The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-05-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 18th.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 18th.
Mr. ED1ToR:-Presdent Roosevelt has
been baffled in his attempt to override the
wishes of the entire white population of
Charleston, S. c., and disregard the wishes
of the Senate by appointing Or" Crum,
colored, to the position of Collector of the
Port of that city. 1t will be remembered
that the President twice sent the Crum
nomination to the Senate and the Senate
as often failed to confirm it, in one in
stance practically voting to report on it
unfavorably. After the Senate adjourned
Mr. Roosevelt appointed Crum as recess
appointment, but now the Treasury De-
partment refuses to allow him any fees
on the ground that he has been illegally
appointed, contention clearly upheld by
an explicit law. The only hope which
Crum can entertain of receiving pay for
the time he has served is through special
act of Congress, which is regarded as
most remote If the Senate will confirm
him next winter he can draw his fees
from the date of such confirmation, but
there is no more reason to anticipate that
the Senate will confirm him in the future
than there was when he was first nomi-
mated.
CONSERVATION has been aroused in the
Postoffice Department by warning given
to colored carrier on rural delivery
route running out of Gallatin, Tenn, to
the effect that no colored man can carry
the mails. The present incumbent, John
C. A. Allgood, is the second carrier on
the route which was established March 1st,
the first having resigned, it is presumed,
because of similar warning. The route
has been discontinued pending an investi
CATION. Allgood was appointed by pro-
vision of the Civil Service law which
leaves no discretion with the postal au-
thorities. In this connection, a report
has reached Washington to the effect that
no negroes are to be permitted to handle
the mail in the South and it is feared that
much trouble will ensue. Representative
Gaines, who is in Washington, gave an
explanation of the situation to your cor
respondent. Mr.. G aincs said there was
no denying that the Southern people OBJ
jected to colored mail carriers because
they were colored, but that the objection
rose from fear. In the rural districts the
heads of the family and all grown males
were obliged to go out into the fields to
work and leave the women at home de
fenseless Because of the nameless crimes
of the negroes they could not but regard
with apprehension the prospect of negro
mail carriers coming to heir homes i,
their absence. especially sincs, the policy
of the present administration had stirred
up the btterest anmosity between the
races and Mr.. Roosevelt's attitude had
encouraged many negroes to cherish hopes
of social equality ard miscegenation. Mr..
Gaines said the Southern people were tax
ing themselves to the utmost limit to edu
cate the negroe, but their work was being
nullifed by people who, for partisan rea-
sons, misrepresented the facts while they
were utterly ignorant o: the true condi
tions.
Another sensational development has
Just taken place in the Postoffice scandals.
A. w. Machen, general superintendent
of the division of free delivery, has been
suspended pending the conclusion of the
investigation, the division has been trans
ferred to the bureau presided over by