The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-08
PLACE STILL VACANT
10 sUCCEssoR TO BYRON TRAM
 NELL NAMED.
Marshal Bryan Trying to Keep Salary From Being Reduced-C. w.
 Cox of Ozark May. e Get ft

The vacancy Tn the office of the United States Marshal at Montgomery caused by the resignation of Byron Trammell. who became postmaster at pothan nearly month ago by appoint ment of President Roosevelt, has not yet been filled and Marshal Leander J. Bryan is stiil thinking about 1t. This is one of the places, 1t will be recalled, that caused President Roose- welt to notify his referees of patronage in Alabama, J. o. Thompson of Birm- ingham and Charles H. Scott of Mont gomery, that they must quit tinker- ing with the Department of Justice. This calling off of the referees was due to a complaint made by Judge Jones of the United States Court that the referees were attempting to appoint of fcers of his court because of their af- hliation with the Republican party and not because of their fitness for the places.
 It has been stated on apparently good authority that the referees were hopeful that in appointing MT. Tram
 melrs successor Marshal Bryan would
 make false step that might be used
 against him to encompass his defeat
 for reappointment if President Roose-
 has been said that the referees hope to secure the appointment of Captain
 B. W. Walker as marshal for the Mid dle District of Alabama.
 If 1t could be shown to the President, 1t was said. that Marshal Bryan refused to appoint a negro to the confidential position of office deputy, his turning down might be easy. Again if Mar shal Bryan appointed a negro. it was said. the white people of Middle Ala bama might make 1t so uncomfortable for Marshal Bryan that his reappoint- ment would be- doubtful.
 So. 8. M Murphy, a negro school teacher at Eufaula, applied for the vacant office and declared that he was supported by the referees. It is said that the referees have never gone further in their endorsement of Murphy than to say that they had good wishes for him. There Is an indefinite re- port that the Board of Education of Barbour County may inquire into the attempt of Murphy to secure a position for which 1t is well known he Is un- fitted.
 It can be stated definitely that Mur- phy will not receive the appointment in Marshal Bryans office.
 Among the other applicants for the vacancy are c. M. Cox of Ozark. L. M. Swann of Roanoke, Felix Dudley of Clanton and A. P. Wilson and F. c. Taylor of Montgomery. Captain Bryan says there are more tAan a dozen appli- cations. but he does not care to make public the names. It Is believed MT. Cox will get the place.
 The appointment. Captain Bryan says, has been held up by him not because of politics. but because of a probable decrease in the salary. Examiner Finch, who investigated the Marshars office several months ago, recommended that but one office deputy be allowed and that the second place be filled by a clerk and stenographer whose maxi mum salary should be $900 a year. The salary of MT. Trammell was $1,500 a year.
 This examination of Examiner Finch has not been acted upon by the De- partment of Justice, and until action Is had. 1t Is doubtful if the appointment is made. Marshal Bryan says he does not think 1t would be fair to make the appointment as long as the salary Is In doubt. He Is very anxious to have the salary kept at $1,500 a year.
 Referee Thompson, in an interview since President Roosevelt's circular letter demanding that the referees hands off' the Marshals office. declar- ed that no recommendation had been made to Marshal Bryan as to vacancies HI hiS oHice. ne ndue no reference to a demand made on Marshal Bryan by his associate, Mir. Scott, for the removal of Deputy A. B. Colquitt because he was a Democrat and the appointment of B. N. Winters. a Republican, to tho vacancy.
 Since MT Winters failed to get berth in the Montgomery office. Referee Thompson, who Is Internal Revenue Collector for Alabama, has provided | position for him In the revenue depart ment