The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-02
TALK OF CHAPMAN
FOR A $4,000 JOB
Osborn Many Appoint Veteran
Federal Officer Chief of
Revenue Agents.
HAS SERVED FORTY YEARS
Richmond Man, Appointed Under
President Hayes, Close Friend
of Commissioner.

Colonel w. H. Chapman, for the Of
fec of chief of revenue agents, with
headquarters In Washington
That Is tho newest bit Of gossip that
is agitating Internal revenue circles,
and while mono Of the principals con-
cerncd processes to know anything
about 1t, 1t appears to be gossip worth
repeating. Colonel Chapman has moth
Ing to say: Commissioner Osborn has
nothing to say; but friends OF both
men arc confident that the prediction
Is more than an idle rumor
The office of chief Of revenue agents
is held at present by @. W. Trow-
bridge. who was appointed from I'LL
nois by former Commissioner Caples.
Mr. Trowbridge is Republican, and
Is n brotherin-law of former penator
scott OF West Virginia. The incum-
Deht mas no definite commission. and
his tenure Of office is limited by tho
VIII OF the commissioner
Chapman Logical Choice.
The fact that Mr.. TrowbridEe is of
oiHerlng political faith, and that no
has already served under three com
mlssioners. appears to support tho
probability OF impending change. When
me question OF successor comes up
Colonel Chapman. 1t is believed will
be the logical choice.
In point of continuous service in the
revenue department. Colonel Chapmnn
Is the ranking revenue officer In the
united states. He was appointed TO
this branch OF government work by
commissioner Green Il. Rnhm during
tho administration of President Ruth
erford b. Hayes, in July, 1878 He has
served continuously ever since, undis-
turbed by party upheavals and admin
istrative changes. Previous to his APP
pointment to the revenue department
Colonel Chapman served five years I'm
the railway mail service He rounds
out this month forty years OF continu-
GUS service for the. government.
Old Friend of Osborn.
Another factor that will weigh heay-
lily In favor of Colonel Chapman when
tho question of filing the vacancy
arises is the strong friendship between
him and Commissioner Osborn Their
acquaintance began many years ago.
when Colonel Chapman was stationed
In the internal revenue office at Green's
boro, ~ c., where the present commis-
sioner was engaged in business In the
whole service there Is probably no man
who has the confidence and friendship
or the new commissioner In the same
degree as has Colonel Chapman
The position of chief of revenue
agents is attractive enough to engage
the attention of other aspirants, and
there Will be no scarcity of contestants
Next to the commissioner himself. the
chief OF revenue agents is the ranking
oihcer In the service. and is In charge
or all the agents in the country The
office carries n salary OF about $4,000
n year. with an allowance for travel
ing expenses.
With Colonel Chapman is named ].
w. Shelter. OF Baltimore. who. 1t is
believed. will be put forward for the
position by his friends. Mr.. Shelter
was secretary to Collector Of Internal
Revenue Goldsborough, of Baltimore,
now Governor OF Maryland, but re-
signed from that post last October. He
is regarded as one OF the best-informed
revenue men In the United States.