The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-27
WILL MAKE AN INVESTIGATION.
LAKE CITY POsTOFFTCE CASE TO
BE LOOKED INTO.

Postmaster General smith Inclined
to Give the People the Much Need
ed Postal FaciIities-FederaI Pris-
on Must Wait for a CeSsiOn of the
VIII BE Sent to Philippines he
cause Ants Eat Up Paper Money.
Washington. May 26-(special) POST
master General Smith has decided to send
a special agent of the postofice department
to Lake City, S. c., TO make a careful and
conservative investigation of the conditions
there, with a view to giving the people of
that town the benefit of adequate postal
facilities.
Al the White House to-day. Postmaster
General Smith discussed the subject free
ly, saying that he was deeply impressed
by the recent appeal made to him in be-
half of the citizens of Lake City, by Rep
resentative Norton of that district
There is no disposition on the part of the
Postmaster General to become involved in
a contention with Fourth Assistant Post
master General Brstow, who has insisted
that the postofFice at Lake City should re-
main closed until some of the persons ac-
cused of being complicated in the lynch
ing of the last colored postmaster are pun
ished.
Postmaster General Smith says he does
not intend 10 apologize for any action thus
far taken by the postoffice officials, nor
retreat from the position they have thus
far taken.
lie proposes. however. to try and get at
the true facts in the case with the hope
that the circumstances will Justify the
establishment of the postoffice at Lake
City and the appointment of a postmaster
who will be acceptable to the community,
and also In harmony with the present ad-
Illustration. With this end i'm view one
of the most experienced and trusted Of
fcials Of the postofice department viii go
to Lake City and make a thorough in
vestigation of the subject, and upon his
report the future action of the admins
tration viii depend.
Work VIII lie Delayed.
Attorney General Grlggs says the mill.
tary prison at Atlanta cannot be begun
until The state Legislature meets, and
oedes the property selected for the site
to the government.
When questioned on the subject to-day,
Attorney General Griggs said he had
heard nothing from the Atlanta authorities
i since he selected the Dielkey site, and he
was not aware that the question had been
referred to the City Council In anticipa-
tion that his recommendation of the
Dickey site will be approved by the city
of Atlanta, he has given directions for
the plans and specifications to be pre-
pared, so that the work may begin as
soon as the state authorities have taken
| action.
There is an impression that the work
| is 10 be done under the supervision OF the
| supervising architect of the treasury. Such
is not the fact. The work will be executed
under the direct supervision of the depart
ment of justice, and the contract will be
| made accordingly
As the Georgia legislature does not meet
Until next October, 1t Is not probable that
much progress will be made in the con-
struction of the new prison during the
present year
White Ants Eat Paper Money.
An interesting report has been received
at the treasury department to the effect
that paper money of the United States is
not desirable as circulating medium in
| our new possessions in the Philippines.
| The report was not inspired by political
| reasons or a desire to aid the cause Of
sound money, but simply as a matter OF
| economy. II is stated that some time ago
| the treasury shipped something like ST.
| 000, 600 in paper money to the paymasters
in the Philippines with which to pay off
| the American forces there engaged. In
| that region white ants infest almost every
house and they devour everything that is
not stone or metallic These pestiferous
| insects made a raid among Uncle Sam s
! greenbacks, and il is said they devourcd
! many thousands of dollars intended for
| the soldiers and sailors of our army and
navy Under the circumstances it is rec
| ommended that no more paper money be
| shipped to the Philippines.
According to the records of the state de-
| partment these white ants are not only
offenders against the American nation, but
they make no discrimination in favor of
| any particular nationality when they be-
| gin an attack. In report of one Of our
| consuls, stationed at one of the Chinese
| ports, it is stated that these white ants
are so ferocious that they made an attack
upon the American consulate and desl roy
| ed It's entire contents, with the exception
of an old iron safe in the consuPs office.
Under the circumstances gold and silver
will, in the future. be sent 10 pay off the
| forces in the Philippines.
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