The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-25
INSTITUTE NEEDS
 NEW POSTOFF|CE Referees Think That Tuskegee School Deserves It ]. 0. THOMPSON EXPLAINS Says James B. Washington, Brother of the Educator, Has Virtually Been
 Postmaster for Several
 Years.
]. 0. THOMPSON EXPLAINS

The announcement in the columns of The Ase-Herald yesterday that Congress- man C. ". Thompson had made pro- test against having Tuskegee Institute made a separate postoffice ard against the appointment of John Washington, brother of Booker T. Washington as post master, was the subject of considerable comment.
 recommendation was recently made by the Alabama referees of President Roosevelt that Tuskegee Institute be made 5 a separate office and they also recom- mended that John Washington be made postmaster
 J. o. Thompson, collector of internal revenue and one of the Presidents referees in the state made the following statement last night regarding the situ- ation at Tuskegee:
 "Tuskegee Institute is located some thing over mile from the Tuskegee post office and has been a station of that office for several years James R. Washington, a foster brother of Dr. Washington, be- ing the postmaster.
 Depot Beyond Town.
 Until recently the depot at Tuskegee was beyond the town from the school and the mails were carried to the Tuskegee office there distributed, and then carried to the school by wagon. A short while ago, owing to the increased business of the institute, the Tuskegee Railroad com pany changed their line and ran the road direct to the school, giving the school station as we'll as the town.
 '"rhe referees have recommended the establishment of separate office at the school and the retention of the same postmaster, the one who has been acting in that capacity for several years I un- derstand that Congressman Thompsons objection to the change Is alleged to be that the establishment of a postoffice at the school would injure the business of the town. I do not see how he could take this view of it, as the mails arc already delivered at the Institute and the school in no wise has any connection with the Tuskegee postoffice proper.
 "In making this recommendation It is our only idea to have the mails delivered directly to the school rather than have them carried first to Tuskegee and there separated and then sent to the school which would necessitate considerable de- lay in delivering the mails and also dou- ble handling; when, by establishing sepa- rate postoffices, that would be obviated.
 Surrounded By Colored People.
 '"rhe Tuskegee institute Is surrounded entirely by colored people and the office is patronized exclusively by colored people. No reasonable objection can possibly be made to such change.
 We are merely asking that the same privileges be granted the Tuskegee insti- tute as are granted to the University of Alabama which has a separate and dis tinct postoffce from Tuscaloosa. It is a matter which has no political significance whatever, and is merely movement to give better mail facilities to a large num- Der of people, over two thousand in num- Der.
 ''The relations between the people of Tuskegee and the Tuskegee institute are most cordial and the benefits are mutual, and better mail facilities granted that in- stitution would in no wise effect existing conditions.
 s'It is a fact that we have heard no pro- test from the people of Tuskegee in regard to this matter as they will in no wise be effected by the change. The statement in another paper that the office is to be created for the purpose of providing a place for Principal Washngton's brother Is without foundation, as the foregoing facts will show