Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-12
SECRETS DISCLOSED
Wagon Builders ReCsivo Advance News Of
Projected Delivery Routes.
DoMlNlcANs PRODUCE COLUMBUS RELICS
show DISCOVERIES Bones 20 Cuban
General and United states Min
lister, Together with Ballet
which shot Him.

WASHINGTON, April 11.-There we're two
important developments today in the in
vestigation OF the Postofhce department.
The first was the hling OF charges that ad-
vance information has been furnished wagon
manufacturers regarding rural routes. and
the other was the issuance Of an order 10
Postmaster Van Colt OF New York, direct
ing him TO hold up all the promotion and
extra clerk allowances recently announced.
Fresh charges were flied by a western es-
tablishment engaged in the manufacture
OF vehicles, alleging that competing houses
had obtained advance regard
ing rural free delivery routes. The COM
planning company says upon learning OF
appointments OF rural carriers It gave In
structions to Its agents to negotiate with
them fer the sale Of vehicles for use In
the postal service, and that in a number
Of cases cited the agents replied that the
carriers had previously procured their out
hts, sometimes several weeks before. IL
is also alleged that in one instance a rep
resentative Of a certain factory was accom-
panied on tho route by the regular carrier,
the latter advising and urging the sale of
the articles offered by the commercial rep
resentative.
When the attention Of Acting Postmaster
General Wynne was called to these charges
he refused to discuss them, but admitted
that they had. been filed and would be
turned over to the inspectors for consider
alton.
The order issued to the postmaster at
New York directs him to withhold action
on the promotions and other allowances
recently ordered and to return certain OF
these cases. The full list Of promotions
will not be finally made up until the cases
are thoroughly investigated. Postmaster
Van Colt win be held responsible for any
promotions he endorses and any not en-
dorsed by him In the usual way will not
be allowed to go through.
There we're us promotions and an allow
ance Of 300 additional clerks at $500 per
annum.
In connection with the investigation. an
apparently routine order from the Post
master General, issued today, regarding the
initialing Of mail, is significant. The order
directs that hereafter chiefs Of division
and bureaus shall check by initials the
mail which has to be passed upon by the
first assistant postmaster general. and that
such officials shall not delegate to a clerk
the right to use his initial in checking
communications. This action Is. intended
to hold the person afixing the initial re-
sponsible for the paper so checked, instead
Of permitting an oficial to let another
ahix his signature and afterwards disclain
It on the ground that 1t was signed by an
other.
Retirement of General Hughes.
Several important changes in the army
occurred today. Major General Robert p.
Hughes, having reached the age of Ga years.
which marks the limit Of service on the
active list. was placed on the retired list.
He was recently relieved from duty in
command Of the Department OF California.
~ General Hughes began his. military career
as a private In the Twelfth Pennsylvania
infantry IN, April. 1851, During the Spanish
war, he served as brisadier general Of vol
aunteers and because of his meritorious
services during that brief war and subse-
quently in the Philippines campaign, be
was appointed brigadier general Of the reg
ulars in February, 1901. and major general
In 1902.
j.. The vacancy in the grade of major gen.
eralq caused by General Hughes retirement
twas today filled by the promotion of Briga-
der General Joseph G. Breckenridge, in-
spector general Of the army. That oficer
will be Immediately retired and Brigadier
snGeneral Marshall l. L~udington, quartermas-
+. ter general of the army. will be promoted
10 the a OF major general.
General Ludington will in turn be retired
and the vacancy thus created will be filled
by the appointment of Brigadier Genera
James E.. Wade to the grade of major gen.
eral. The appointment of General Wade
will be, permanent until his statutory re.
tifement in April, 1907. General Wade fl
now in command of the Department o.
Luzon.
On, the retirement of Major Genera
D George w. Davis in July next General Wade
:. win succeed to the command Nf the division
of the Philippines, which includes all the
military forces in those islands.
Colonel Peter .Vroom Of the inspector
generals department will be appointed in.
/, spectbr general, with the rank Of brigadiei
: general, on the retirement of Genera,
Breckinridge. General Vroom Will then b.
(, placed on the retired list and Colonel
9 George H. Burton will be appointed in,
spector general with the rank OF brigadiei
general. and will retain that ONCE unit
his statutory retirement in January. 1907
On the retirement OF General Ludington