The age-herald., 1901-12-24
Washington Day By Day

Washington. December 22-(speciai)- Yesterday afternoon news boy passed through the Pennsylvania passenger station crying hls wares, The first words he uttered were, Booker Washington's back"
 While there is nothing odd fin that cry of the news boy. it was sufficiently start ling to an Alabamian who had just been discussing with a Western friend the part played or not played by Booker Washington in the recent Alabama ap- pointments. the Westerner contending that the famous educator of Tuskegee had recommended to the President a man for every Federal office in Alabama, post offices excepted. and that United States District Attorney Vaughan Marshal Cooper at Birmingham, and Marshal Bryan of Montgomery had the value of Booker Washington's endorsement. That is rubbishl
 Pending that unprecedented contest for the Alabama places it was believed that Booker Washington was backing up Congressman Thompson in demanding the appointment of Ben. W. Walker of Mont gomery to succeed Leander J. Bryan, MT. Walker hailing from Colonel Thomp- sons county of Macon. If that was true. Booker Washington was badly turned down by his friend the President. There never was any reason for doubting Bry ans re-appointment. In addition to what were perhaps the most extraordinary endorsements ever carried to Washing ton by an applicant for a United States marshalship, Bryan enjoyed the active and powerful support of Congressman Wiley, aided by several of his colleagues. Colonel Wiley is an indefatigable work CT. Bryan, by the way, had strong letter from every one of the twenty-five sheriffs in his district. nearly every judge and clerk of court, almost the en- tire bar. and innumerable business men. His showing in this respect was simply amazing. even though it be allowed that he Is one of the best marshals Alabama has ever had. and one of the best of all good fellows! Judge Thomas G. Jones Is said to have requested MT. Bryan's re- appointment.
 Julian Bingham has maintained all the while that the statutes did not require his reappointment, if he were to remain in office, a Collector of Internal Revenue for the District of Alabama, and now the commissioner of Internal Revenue advised by the Department of Justice, agrees with Mir. Bingham. The act creating the office of Collector, which passed Congress in 1863. expressly declared that there should be no term of office and that pro- vision has never been changed, although the terms of all other civil appointees of the President below the rank of Cabi- net officers, and excepting the consular and diplomatic service and the judiciary, are limited to four years each.
 There are more formalities observed in the transfer of an additional Revenue Collectorship than apply to any other federal officer, such transfer being made by an inspector sent from Washington. There are only four such inspectors, and frequently 1t Is many weeks before one of them can get to a given place and carry out the wishes of the President in changing a collectorship from one man to another. A collector is never commits stoned until his bond Is approved and he Is virtually in possession of his office; though that Is virtually true of other officers of the government.