The Washington times., 1902-12-29
Tip Has Been Passed to All
Employees in the Divisions
Threatened With Congress
Investigation That Silence
Must Be Maintained.
Meteoric Career of A. w
Machen, Now Superinten-
dent Of Free Delivery Sys-
tenn, Who Has Been Cen
erous in His Treatment of
Relatives.

Under fear Of Congress Investigation.
which might expose it's secret deal
ings. the Postothce oIigarchy is trying to-
close every track and crevice through
which might pereoIate a knowledge OF
the operations OF the combine
From the big chiefs the mp has been.
passed down to subchiefs. subordinatea.l
and clerks that they must not divuIgs
the business" OF the department. and
the intimation has been strong that any-i
one who knows anything. and allows hls
knowledge TO become public. viii ~f0rl
the good OF the service" be obliged to-
seek employment elsewhere. The COM 4
bine is aware Of the fact that a smoI-
dering volcano lies beneath it. which
requires but a Congress resolution TO
become a real Mont Pelee. Hence. pre-
CAUTIONS are being taken stm there
are facts OF common knowledge 20 every
one who knov= anything Of the work.
ings of the clique which rules certain
divisions OF the Postofhce Department,
which cannot be denied
A Rapid Rise.
When A. W Maehen. now suoerIn-
tendent Of the free delivery system.
came TO Washington ten or twelve yeals
ago 10 become assistant superintendent
Of free delivery be was not blessed
With an abundance OF this worlds goods.
Within a comparatively short time he
was made superintendent, the position
which he now occupies. he now main
tains handsome residence in Corcoran
Street. has a large estate in Maryland.
is largely interested in mining and oil
stocks, ard is highly prosperous on
$500 year.
Mr. Maehen came into Office as
Democrat. appointed by President
Cleveland In 1886 he became. and has
since remained. a Republican. 1Ir.
Machen first attracted attention by the
Organization Of spy system for the de-
lection Of dishonest letter carriers. Al
though there was no provision for the
maintenance OF these inspectors and tho
payment to them OF IS day. Mr..
Machen's force received compensation by
means OF = fund created by the discharge
of letter carriers Of the 81, 900 class and
the employment in their stead OF new
carriers in the 5000 class. For instance.
in the city Of Philadelphia about 100
carriers were discharged. and more Than
eighty OF them are said 10 have been
81. 600 men. In their place 5000 carriers
were engased. out OF the fixed ap-
preparation for the postal service this
left a fund for the payment of in
spectors
Brothers. Appointment
one Of the irst OF Mr.. Maehep's ap-
.pointees'to this service was his brother
in-law, q sIr. Bsliman, rho was one OF
the founders OF the Bond Steel Post
Company. OF Adrian Mich. which sup
rlies rural free delivery boxes. Another
Of Mr.. Machen's appointees was his
brother, William a. 8iachea, now & coal
dealer Of this city he was not ap-
pointed under the name Of Machen. but
under the name of William A. Clark. Mr..
Macren explained the appointment OF
bis brother under an assumed name by
saying that h did so in order 70 main
tain secrecy regarding the work Of tas
inspectors.
A number Of the inspectors" subse-
quently made affidavit that they h9i
been assessed $50 each for campaign use
In Ohio and that the money ras directed
20 be sent 10 ar agent in that state.
Mr.. Machen has also been successful
in installing his other relatives in ohics
under him Another brother. Charles A.
Machen is or tsl5 salary rolls at Sl,l00
year as a subchief in the rural free de-
livery service. He is said 20 visit the
office for an hour. an hour and half,
some times two hours each day, and 10
spend the remainder OF his time attend
ing 10 the family coal business.
Discusses Millions
George W. Beavers. chief Of the d.
vision Of salaries and allowances. has the
disbursement Of many millions Of dollars
annually for the postal service His SAL
airy has been S2.5CO annually for several
years. and upon this alone he is said 70
maintain an automobile. with a Govern
ment clerk as chauffeur, and has recent
ly erected a handsome residence in
BROOKLYN. n y Mr.. Beavers has super
vision over the matter Of hiring the can
coling machines used in the large post
Offices throughout the country.
There are two machines ON the market.
one of which rents for $500 and the other
for $50. FOR all practical purposes 10
was said that the latter machine is as
good as the S400 one, but when inspected
an adverse report was returned. and CUT
OF the 5000 cancciers On use but P few
hundred are Of the $3.50 type
The supervisor Of the rural free deliv-
cry is Eugene II. Hathaway. who re-
turned from a twenty years residence in
Mexico shortly before the Spanish-Amer
ican war. He went 70 Cuba in the course
Of the war to assist in the distribution
Of mail to soldiers, and upon his return
was made an inspector and aftarward
promoted 90 the position which be row
occupies. He perfected the CoTbin lock