The evening times., 1897-05-22

they look up the definition themselves and
note the meaning OF the word In conhec-
tion with the civil service rule !"
supt August w. Machen, OF the POST
office free delivery system, was called 10
the stand, he desiring to reply to certain
charges made by Mr.. Hill against his
office concerning the employment or the
postoffice inspectors. Mr.. Machen called
the attention Of the committee to Con
cressional Record reference to the record
Of Mr. Hill.
Mr. Machen was appointed in 1856 as
assistant postmaster at Toledo. In AU-
gust 90, S93, he was made superintend-
emf or the free delivery system. He said
when ne and First Assistant Postmaster
Genetal Jones came into office there were
pending large number Of overtime claims.
I'D to that time Congress had appropriated
over So, ,OOO, 900 to meet these claims. 1t
was discovered that carriers were report
ing eight hours work, yet doing overtime
and covering it up TO later on be able to
file a claim for overtime. Their trip re-
ports would show eight hours, yet If they
filed claim they could not prove the same.
u was determined by the department to
send out confidential agents to secure in
formation as to the conduct Of the car
rIers and the postmasters
AT the time Mr.. Machen reported the
number OF secret agents there We're ten
Republicans and forty Democrats IN the
"Inspe ctOr Roll" The average eX-
pcnses Of the men were So per day, IN
Cluding railroad fare, said the witness.
Mr. Ma chen denied that Chief Agent
Bellman's expenses were ST. per iay.
Iii reality, his average for a year was $3.50.
Referring to Mr. HiIl's charge that the
inspeC tors were employed for political Tea-
sons. the witness, Mr., MaChen, spoke If an
examination into the management Of the
Philadelphia postoffiCe, where, upon
report or the inspector, the force was
reduced, 100 men, creating a considerable
saving.
None OF these men were removed until
after fair hearing befo ore the department
MIR Machen offered statement showing
that in response TO call for the political
compile Xion o T certain postmasterS PIG
were Democrats, 229 Republicans, 1 Pcpu-
list and 3 unknown.
Concerning the charge made by Nr Hill
that he was sent to New York for pollti-
cal reasons Mt. MaChen SAID: Il deny
that | sent him there for any such pur-
poses The charge was utterly false l
did send four men with him TO inveS tigite
a complaint, but the men have since IN
formed me that Mr.. Hill did nothing, lie
being drunk nearly all the time"
Commissioner Proctor referred to an
assertion by Mr.. Hill that his examination
papers had been extracted from the Civil
.fa,-i. cd Afr a.
chen whether that paper had not been
called for by the Postoffice Department
to learn of Mr Hills record, Mr. Ma
chen answered affirmatively.
Senator Pritchard-Do you know why
Mr.. Hill was discharged?
"Yes, sir; for conspiracy. and his con-
duct in examination of overtime claims.
What was the nature of has con
spiracy?'
"WeI, he pried open drawers, with
drew papers and examined waste askets.
| We became suspicious of him and pla"cd
two inspectors to run him down. They Gid
SO, and, in fact, run down three-Hill
Sullivan and Beight, VINO We're all to
| gether," answered Mr.. Macher.
But what was the real nature of his con-
spiracy?" insi sted Senator Pritchard-
Mr.. Machep explained that Mr.. Hill had
extracted a personal letter from desk,
which, without explanation, looked com
| promising.
Il refer to the charges that 1 assessed
inspectors for political purposes said
| Mr. Machen. Il never did anything of
| the kind. There were some agents, VINO
| while In Chicago, got together and de-
| cided TO make a donation to the Camp
| bell campaign fund.
ITO understand this you must know that
even the agents personal letters were sent
| to the depa rtment to be forwarded so as TO
=" p secret their movements. 1t was Gus
.tsrnary to have Mr. BeIlman take money
| from their income and pay it over 10 their
| wives and creditors.
| About this time these inspectors asked
| for the payment per order OF the campaign
! subscriptions. Mr.. Bellman paid those
| orders just the same as any other orders.
| He did not question the order. g"
Senator Pritchard drew an admission
| from Mr. Machen that one inspector, w
| E. Clark, was employed under an assumed
| name.
"What was his true Dame"'
"Machen,' responded the witness, who
| added: THAT was done to keep his move
ments secret"
Mr. Machen denied having compelled
inspectors preceding their appointment to
| take out life insurance policies with GER
| tain insurance company.