The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-22

Washington, May 20.-POstmaster
General Payne today received the Of
fetal report of the investigation into
the recent intimidation of Jorn Alt
good. the colored rural free delivery
carrier at Gallatin, Tenn. The report
says that only two persons We're IN
YOlved III the affairs and that the Senti-
ment of the community does not uphold
their act. The carrier IS afraid to re-
sumo the service believing his life
would be endangered thereby, although
Inspector COnger who made the InVes-
tigatiOn reports that he believes the
carrier would be entirely safe. The
carrier thinks he knows who the two
men We're who held him up and warned
him not TO continue but the Inspector
says their identity is uncertain. An
irregularity in the department of Alt
good has been discovered and thu mat
ter has been referred to the civil service
commission. Senator Bate of Tenn
eSsee, had conference today with the
postmaster general and urged reSump-
tOn of the service on the suspended
route, but the postmaster deferred ac-
tiOn pending Il careful consideration OF
the report. Subsequently Mr.. Payne
declined to say whether the service
would be resumed. He said:
There is not the slightest doubt
about the occurrence, but whether tEe
people on the route We're responsible
for it IS another question which has
not yet been decided
AltgOOd has resigned as rural mail
carrier, on the ground that his con-
tinuance in the service would endanger
his life The postmaster general stated
tonight that the resignation had not
yet been accepted, but that tomorrow
he hoped to dispose of the case and to
announce his decision as to resumption
of the service. The civil service COM
mission is now looking into the papers
connected with his examination for the
appointment. it being stated that his
rating was made higher than it should
have been.
POSTOFFICE CLERK PROMOTIONS
Washington, May 20.-The Concel-
ldtIOn of the promotions of over 5000
pOstOffice clerks throughout the coun-
try recently authorized by the depart
ment, ana q formal notice to former
First Assistant Postmaster General
Perry s. Heath of the charges made
against him by EX-Cashier Tulloch of
the Washington City postoffice con-
Sttuted tOdays developments in the
pOstOftice investigation.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne late this afternoon reported to
Mr. Payne that the tabulatiOn of the
clerks in each grade in poStoffices of
the first class had been completed. This
work was undertaken in accordance
with the order made by the postmaster
general to re-arrange the salaries of
the clerks already classified so that
the number of the several grades shall
not exceed the number specifically pre-
Scribed in the act of congress making
The former classification was made by
George ". Beavers just prior to his
sudden resignation as chief of the dI-
vision OF salaries and allowances. The
report says:
1T Will not be necessary in any case
to reduce any clerk. but simply 10 can
eel 3.Gf5 out of 1.412 promotions hereto
fore authorized to take effect July l.
1903 We will proceed at once to asCer-
tain exactly the number of promotions
IN each grade it will be necessary to
cancel at each pOstoffice and then will
inform the pOstmasters and allow them
to select the increases which must be
cancelled.
The postmaster general today sent to
Perry Heath a copy of the charges
filed by Mr.. Tulloch together with 4
letter requesting any Information he
may care to submit on the subject.
This is the first official communication
tiOn. Auditor Castle, of the pOStOffice
department. was busy today reviewing
the records of his office in connection
with the TullOch charges and will sub
nit his reply to the postmaster general
probably tomorrow.
The end Of the investigation Is not
yet in sight. Fourth Assistant Post
master General BristOw. who is con-
Quoting the work. has not set any date
for the submission of his report for
the reason that the sweeping nature
of the investigation has made il i'm
possible TO indicate when the whole
matter Will be ready to be placed in
the hands of the postmaster general
for final disposition. 1t is probable
that the report will not be submitted
before the close of June or the early
part of July.
OBJECT TO BOWEN'S NOTE.
Washington. May 20.-Because Sir
Michael Herbert and other representa-
tiyes of the powers took exception to
certain foot notes included in the
Blue book on Venezuela. the state de-
partment has assured them that the
book was prepared by Mr.. Bowen and
Is not to be considered an official pub
HcatiOp of the department.
The E0te to which the representatives
oi the t-t,wers take exception appears
AZ +6e foot of one of the exchanges