicians We're tired OF
waiting for something to drop, and want |
ing to have the matter of the postofiee |
settled earlier than might otherwise be |
the case, these steps were taken. Inquiry |
here upon this point brought forth num- |
Der of denials, and all those spoken to |
professed ignorance as to what the inves- |
tigation meant. 1t may be, however, that |
some of them knew more about it than |
they cared to tell.
There has been some effort made already |
to have the Savannah cases taken up, but |
so far it has been without success, the |
administration having announced its pol
icy of allowing all incumbents TO serve out
their terms. Under that policy there was
nothing to do but wait unless some other
measures could be taken. Whether this
investigation comes under the head OF
'other measures remains to be seen.
So far as the Savannah postoftice is
concerned there is no doubt that Mr..
Haines' administration has been an eco
nomcal one, and the service has been
good, as all the patrons of the postoffice
state Whether there was any difference
In the quality of the soap and towels Tor
the white and those for The colored en-
ployes, or how many degrees colder was
the drinking water of one than that Of
the other, are intricate and complicated
question, which may require the keen in
sight of a special agent TO detect Those,
however, appear TO have been among the
charges made, if any were made, but
what the special agent found, his report
alone must tell
It is not expected now that anything
will be done with regard to the Savannah
offices for some months to come. The
question OF colored appointees 10 post
offices and custom houses in Georgia is
giving the administration no end Of trou-
BILE Despite ell protests, il is said Sen
ator Hanna, the administration boss, is
determined to put in the coored candi-
dates wherever he can do SO.
He is said TO take the position
that the republicans cannot expect TO
carry Georgia for many years to come.
His idea therefore, is to reward the col
ored element so to keep it in line, since
il predominates in the republican ele-
ment in the state. for the purpose Of con-
trolling Georgia in the national cOnven-
tons. On the other hand IL IS argued that
Mr. Hanna may find in the end that he has
made a mistake, since by adopting such
policy he is liable to estrange portion
of the white element. whose aid and in
fuence is regarded quite strong as certain
occasions have shown it to be.
DEATH OF MICHAEL LYONS.