New-York tribune., 1903-06-12
VAN COTT NOT TO RESIGN.
: Postoffce Deliuery Heads Say Their
Duties Do Not Clash.

Richard Van Cott son of Postmaster Van
sroft in the course OF a detailed statement made
TO Tribune reporter yesterday denied en-
phatically the truth Of reports that he in
tended 10 resign; that ii had been intimated to
him either by his father by the authorities
in Washington that he should hand in his res
;gnation owing 20 the classification Of the office
he holds and certain promotions he is alleged to
have made, or that to his knowledge any
charges had been brought against him in Wash
tngton He declared that he failed to see how
his retention of the Office of superintendent Of
delivery would cause Charles W. White, super
intendent of general delivery, postoffice station
TO be reduced from superintendent at s., 400 a
year to an ordinary clerk at 81, 400. as reported
He said:
Mr. Whites position is equivalent to; that %, Of
superintendent OF a regular delivery station Ihe
fecreed that the general delivery station shall not
be known by any letter Of The alphabet the
Others. but simply general delivery. Mr. Whites
position is therefore local one. having charge
Nv ' n % position n e2srey s ere s Oe'h 6he is hs hs
of suIerlntendent OF CITY aellveryi having charge
number OF clerks duties do not in the least
conflict duplicate. and in their necessitating
separate officials TO superintend. in no wise con-
travene precedent My predecessor superin-
tendent Of city delivery was Mr.. Morgan. who is
now assistant postnaster; NJ. Whites being
When Mr.. Morgan took the position Of assistant
postmaster, which had fallen vacant. I ap-
TO the post left vacant by Mr.. Morgan. By an
amendment 20 the Civil Service rules which was
approved by President Mckinley. / was admitted
e superintendent without having TO undergo a
Civil Service exanaination. Mr. White was after
ward appointed to his present position as / ny
self recommended he should be
NO RESERVATIONS TO BE EXPECTED
Asked whether, in the contingency of his
having TO resign. it would mean a material loss
70 him. in view OF his livery stable and whole
Eale millinery business, he said he aattered him
self he could more than atone for the loss of
$500 year by being able to devote more time
&c his business Il have no wish or intention
however" he added. ito resign from my post
Office position" Regarding the rumor that his
father might wish him TO resign he said:
IF that were trues AIr. Van Cott had only to
ask me-
Asked whether he believed his father would
resign in the event Of he himself having to hand
IN his resignation he remarked "Mr. Van Cott
would be foolish 10 do that" Concerning a re
port suggesting Undue favo-itism toward GER
tain Of his assistants. and that Miss Iotta
Fleige. $500 stenographer in lis department
had enjoyed unusual privileges, such as spend
Ing considerable time in Cuba last witter. being
At her desk only sixteen days last month. having
been absent from the postoffice for three weeks
or more Mr.. Van Cott said:
The statement is lie from beginning TO end. No
contempt for any hound who would be responsible
FOR such story. Miss Fleige works six fiav~ a
week ike the rest, and IS in the DOstofice to-
cay She certainly die not go 20 Cuba last win