The times., 1901-05-16
TAKOMA CITIZENS AMUSED
Branch POstOffice's Location There
Regarded as Certain.
They Say the BrightwOOd Park Petit
tiOu Comes Too Late and Are Disc
posed to Chun Their FelIOw-Subur-
banites - Their Claims Set Forth.


tion Comes Too Late and Are Disc
posed to Chaff Their FeIIow-Subur-
banites Their Claims Set Forth.
Citizens of Takoma Park were surprised
and interested TO read in The Times yes
terday morning the petition sent by resi-
dents of BrightwOOd Park to Postmaster
Merritt, relative to locating the branch
postoffice for the northern suburbs at
Brightwood Park. 1t has been the i'm
preston in Takoma Park that the au-
thorities had already decided in favor OF
Takoma Park, and. much as the petition
interests them, it is asserted that the
interest is only academic. as it were, and
that the Takoma Park plan cannot mis-
carry
The statement is made by leading resi-
dents of Takoma that the authorities
have acknowledged, in numerous inter-
views and conferences, the advantages Of
their suburb. 1t is pointed out that Gf
the total revenues of about 5000 from
this entire suburban section, Takoma has
turned into the Government nearly or
quite three-fourths, while the BrightwOod
Park revenues have been small This, it
is asserted, should be enough to decide
the question. Nearly all the Brightwood
advocates, transact their postal business
in the city proper, while most of the resi-
dents of Takoma buy their stamps and
receive and mail their letters at Takoma.
The fact that Takoma Park is on the
Baltimore and Ohio RailrC2d and that
BrightwoOd Park has no steam railway
connections is also CONNIE tied on by the
Takoma Park residents.
TakOma Park people say that the only
question now really agitating their minds
is as to the future postmaster for that
section, the location being practically set
tied. There are three or four candidates
MariS, is Republican and an appointee
under President McKinley's last Admin
istration- This, it is thought, gives him
a large advantage over new aspirants for
the office. The fact that at least two
other active candidates are in the field
with petitions bearing long lists of names
shows, however, that in some quarters
there is a Willingness for a change
Mr. Maris has many friends, however.
and they number Sc:-.S # the most In
fuential residents of the par. 1t is un-
derstood that District Attorney Ashley NJ
Gould is one of his warm supporters. and
that he feels confident that there viii be
no change.
Mrs BENJAMIN S. Favorite is the only
woman candidate in the field. Some be
lieve that she has the best chance if
there is to be a change. Mrs. FavOrite
was pOstmistress during President Har-
risons Administration. and her political
status is understood to be entirely salts
factory. 1t is also said that she was an
efficient poStmlstTess, and that her in
cumbency gave general satisfaction.
Arthur B. Burrows, the druggist. is an
other candidate. His friends point to the
fact that most of the city branch offices
are located at drug stores because of the
convenience afforded by the long hours
during which they are kept open.
The Takoma pOstofiice has been
fOurth-clasS Office Its revenues, however.
have been nearly enough to make ii a
third-class office, and it is probable that
it will be elevated to this class in a year
or two at the latest. Under the new
system of a branch pOstoffice. with free
it is thought that the revenues
will be increased considerably The post
master however. viii not receive as large
a compensation as at present. The fourth
class postmasters derive their compensa-
ton from the stamps they SELL while the
in the branch offices receive
a fixed salary. Under the new system.
however, the duties of the postmaster
will not be so heavy as heretofore. as the
letter carriers will perform the greater
part of the work. The reduction of the
therefore, has not lessened
the eagerness of any of the candidates for
the office.