Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-11
THE CASE OF ALLGOOD
A STATEMENT BY THE CIVIL SER
VICE COMMISSION.
His Appointment Was Based on the
Result of His Examination-His
Color Was Not on Record.

The civil service commission has made
the following explanation Of the appoint
ment of ]. c. Allgood. the carrier on the
rural free delivery route in Tennessee who
has been held up and prevented from the
performance of his duty at the point of the
pistol:
There are five rural free delivery routes
which start at Gallatin, Tenn. There were
fifteen applicants for positions as rural
letter carriers on these routes. Eight of
these applicants have been offered ap-
pointment, of whom five accepted and three
declined. For route No. 1, Allen s. Dill
lard, white man, made the highest aver
age, and was appointed February 16, 1903,
to begin work on March l. On February
% notice was received that billiard had de-
clined. The next man on the register was
John c. Allgood, the colored carrier, who
recently was compelled to abandon his
route.
In his report the examiner stated that
Allgood would make a very acceptable car
rier. His judgment was based on his in
vestigations as to the wishes of the pa
irons of the route, under section 9 of the
regulations, which provides that 1.-The ex-
animation shall further consist of a care
full inquiry and report by the special agent
or the route inspector as to each competf-
tors acquaintance with the partons of the
route and the extent to which he has their
confidence, his general characteristics. suit
ability and fitness for the position, and his
character and reputation
No Protests Were Made.
"When billiard declined Allgood was ap-
pointed. There Is nothing in the record
to show that he is colored man, nor could
this fact have been considered If the rec
ord had shown 1t. No protests were filed
by any persons prior to the date of his
appointment. He appointed on Feb
ruary %, the day after the notice was re-
ceived of the declination of billiard. .
"Allgood began work March 1, the date
the service on his route started. Mr.. ALI
good and Mr.. billiard had made about equal
averages. far as the scholastic test Is
concerned. and Mr.. billiard got the benefit
of the first certificate merely on account of
the result of the examiners investigation,
which showed that he would be satisfactory
to more patrons than would Allgood. Sec
ton of the regulations gives the patrons
ample opportunity to select their man, in
asmuch as the applicant must be a person
of 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. however it is, of course under
stood that the applicants are satisfactory
to the patrons of the route.
Another Colored Carrier.
For rural route No. 2. which starts at
Gallatin. Tenn. William Franklin received
the highest rating. Franklin also is a col
ored man. and there never has been any
complaint whatever to his acceptability
to the patrons of his route. Franklin is a
Spanish war veteran. with an excellent rec
ord, as shown by the copy Of his discharge
on file with his papers, In his case the
examiner said that in his opinion no one
could find fault with him. and the postmas-
ter stated that he was fully competent.
In the case of Allgood the examination
and investigation were 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 prefer
ence to billiard in his report, he thought
Allgood would make a very satisfactory
man in case billiard should not accept the
appointment. The examination for these
routes was made as early as May 49, 1902.
No protests have been received in the cases
either of Franklin or of Allgood" .#-