Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-11
EXPLAINS ALLCOOD MATTER
Commission DID Not Know or Enquire
Whether Carrier Was Oolored.
WOULD MAKE no DIFFERENCE If IT HAD
Wa Highest ON Eligible List and
Inspector Reported Him Accept
able TO the People on
the Route.

WASHINGTON. May lo.-The Civil Ser
vice commission today made the following
explanation of the circumstances attending
the appointment to his position OF John G..
Allgood, the Tennessee rural free delivery
letter carrier, who has been prevented
from performing the duties Of his office by
the patrons Of his route:
There are five rural free delivery routes
which start at Gallatin, Tenn. There were
nIteen applicants for positions as rural
letter carriers on these routes. Eight OF
these applicants have been offered appoint
clined. For route No. /, Allen S. Diilard.
a Whlte man. made the highest average
and was appointed February l6, 1908, to be
notice was received that Dillard had de-
Gllned. The next man on the register was
John G. Allgood, the coiored carrier who
recently. was compelled TO abandon his
route, In his report the aminer stated
that Allgood would make a very acceptable
carrier. Ills Judgment was based on his
lnvestlgatlons as to the wishes OF the
patrons OF the route under section Q Of the
regulations which provides that the exam
ination shall further consist OF a careful
inquiry and report by the special agent
or the route inspector as 70, each of the
competitors acquaintance with the patrons
OF the route and the extent to which he
has their confidence, his general character
istlcs, suitability and illness tor the post
ton and his character and reputation"
hen billiard declined Allgood was APP
pointed; There is nothing IN the record 20
show that he Is a colored man, nor could
ord had shown it.
No Protests FILED.
No protests we're filed by any persons
prior 10 the date OF his appointment. HI
was appointed On February -. the day
after the notice was received Of the decn-
nation of billiard. Allgood began work
March, l, the date the service on his route
started. Mr.. Allgood and Mr.. billiard had
made about equal averages, so far as the
scholastic test Is concerned and Mr.. Dill
lard got the benent of the first certihca-
ton merely on account of the result of the
examiners investigation, which showed
that he would be satisfactory to more
patrons than would Allgood. Section 8 OF
/, opportunity to select their man, inasmuch
as the applicant must be a person who has
a good reputation in the community. Pro-
tests from patrons In any case are always
considered and investigated by the central
board OF examiners. When no protests are
received II is of course understood that the
applicants are satisfactory to the patrons
of the route.
For rural route No. 2, which starts at
Gallatin. Tenn, William H.. FRANKLIN re-
ceived the highest rating. Franklin also
is a colored man, and there never has been
any complaint whatever as to his accepta-
bility to the patrons of his route. Franklin
Is a Spanish war veteran, with an excellent
record, as shown by the copy Of his dis
charge on file with his papers. In his case
the examiner said that IN his opinion no
one could find fault with him, and the
postmaster stated that he was fully COM
petent.
In the case Of Allgood, the examination
and investigation we're made by a special
agent, whose home is in Tennessee and
who Is familiar with the conditions there.
The agent states that while he gave the
preference to billiard in his report. he
thought Allgood would make a very salts
factory man in case Dtllarc should not &C
cept the appointment. The examination for
1902. No protests have been received in the
cases either of Franklin or of Allgood.