The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-02
pFpUBLICANS HUSTLING
TO BE DELEGATES.
.v,ctory at Any Old Price" to Be the
slogan of the Party.
b. r. NJ. Larner.

b. r.. NJ. Larner.
"pernicious activity in politics" by
federal officeholder, is not at pres
mt regarded as an offense against the
oi,,iI service law, providing the office
holder is strong enough at home to be
elected to the coming Republican Ma
tional Convention either as a delegate
~ an influential worker. Throughout
,ba south every federal off1ceholder of
any prominence is busy at work lay
ing pipes to be elected to the Republi-
can convention at Chicago in June.
Or. Crum, collector of the port of
charleston, who for many years has
baen a delegate-at-large from South
Carolina, is an aspirant for the honor
,gain. Collector Deveaux at Savan-
nah may not be a delegate-at-large
Int his friends say he will be dele
cate to the convention from the Sa-
vannah district. Gen. John S. Clark
son. surveyor of the port of New York,
has already made his plans to attend
the convention, and do his speciality
of rounding up the Southern dele
rates" for the administration end of
he ticket. Officeholders from all over
the country have been given to under
stand that no objection will be raised
in Washington against their active
participation in the coming political
campaign. provided they exercise their
discretion and remain loyal to the ad-
ministration.
Inst now the most insignificant ap-
continent in the postal or in other
branches of the public service is sub
iected to the close scrutiny of the Re-
nublican referee, with view of ascer-
tanning what the political effect of
such an appointment will be. The old
Republican slogan, ito the victors be-
long the spoils," has been renovated,
and now is working overtime disguised
under a sentiment to the effect: IF
the Republican party is to enjoy a
continuation of power victory must be
ours at any old price"
Uniforms in Office Hours.
Secretary Moody intends to follow the
example set by Secretary Root, and
REQUIRE officers on duty at the Navy
Department to wear fatigue uniforms
during office hours. The seedy, I'M
tidv appearance of many of the naval
officers in the department is the sub
iect of frequent comment, in contrast
with the bright, clean uniforms of the
officers of the army in Secretary Roots
department.
Naval officers object to the new or
der regarding the style of wearing ap-
parel prescribed by Secretary Moody,
because regulation uniforms are SO
much more extensive than the ordi-
nary marked down business suits or
misit combinations, which some of
the ranking officers of the navy wear
while performing their daily duties at
the department. The army officers
made a similar protest, when Secretary
Root first decided that all officers on
duty in the department should appear
in uniform just the same as officer
stationed at the various military posts
throughout the country.
Naval officers are required to wear
their uniforms on board ship in mid
ocean, at obscure naval stations, and
at the various navy yards, and there
fore it is contended by the Secretary
that officers at the headquarters of the
navy should do likewise. The officers
at the Navy Department are blaming
Capt. Cowles, the brother-in-law of
President Roosevelt for the new order
relative to uniforms. 1t appears that
Capt. Cowles, while on duty as assist
ant chief of the Bureau of Navigation,
frequently wore his fatigue uniform at
his desk. Blue in winter and white in
summer. His neat appearance attract
ed the attention of the Secretary, and
the latter decided that the navy can
afford to look as well dressed at naval
headquarters as the army.
Star Route Mails.
There is to be a general shaking up
of the contract system in connection
with the star route mail system. The
Second Assistant Postmaster General
is being flooded with appeals for re-
lief from local sub-contractors in va
rfous parts of the country. Sometime
ago an effort was made to break UP
the Star Route Trust" located in
Washington, which practically con-
trolled the star route service of the
country. Washington contractors Sc
cured the contracts and then sublet
them to local carriers at a reduced
rate thus enabling the original con-
tractor TO make handsome 'rake-off''
at the expense of the local carrier.
The law now provides that star
route contractors shall reside in the
states in which the contracts are let.
Ihe crafty star route contractors, who
nave been in the business many years.
nave managed in many instances to
get around the law and continue the
business of sub-letting mail contracts.
II appears that in many instances the
sun-contractors, who are not familiar
with the law, are held responsible for
certain omissions or unintentional vi
oeAOAAS Vi Tie contract, ana are nned
SO heavily by the original contractors
as to deprive the sub-contractors of
any return for their labor. 1t was
the bringing of this class of disputes
70 the attention of the Postmaster
General that caused an investigation
10 be instituted. A number of South
ern and Western congressman have
mace complaints to the department in
tne interest of constituents, who have
oeen victims of the original con-
tractors. Some interesting disclosures
III connection with the various meth
ods employed to evade the law are
expected.
MY DEAR" said the sick man, you
know l ordered a sealskin sacque for
you for this Christmas, but in view of
my present condition, 1 think we had
oetter cancel the order" But, John"
replied the loving wife, "a sealskin
sdcque wouldn't be inappropriate for
me under any circumstances. I've
l.