Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
Mr.. Bristow's Protest.

Subsequent TO the transfer of the in
spectors TO the office of the Postmaster
General Mr.. Bristow called upon the Pres
ident and expressed himself very forclbIy
regarding the action of the Postmaster
General He told the President that he felt
that the action was unfair TO him. mas
much MIR. Wynne had obtained the Pres
ident's approval of the transfer without
proper consideration of the fourth assistant
and that while the latter was at the White
House the transfer order had been hurried
to the chief post office inspector and the
matter eliminated. IL took from him a
great deal of his power and he was SUBJ
sequently in a very excited frame of mind
The President told him that il would not
be the part of courtesy to interfere with
action OF a member of his cabinet and
that the transfer must stand. Mr. BristoW
then informed the President that he had
signed his last paper fourth assistant
postmaster general and wished his resigna-
Ilon accepted,-to take immediate effect
This the President declined TO accede to
and suggested that Mr. Bristow reconsider
ms decision. The upshot of the conference
was that the resignation was held in abey-
aiice ana the conference OF the gentlemen
already named called to meet the Presi
dent and discuss the matter
Before Mr. Bristow's talk with ,h
President he had called on the Postmastar
General ana protested against the proposed
transfer without complete statement of
the situation being submitted to the Presi
dent. At that meeting Postmaster General
Wynne told Mr. Bristow that tho nowsr
or the iatters office entirely too great
and that the Post Office Department al
ready had been too long operated through
that Office He said that the proper place
for the inspectors was under the direct
jurisdiction of the Postmaster Genera in
stead of compelling the latter to make his
Investigations through a subordinate and
that as long as he was Postmaster Gem
eral he intended to administer the duties
OF the office he felt was for the best
interests of the entire service. This move
he said, was in that line. and the transfer
was TO be made Notwithstanding the pro-
tests of the disgruntled official The meet
ing was not love feast and Mr. Rristov
departed with bitter feeling of dethrone-
ment.
Mr. Bristow felt that the inspectors were
properly under his Jurisdiction. while the
Postmaster General insisted that thew
should come under his Office solely for the
reason that their work covered the divisions
of all four assistants and had to be finally
passed upon by the Postmaster General
He endeavored TO convince Mr.. Bristow that
the transfer was not made with any view
to humiliatng the latter, but was for the
good of the entire service. This MIR Bris-
tow refused to admit, and asked permission
OF his superior to take the matter to the
President. Mr.. Wynne granted this permits
sion. but did not retreat from his position
and the transfer was made without further
discussion between the Postmaster General
and the fourth assistant.
Senator Longs Statement.
Senator Long last evening said, regarding
tie new appointment of Mr.. Bristow:
Secretary Taft desired to utilize Mr. Bris-