The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-19
METCALF WANTS
 HIS CASE HEARD
Writes Letter to Payne Saying
 He Was Badly Treated
APPEALS FROM DECISION
In Justice to Himself and Ills Family He Asks That the Order of Sum- mary Dismissal be Tempo
 rarlly Recalled.

Washington, June 1s.-Postmaster Gen. eral Payne today received the following letter fom MT. Metcalf asking a sus- pension of the order of dismissal until his complete defense may be heard:
 Hon. H. c. Payne, Postmaster General:
 q cannot but feel that under ordinary circumstances such summary action as has been taken in my case would not have been had without giving me chance t3 be heard by yourself in my own defense.
 Tt must be due to the heated, excited and congested condition of affairs in ehs postoffice department that the postmaster general has consented to this summary dismissal of a man who for the bes- part of his life since attaining manhood has devoted his whole thought and being to the honest discharge of his duties to the government and the best interests of the postal service In which no atain O. sus- picion has ever heretofore attacked.
 Justice to myself, my family and my friends require that I should appeal to the postmaster general to recall this order of summary dismissal and accord me an op- portunity to show that In this matter. as in all others, I was only consulting .he best interests of the postoffice money er- der service. in whatever l did concerning the Herman bid and not my own self in. terest. and with no thought of myself pr my family as Is made to appear In the charge against me.
 '"The common sense of justice and the right of defense, which my score of years of faithful public service entities me to. | al A grant me this opportunity of demonstrat- ing to him that his action has been nasty and unjust to a faithful public servant. who has devoted his life to the best in- terests of his government.
 'The suspension of your order is re spectfully asked until such time as you may hear from me-
 Free Delivery Resumed.
 Washington, June 1S.-The postoffice de- partment has resumed the establishment of rural free delivery routes which were held up on account of the deficit In the appropriation for that service and a large number of routes will be put into opera tion on July l, the beginning of the new fiscal year. The policy of the department hereafter will be to establish routes as rapidly as possible, consistent with the best interests of economic administra- ton.
 The rules as to the number of families required to be on the route in order to secure the service probably will be more strictly adhered to, and fewer excep- tions made. The rule requires that no ser- vice shall be established on a route on which there Is less than HOO families. Un- less exceptions are made for some special reason, routes are to be investigated in the order in which applications for them are filed.
 Perry Heath Replies.
 Salt Lake City, Utah, June 1s.-Refer- ring to the statement of Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow in regard to Irregularities in the postofflce department, former Assistant Postmaster General Perry s. Heath said today
 hAll these charges were replied to four years ago and have been replied to by a lot of people recently. 1t is not neces- sary to make any further reply to them. have nothing to say"
 Another Man In Trouble.
 Washington, June Exchanges against Chas. Hedges, superintendent of the city delivery service of the postofflce alleging that he pressed claims before congress, solicited employees in the service to take stock in mining companies and other al- legations, are under Investigation Ly the inspectors of the postoffioe department. The charges wero presented tG Postnas- ter General Payne and referred by jim to Fourth Assistant Postmastcr General Bristow. The allegations that MT. Hedges went to the capital during the last ses- sion Of congress and urged the passage of claim then pending, was made at that time.
 MT. Hedges was immediately called up- on for statement, which it Is understood Is now on file in the department. Since then other charges have assumed definite shape MT. Hedges was an assistant to Iormer General Superintendent August w. Machen, of the free delivery servica ro,,, under indictment.