The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-10
Will Have the Assistance of Prober
Thorpe I'm His Investigation Of the
Affairs of the ONCE.
MACHEN TOO ILL TO APPEAR
FIREMAN DISMISSED FOR MAKING
UNFOUNDED CHARGES.
Seymour w. TuIIOch Says He Is Pre-
pared to Substantiate the State
ments Made Recently.
WASHINGTON, May s.-Postofice In

, WASHINGTON, May 9.-Postoffice In
spector in Charge Thorpe, of New York
city, who has been assisting in the investi-
cation of the Postoffice Department. will
remain with acting Superintendent Fosnes
to assist him In handling some of the de-
tails of the inquiry. Mr.. Fosnes began
work to-day. The investigation may result
In other changes in this branch of the serv-
ice. One OF the possible results Of the
present situation is the abolition of the
office Of general superintendent, on the
ground that IL is place the functions of
which covered by the superintendent
of the city free delivery service and the
superintendent of the rural free delivery
service. Postmaster General Payne said to-
day that the transfer of the free delivery
to the office OF the fourth assistant and
Mr.. Machen's indefinite leave was with the
full knowledge and acquiescence Of the first
assistant postmaster general, Mr.. Wynne.
Mr.. Machen remained at home to-day, stat
ing that he was too i'll to visit the depart
ment.
Seymour w. Tulloch. the former cashier
Of the Washington city postofice, who in a
newspaper interview made grave charges
against the administration Of the postal
a
years ago, was In the city to-day. Mr.
Tulloch said as matter of courtesy to
the postmaster general he would wait a
reasonable time for that official to act on
the request for copies of letters from former
Postmaster General Charles Emory Smith,
Controller Tracewell, Postmaster Merritt,
of this city, and Fourth Assistant Postmas-
ter General Bristow. Mr.. Tulloch declined
to say whether he would then make public
the information in his hands to sustain his
statements. though insisting that he had
Is curious coincidence" said Mr.. Tllloch,
that the suspension of Mr.. Machen fol-
lows SO closely the receipt OF the replies
to the letters the postmaster general sent
regarding my statements. If the truth
were told, the information those replies
contained must have fully borne out every
thing that I have said. Mr.. Bristow is a
thoroughly honest, and, believe, fearless
investigator, and his reply must have en-
bodied data of which the postmaster gen.
eral had not been previously aware. If the
replies already in exonerated officials ac-
cused the letters would have been immedi-
ately made public. The department now
knows all about the conditions l have re-
ferred to.
Postmaster General Payne to-day dis
missed James Dover, a fireman employed
I'm the Postoffice Department as a result OF
charges that Dover recently filed against
Chief Engineer James ODonnell and other
superior officers. Dover alleged that a
ring to govern promotions and other mat
tiers existed in the engine room and that
improper contracts had been made The
charges were investigated by postoffice
inspector and the report does not sustain
them. The postmaster general announced
to-day that the action of Dover in max
ing the frivolous and scandalous charges,
giving them publicity and then failing ut
terly to sustain them, is to the detriment
Of the service and subversiye Of all disci-
pline. the discharge of Dover is ordered
for the good Of the service
The inspectors report says Dover Is re-
ported by Assistant Engineer Anderson to
have melted or attempted to incite other
employees to acts of INSTRUMENTATION. Dow
er's complaint" the inspector continues
rations as to his dissatisfaction with his
assignments and acts of INSTRUMENTATION a
| conduct demoralizing to the force. Mr.
| Dover has permitted his feeling of resent
ment over his failure to secure a promotion
| to betray him into disseminating scandals
and recklessly formulating charges involv-
ing the official integrity of his superior Off
| GERS. Some of his charges are grossly ex-
aggerated. while other charges, as shown
| by the sworn statements OF his associates
| are absolutely untrue"
Referring TO the resolutions adopted yes
| terday by the convention of the Amalga-
| mated Street-railway Employees of America
| at P1ttsburg alleging fragrant abuses of the
mails, Postmaster General Payne said to-
| day that during the street car troubles in
| San Francisco a postal official whether the
postmaster or the superintendent of deliv-
cry, he did not recall) was accused of Civ
| ing undue privileges to detectives employed
| by the company. Mr.. Payne said he had
forgotten just what these privileges Were
| but the case investigated at the time
| and the action of the postoffice condemned
| by the department. He said he had never
heard of the complaints emanating from
| New Orleans.