Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-14
ENDANGERS OMAHA'S CHANCE
Des MOines Makes Strong Bid for Rural
Free Delivery Headquarters
sHAKEUP IN DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE
Iowa Man is Now Chief of that
Division and Former Plans
Are Likely TO he
Changed.
From a stan Correspondent

WASHINGTON, May 13-(Special Tele-
gram)-Unless active work is done in
bringing about the removal OF the western
division Of rural free delivery in Omaha
from Denver, where headquarters are now,
It would not surprise postofice officials to
find the headquarters located at Des
Moines. When the change transferring
the rural free delivery service from the
hrst to the fourth assistant postmaster
general was made. growing out of the in
vestigation of the first assistants ONCE,
there was no contemplation that prior ar
engagements would be changed, However,
it now appears that Omaha will have to
fight for the western division In order TO
secure IL. 1t was we'll understood when
congress adjourned that the western divi-
sion headquarters would be removed from
Denve to Omaha at the beginning of the
next, fiscal. year, July. J. The investigation
of the chiefs. of the salary and allowance
division, and the rural free delivery service
has. changed conditions most materially.
The rural free delivery service is now un-
der the charge of Fourth Assistant Post
master General Bristow, and he has APP
pointed one of his inspectors, who had
charge of the Investigation, M. G. Fosnes,
formerly Of Iowa, as chief in charge of
rural free delivery to succeed August w.
AelANAAt oAoH|AQChs 0GAbNS AHo a9RNAA
sion of MIR. Macheu the postmaster gem
eral had determined to appoint J. T.
Walker of Wisconsin, now a special agent
Of rural free. delivery stationed at In
dianapolis, to the vacancy created by the
death of William 2. Amin, former special
agent of the so-called mountain district.
The appointment of Mr.. Walker was never
officially made, in view of the Investigation
Of the first assistant postmaster generals
office, then having charge Of the rural free
delivery service. Now that the fourth
assistant will have charge OF this branch
Of the postal service hereafter, 1t is con-
hdently expected that many of the ar
engagements as to extension Of rural free
delivery throughout the country will be
materially changed.
Has Faith in BriStow.
General Bristow, now in charge of the
rural free delivery service and which The
Bee announced would be the outcome of
the present Investigation OF the first as
sistant postmaster generals Office, is. in
the estimation Of officials of the Postofice
department, an incorruptible, honest man.
He was sent to Cuba by President McKin
ley to investigate the postal frauds grow
ing out. of our. occupancy Of that island
and out of his report came the conviction
OF Rathbone and Nicely. Mr., Bristow Is a
Kansas mar who has made a splendid
record in his. department. The president
relies upon him and 1t is expected that IL
there has been any w~rongdoing In the first
assistant postmaster generals Office before
Mr. Wynne succeeded Mr.. johnson that
w~rongdoipg will, be corrected and a new
regime inaugurated. ]
Routine of Departments. :
Under the annual 'readjustment these
changes in postmasters' salaries in Iowa
| were annohnced: Mason City, Waterloo,
west Branch, iwesf' Liberty, West Union.
Whiting, Williamsburg, Increased 500 each,
Williams. decreased 800. t.ss 80
The National Park bank Of New York
was today approved as 7reserve agent for
the First National bank of Hogan. Ia.
Robert Scott has been appointed clerk in
the Hastings, Neb., postofhce,
The postofRce. at Upton. Custer county,
Neb., has been discontinued ,
Postmasters appointed: South Dakota
Leonard Voneschen, Murray. Brown
county; George Wooley. Otto, Roberts.
county. wyoming-Isaiah, ]. Fansier.
Knight, Unita county.
Pershing May BE Promoted. =
Captain John }. Pershing, former milf
tary instructor at the University Of Ne
braska and one OF the most popular mill
tary officers ever assigned to the uni
versity. is very likely to be made briga--
der general because. OF his splendid re-
cord in the Philippines. Captain Pershing
is now called the. Hero of M~indanao" and
his continued success against the hostile
datos is bringing him new every
day. AT present there are 529 captains
ahead Of him who hope for promotion.
Captain Pershing could only hope for his
majority after many years and with the
possibility OF having to retire with that
rank. But as the president has power to
promote an officer of any grade to be
brigadier general by reason of valuable
service. the friends of Captain Pershing
hope that his splendid record In the Phil
ippines will bring him a star as the result
OF his efforts to bring 'unfriendly natives
IN terms.