The news & observer., 1905-12-28
His Charges May Call for
Congressional Action.
Mr.. MOODY is ABSENT
And the Department of Justice is Still,
But Unusually Heavy Demand for
News and observers tuesday
Morning Showed Interest in
Anderson's Letter.
BY THOMAS j. PENCE.

washington, -. u, Lee. < line
arraignment of Acknowledgement
Moody by former State Senator An
derson for gratuitously taking the part
of the defendants in the suit brought
against Chairman Rollins and other
organization leaders, which appeared
in today's News and Observer. has
created a genuine stir in official as
well as local political circles and
copies of the Old Reliable were in
great demand here tonight.
Attorney General Moody is in Mas
sachusetts. and at the Department OF
Justice no one would talk with ref
erence to the letter. That it has
been received and will be turned over
to the Attorney-General for his per-
Sonal inspection there is no room for
doubt.
The charges contained in the letter,
especially those relating to the West
Asheville postoffice are so grave and
serious that in the opinion of many
people here, they call for Congression-
al action. and if the Administration
ignores them, it is almost certain that
a resolution will be introduced in the
Senate, demanding a full recital of
all the facts. The North Carolina
Senators will be forced to take notice
of the West Asheville situation when
the appointment of Major w. w. Roll
Inns as postmaster at ASheyille comes
up for confirmation.
The Case of Jake Ray.
If all the facts have been told, the
appointment of Jake Ray, as assistant
in the West ASheVille office and his
transfer here, which resulted in the
evasion of the civil service eaminatiOn
regulations, will be aired to such an
Fextent in Congress that the Admins
tration will be forced to take notice
of this particular phase of the Radi-
cal row in the State. The claim is
made that the situation with respect
to Rays appointment is really worse
than portrayed by Anderson not only
did Ray receive $400 as salary in an
office that had previously paid only
500 per year, but the statement is
made that the postmaster was also
given a salary of $500 a year over his
protest. The opponents of Postmaster
Rollins are very busy, and it is ap-
parent they will recite his connection
with the incident to the members of
the Senate committee on postoffices
and post roads.
Thought the Charges True.
An effort to get the facts with ref
erence TO the West Asheville incident
from the POStOfflCe department was
unsuccessful. Officials there said 1t
was contrary to custom to make pub
lie matters Of this kind. One official
was frank enough to admit that the
charges are probably true; "for" said
he, George w. Beavers, the indicted
chief of salaries and allowances in the
department was running things with d
high hand at that time"
The opinion is freely expressed that
the Administration will not take
notice of this ugly situation in North
Carolina, unless forced to do so, as
the result of publicity coming through
Congressional channels. The Presi-
dent, who has already denounced An
derson in strong language, has sell
dom if ever in his life admitted that
he erred and it is not thought that
he will voluntarily do SO in this in
stance 1t is certain that the Attor-
ney-General will not take action with
out consulting Mr. Roosevelt. Col.
" S. Lusk, of Asheville, who is here,
declares that his visit relates to legal
and not political matters He says
he is not taking part in the Republi-
can scrap IN the State, though he is
against the third termers.
Ex-Governor d. l.. Russell who has
been to Baltimore to consult his ply
sician spent the day here. The former
governor was accompanied by his
nephew, Major ID. r. Johnson. He is
not in good health.