(Times-Star Special Dispatch)
Washington, June 28. - W. B. Gaitree will not be the head of the Ohio division of the free rural delivery service, after July 1.  He has tendered his resignation, to take effect on that date, and will then enter into a private business, the nature of which he will not make public immediately. He has stated, however, that anticipating an unfavorable report upon his case, he has made arrangements for entering into business, in company with some gentlemen well known in the free delivery service.  He will be backed by influential financiers. The technical cause of his leaving the department was the charge that he had transgressed the postal laws and regulations.  The charge is dismissed by the fact that the Ohio division, which includes Kentucky and Indiana, is in a better condition than any of the other six divisions.  By an act of the last Congress, however, the number of divisions was reduced from seven to six, to follow out the policy of retrenchment decided upon.  One of the division superintendents must go, and Senator Hanna's death at this time left Gaitree without a protector at headquarters.  He made a gallant fight, by the aid of both Senator Foraker and Senator Dick, while a number of Ohio congressman, who had long known Gaitree, were enlisted in the fight.  The Indiana politicians, however, were unanimous against him in the hope accident, sustained a fracture of the that his retirement may result in the promotion of an Indiana man.  That the charges preferred against him were technical only is admitted by postal officials, who defend the action of the department the pointing to the evident fact that one of the seven superintendents must go.  Gaitree was, in fact, the first superintendent of rural delivery appointed.  The idea of experimenting with the delivery of mail to the rural population was suggested by him to President McKinley and Senator Hanna.  Through their efforts the department was established with an annual appropriation of $10,000 at the start.  It "made good" from the beginning, and Gaitree rose with it.  He has been admittedly one of the most competent division superintendents in the service.  The death of his two friends, President McKinley and Senator Hanna, however, left him outside the breastwork.  It has not yet been decided whether his office will be transferred to a new division, or whether it will be retained with headquarters in Cincinnati.

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