The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-28
(By r. NJ. Larner.)

Matter, Was Seen by officials.
other News From Washington.
(By r. NJ Larner)
Washington, March 27.-Surgeon
General Wyman called at the Treasury
Department to-day to confer with Chief
Taylor of the architects of the office,
relative to the Marine Hospital build
ing at Savannah.
The result of the conference was
that Gen.. Wyman was requested to
submit his views and such other data
as he has. in connection with the pro-
posed building to facilitate the prep
aration of the plans and drawings. He
promised to comply with the request
without further delay. Chief Taylor
says he will be ready to take up the
Savannah case within two weeks aft
er he finds out what Gen. Wyman
wants.
Both officials saw the dispatch to the
Morning News on this subject, and ac-
cOrdingly proceeded to get busy.
Free Delivery Transfer.
One of the results of the recent
shake up in the Postofice Department
will be the transfer of the rural free
delivery division from the office of the
first assistant to the fourth assistant
postmaster general.
Since the establishment of the rural
free delivery service, it has been UNI
der the jurisdiction of the first assist
Al, hal NV
Wynne The work of that division has
grown to such proportions and involves
the discontinuance of so many fourth
class postoffices, that it naturally
comes under the division of the fourth
assistant, in charge of appointments.
Every time a new rural free delivery
route is established, it results in the
discontinuance of one or more fourth
class postoffices. These changes are
regulated by the fourth assistant, Mr..
Bristoe.
BristOe stays in.
The natural outcome of such a trans
fer would be the curtailment of power
and influence of Mr.. Machem, the pres
ent chief of the rural free delivery sys-
TEN, against whom a bitter contest is
being waged by Acting Postmaster
General Wynne. 1t may result in the
removal or resignation of Mr.. Machem.
1t is understood that the transfer is
approved by the Postmaster General
and First Assistant Postmaster GEN
eral Wynne.
1t also means the retention of Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristoe,
who was supposed to be slated for re-
moval by the friends of Mr.. Machem
and Mr.. Beavers, chief of the salary
and allowance division. 1t is under
no pYociHnnt ho vii n;
confidence in the integrity and official
ability Of Mr.. Bristoe. and this conf
dence is shared by Postmaster Gener-
al Payne.
This puts an end to all further spec
ulation as to the official status of the
fourth assistant.
Crum Now Collector.
Crum is now collector of port
of Charleston. Secretary Shaw
to-day approved Crum's bond
for $4,000 and his commission is
alread in Charleston.
1t was the original intention of Crum
to file a bond endorsed by reliable per-
sonal friends, but upon further con-
sideration, it was deemed advisable to
follow the now almost general practice
of BEND bonded by "a surety company.
The Fidelity and Guaranty Company
of Baltimore furnished the necessary
bond.
Thus the Crum case ceases, for the
time being, to be a national issue He
will probably qualify within a few
days and take charge of the Charles
ton Custom House. When Congress
reassamb1es next winter Crum's nomi-
nation will have to be again submit
ted to the Senate. His friends may
delay action indefinitely and in the
meantime he will continue in office at
the pleasure of the President.