The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-13
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Current Comment on Matters Of
Present Interest.

GOiADG w OFClI1oO GlS W 1SSo VI 1iAO Ou
tire white population of Charleston,
S. c., and disregard the wishes of the
Senate by appointing CDR" Crum,
colored, to the position of collector Of
the Port of that city. It will be re-
membered that the President twice
sent the Crunl nomination to the SEN
ate and the Senate as often failed to
confirm it, in one instance practically
voting to report on it unfavorably.
After the Senate adjourned Mr.. Roose-
velt appointed Crum as a recess ap-
pointment but now the Treasury De-
partment refuses to allow him any fees
on the ground that he has been ille-
gally appointed, a contention clearly
upheld by an explicit law. The only
hope which Crum can entertain of re-
ceiving pay for the time he has serv-
ed is through a special act of Con-
gress which is regarded as most re-
mote. If the Senate will confirm him
next winter he can draw his fees from
the date Of such confirmation, but there
is no more reason to anticipate that
the Senate will confirm him in the fu
ture than there was when he was first
nominated.
CONSERVATION has been aroused in
the postoffice department by warning
given to colored carrier on rural
delivery route running out of Gallatin,
Tenn, to the effect that no colored
man can carry the mails. The present
incumbent, John G. A. Allgood, is
the second carrier On the route which
was established March l, the first hav
ing resigned, it is presumed because
of similar warning. The route has
been discontinued pending an inyesti-
cation.
Allgood was appointed by provision
of the civil service law which leaves
no discretion with the postal authori-
ties. In this connection, report has
reached Washington to the effect that
no negroes are to be permitted to han
die the mail in the South and it is
feared that much trouble will ensue.
Representative Gaines, who is in
Washington, gave an explanation Of
the situation to your correspondent.
Mr.. Gaines said there was no denying
that the Southern people objected to
colored mail carriers because they
we're colored, but that the objection
rose from fear. In the rural districts
the heads of the family and all grown
males were obliged to 60 out into the
fields to work and leave the women at
home defenseless. Because Of the
nameless crimes of the negroes they
could not but regard with apprehension
the prospect of negro mail carriers
coming to their homes in their
absence, especially since the policy
of the present administration had stir
red up the bitterest animosty between
the races and Mr.. Roosevelts' attitude
had encouraged many negroes to cher
ish hopes of social equality and misce-
genation Mr.. Gaines said the South
| ern people were taxing themselves to
the utmost limit to educate the negro
but their work was being nulli-
fed by people who, for partisan rea-
sons, misrepresented the facts while
they were utterly ignorant of the true
conditions.
Another sensational development has
Just taken place in the postoffice
| scandals. 4. W. Machen, general
superintendent of the division of free
delivery, has been suspended pending
the conclusion of the Investigation,
the division has been transferred to
the bureau presided over by Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow,
and Mr.. NJ. G. Fosnes, Postofice In
spector, has been appointed acting
Superintendent of the division. Mr..
Fosnes, it will be remembered, was
appointd head of the Cuban postal
service after the notorious mal-ad-
ministration Of Estes G. Rathbone.
There no longer remains any doubt
that Irregularities of the gravest pro-
portions have been discovered by Mr..
Bristcw but it is also known that many
prominent politicians are implicated
and it is a matter of grave doubt if
Mr.. Bristow's report will ever reach
the public. If it does story of cor
ruption involving some of the most
respected officials who have been con-
nected with the government will be re-
vealed. Mr. Seymour ". Tulloch has
made public an interview embodying
grave charges, among them the fact
that Mr.. Thomas W. Gilmer, a special
expert of the comptroller's division OF
the Treasury, was at one time detailed
to make an investigation into Post
Office affairs but was distinctly ordered
not to probe the affairs of the Wash
ington and the New York Offices, and
that although Gilmer obeyed orders he
learned so much that he was dis
charged on the express order of the
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Vanderlip. Thus far. the Postmaster
General has refused to make public
the letters from several officials to
whom he wrote asking for information
regarding Tulloch's charges and which,
Tulloch claims must confirm his state
ments.
Another scheme for deluding and
probably defrauding negroes, All evil
dent outgrowth Of the Hanna ex-slaye
pension bill, has just come to light.
It is a circular issued by the ''ex-
ecutive committee of the Civil Liberty
Party The circular begs assistance
in destroying partisan slavery among
the negroes, in securing the passage
of the Hanna bill and requests the ap-
pointment Of delegates to attend a
mammoth convention Of negroes to be
| Nov