The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-10

About the Ravages of the storm
and the FIOOd-He Finds sympu-
thy in Washington.
BY r. NJ. Larner.
Washington. June Ex-senator Clay
arrived here to-day. bringing with him
doleful tidings of personal suffering
and destruction to property in Geor-
gia and South Carolina. caused by re-
cent floods.
The Senator had a long conference
with the President and Secretary Root
in behalf of Capt. S. G. Orr of the
army, who is an aspirant for appoint
ment to the Judge Advocate Generals
Department with the rank of major.
The claim of Capt. Orr, who is a resi-
dent of Newman. but now on duty in
the Philippines, was fully presented
to the President by Senator Clay, and
the slection of Capt. Orr depends upon
the recommendation hereafter to be
made by Secretary Root. Senator Clay
left the White House under the inn
preston that both the President and
Secretary Root are faVorably inclined
towards Capt Orr.
During the interview the President
displayed deep interest in the food
conditions in the South and expressed
profound sympathy for the sufferers In
Georgia and South Carolina. He said
the Secretary of War, through the
proper officials. will render such as
sistance and relief as may be deemed
necessary under the distressing cir.
cumstances.
Senator Clay said only those who are
in the flooded districts can appreciate
the magnitude of the loss of life and
the destruction to property especially
in South Carolina The Senator re-
lated his personal experience and dis
comfort in making the trip from his
home to Washington, which is ordna-
rily made in twenty-four hours. but
by reason of the floods, occupied near
ly four days.
Sore ON IL. r. ID. CurtaiIments.
Senator Clay and Representatives
Livingston and Adamson called at the
Postoffice Department to look into the
rural free delivery service in their re-
spective localities. Senator Clay is
interested in having the allowance of
the postmistress ut Acworth returned
to its original figure. 1t was recently
reduced one-half In the interest Of
economy, which Senator Clay insists
is hurtful to the efficiency of the postal
service.
A spasm of economy is now passing
over the entire postal service, and the
most violent attack seems to be cen
tered In the Southern states. IL is
said that special agents and inspectors
are now operative in Georgia, South
Carolina, Florida and other states un-
der instructions to cut down the rural
free delivery service in every direction.
According to some of the reports al
ready turned in, the inspectors seem to
act as though they were expected to
make radical reductions all along the
line, regardless of the actual condi-
lions under which extension of the
mail service have been made.
In LivinEstOn's Own County.
Representative Livingston is engaged
in a struggle to induce Fourth AS
sistant Postmaster General Bristow to
refrain from destroying the efficient
and satisfactory rural free delivery
system now established in his home
county of Newton. An inspector is
now there intent upon curtailing the
service in various directions, against
the protest of Col. Livingston and the
citizens of Newton county, who enjoy
what is known as the county" or
'house-to-house" system.
Col. Livingston is also trying to save
the official scalp of a mail carrier
named Walter, whose appointment is
held up by the Civil Service Commits
sion, based on charges that his appli-
cation was made out and signed by
Inspector John w. Arnold.
Mr.. Bristow's policy in curtailing the
rural delivery service in the South is
not popular with Southern congress-
men.