Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-10
MAY NAME ANOTHER
Delay in Installing GrandffeId
as Postmaster.
LOCAL OFFICIAL DESIRED
Opportunity for President Taft, It Is
Said, to Make Good His
Promises.

The long delay in installing DR.. Charles
p Grandfeld as postmaster OF Washing
ton has raised hopes in the hearts OF
those citizens OF the National Capital who
believe that Washington Offices should be
filled by Washington men, They say per-
haps DR.. Grandfield will continue to be
retained as first assistant postmaster gen.
eral and that President Taft will again
have an opportunity to make good his
promise or more than year ago that he
would give local ofYlces to local men as
far as he was able
The people Of Washington have no per-
sonal feeling against DIR. Grandfieid; In
fact. he has made for himself a most
excellent reputation as an official. They
merely object to the fact that although
he has resided in Washington for many
years he has retained his legal residence
in Missouri They say, they said be-
fore the President appointed DR.. Grand
field postmaster OF the city. that there
are bona fide Washingtonians who are
capable of filling the Office. which il
local Office. IL any Office in the city can
be SO considered. as well as any ap-
pointee from other cities.
Successor Not Chosen.
Another view Of the long delay in plac-
ing DR.. Grandfield at the head or the
Washington post office is that President
Taft and Postmaster General Hitchcock
are not ready at this time to select
man for the position OF FIRST assistant
postmaster general, which will become
vacant as soon as Grandheid is sworn
in as postmaster. There has been much
pressure brought to bear upon the Priests
dent and the Postmaster General to re-
ward various republicans by giving them
or their candidates the Office of first as
sistant postmaster general. BY retaining
Dr. Grandfield in that position the ad'
ministration has been able to sidestep
so far the necessity of making an APP
pointment.
The Postmaster General said to a Star
reporter several days ago that DR..
Grandfeld would remain In his present
position until October I. the end OF
the quarter"
But" said a business man yesterday.
''Dr. Grandfield was appointed and con-
firmed some months ago. Since then one
reason and then another has been adj
vanced why he did not assume charge of
the local Office. Is he SO valuable in his
present position that the Postmaster
General cannot OF is loath to part with
his serves? II so. why not keep him
| there? The people of Washinigton-and
this without any disparagement of DR..
Grandfield, whatever-would much pre-
fer to have one Of their own number in
| the office of postmaster.
Sentiment Is Widespread.
This sentiment is becoming widespread.
Many there are who feel that the Dis
trict has been imposed upon. Some even
60 so far as to say that il is being played
with by politicians. They argue that IL
DIR. Grandfield is SO valuable in his pres
ent position II Is not for the best inter
| ests of the postal service at large to
take him away from it and confine his
| efforts and his ability to local field.
There is no doubt that DIR. Grandfeld
| stands high in the regard of the POST
master General, say those who are in
touch with the Post Office Department.
His retention in his present position for
! nearly a year after his selection for the
Office of postmaster is pointed to as evil
long and wide experience In the depart
ment especially fits him for his present
position which supervises the post ofiices
of the entire country in all their ramifi-
cations.
II is contended If his appointment 10
in the nature of a reward for valuable
services. the reward should take the
form OF an increase Of salary in his
general post Office of those valuable
services when they are evidently most
needed solely for the purpose OF In
creasing his income.
A rumor has gained credence. in some
quarters that the influence behind Act
ing Postmaster Merritt's candidacy for
the place, when the late Postmaster
Barnes died. has something to do with
the delay in DIR. Grandfield's entering
upon his duties as city postmaster. In
the meanwhile DIR. Grandfield is suffer
ing the loss of an increase in salary, the
departments best interests are to be
endangered by removing him, even in
October, from his present place, it is de-
clared, and the people Of Washington are
left to wonder why a local man is not
appointed to this local Office.