The news & observer., 1905-12-31
NO CRITICISM Of
JUDGE PR|TCHARD
Announcement by Post
Office Department.
BEAVERS is BLAM ED
There is No Defence of the West Ashe-
vile Postoffice Scandal, the Tax
ina OF The Government Seven
Hundred Dollars TO Collect
0no Hundred
One Hundred
By THOMAS j. PENCE.

The Postoffice Department announc-
ed today that there was nothing III
the West Asheville postofiice case upon
which to base unfaVorablc criticism of
Judge Prichard. While the judge as
a senator endorsed Jake Ray, the clerk
was appointed over the protest OF
Postmaster Heron. The statement is
made by First Assistant Postmaster
General Hitchcock that there is nothing
to show that Justice Pritchard was
asking for his appointment to this par
ticular office.
1t is plain that the poStoffice offi-
Gals charge to George w. Beavers,
the former chief of salaries and al
lowances, responsibility for the situa-
ton at West AsheVille, which is round
ly condemned.
The statement autnoritatively made
today is for the purpose of placing
Judge Pritchard right as a result of
the publicity resulting from the
charges preferred by ex-senator An
derson. The essential facts in the
West Asheville case are not altered at
ALL and there is no defense of the
scandalous proceedings by which the
government was torcibly taxed $500 to
collect less than S10O.
The Organization Slate.
THE. Organization slate for big jobs in
North Carolina has practically been
agreed upon. The terms of all these
officials will have expired at the end
of the first month in the new year.
The last one to terminate is the
marshaFs IL the Eastern District. Col.
II. G. Dockerys commission falls due
January 26th., About that time Chair
man Rollins slate will be announced,
with the exception of the organiZa-
ton candidate for district attorney.
Mr.. HOlton'S successor Will not be
agreed upon until the end of the spe-
cial term of court that convenes in
Greensboro January next month. Mr..
Rollins does not know whether he will
take the job himself or recommend
the nomination of Mr.. Holton. There
is also talk of ex-Judge Bynum and
Zeb Vance Walser in connection with
the district attorneyship.
The organizatio has about decided
to sacrifice all the third termers with
the exception of Collector Duncan,
who handles Eastern politics for the
powers that be. Collector Hawkins,
whose term of office expired in the
fall, is to be relegated to private life.
Chas. A. Reynolds the postmaster at
Winston, stands the best chance of
succeeding Harkins, though there are
influential Republicans backing G. j.
Bailey. Zeb Vance Walser is men
toned in connection with the marshall
ship, as we'll as for the position of
district attorney l.. G. Wagner, as
has been recently forecaSted, is slated
for the Western marshalship. The job
as marshal in the East is likely to be
bestowed on Claude Dockery. In any
event, Col. II. c.. Dockery is not to be
re-appointed. Slocumb, of Fayette-
vile, is Claude Dockery's chief op-
ponent.
Blackburn will fight every one of
these organization candidates. but un-
less he improves his offensive meth-
DDS, he is certainly to emerge from
the conflict with little to his credit
in the way of scalps..
The terms of postmasters in four
of the best cities in the State expire
the same day, February 18th. These
vacancies will occur in the Salisbury,
Greensboro, Reidsville and Statesville
offices. The term of the postmaster
in Maxton expires January 18th, a
vacancy occurs at Williamson the
9th. Scotland Neck the 29th. The
term of Postmaster Bailey, in Raleigh.
does not expire until June.
A statement just issued by Secre-
tary wilson, OF the department Oh
Agriculture, shows that the reported
permanent fields of cotton production
in foreign countries have so far re-
suited in no perceptible addition to
the worlds cotton crop. The Secre-
tary declares that these new fields of
cotton, which have been exploited by
cotton manufacturers in Germany,
England and France, cannot mater
tally affect the foreign market for
the upland cotton of this country;
certainly not for many years to come.
Rural delivery carriers are appoint
ed as follows, to begin with the jan
uary 22nd service:
Route, from Cesar. Oscar c. Foster,
Berry and Jesse c. Fostenberry, SUBJ
stitutes Route from Laurel Springs,
Chas. r. johnson. and Frank Johnson
substitute. Rout, 2, from Lucia. JAS
L. Allen and VIM. S. Painter. substi-
tute Route 5, from Union Mills,
Addie l.. Allen and Luther Nanny
substitute. Route 2, from Union Mills,
VIII f. Fiack and John E. F'lack, SUBJ
stitute.
MetcaIfe Likes. Overman's Idea.
Senator Overman's resolution for
the creation of a World Market Com
mission, to exploit and investigate the
cotton goods trade throughout the
world, is the subject of favorable
comment in the annual report of Sec
Ietary Metcalfe, of the Department
of Labor and Commerce. Secretary
Metcalfe while giving his hearty en-
Gorsement 10 the measure. and declar-
iYncr -, - h. off m