The Washington times., 1903-06-02
THE TINES AND THE FIGHT
ON THE POSTOFFICE FRAUDS
Continued from First Page9

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and was merely approved by Attorney
General Knox. 1t is further maintained
that an understanding existed between
Machen and certain officials of the
Postofice Department whereby the coal
decision was secured with a view to
having an anchor to windward in case of /
an emergency"
We have reason now for believing that
Attorney General Knox never saw the
Christiancy opinion, and never was call
ed upon to pass on it, Whether he did or
not. it is plain that in accepting SO ex-
traordinary an opinion as final, the Post |
master General let down the barriers, so
to sneak After that it was compare
lively safe-so 1t appeared, supposedly,
to the clique-to proceed in their course.
The award, on January a. OF the coal
contract to the firm of which Machen
was a partner, against the protest OF
The Times, seemed to make it clear that
Machen was. for the time being, persona
gratisima with the Postmaster General.
The Times it is true, had brought other
charges against Machen, but, under the
circumstances, 1t did not seem worth
while to follow them up. The time
wasn't ripe, especially as none of our
esteemed contemporaries felt wakeful
enough to join in the chase. They have
awakened since, TO be sure. but none
reconects, apparently, that they were all
asleep last winter.
| The second chapter of the Postofice
scandal opens with the investigation
undertaken officially by Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow, in March.
! AS to the origin of this investigation
much has been said and written. At the
proper time and in the proper place we
may have something to say on the sub
| ject, but not now. 1t will be sufficient
10 record here merely the fact that it
was undertaken while the Postmaster
General was on a pleasure trip in the
West Indies, and before that since much
available
1t isn't available today. either; and
yet the Investigation of General Bristow
has resulted in a few things. It has
resulted n:
GEORGE w. BEAvERs-Chief of the
division of salaries and allowances; re-
signed.
JAMES n. TYNER-Assissant At
torney General for the Department; sum
marily dismissed.
I GEORGE A C. CHRIsTIANCY-As-
sistant Attorney General; suspended
from duty.
DANIEL V MILLER-Assistant Attor-
ney General; dismissed and arrested on
charges of bribery in connection with the
-rich-quick concern of John J. Ryan
& Co.
JOSEPH NJ JOHNs-Rockville. Nd.
arrested on charges of conspiracy in the
above case.
AUGUST W. N-Superintend-
ent of free delivery; dismissed and ar
rested on charges of bribery in connee-
ticn with a patent mail box fastener
supplied TO the Government by Groff
Bros, OF Washington.
DILLER B. GRoFF-Real estate
agent; arrested on charges of oqering
brides in the above case.
SAMUEL A. GROFF-Member of
Washington Police Department; arrested
on similar charges.
And the end is not yet. But 1.-The di-
verting merriment with which Postmas-
ter General Payne ridiculed the charges
of wrongdoing is as the "Philadel-
; phia Ledger" remarked the other day,
''heard no more; the care-free quips and
jests which were his daily answer to the
, questions of reporters have ceased His
defiance to the accusers TO make good
their hot air has been promptly and
!. overwhelmingly answered. It is too much
TO expect the Postmaster General really
to become the sincere investigator and
reformer which he now gravely pro-
claims himself to be, but it is something
to know what, having done his best tt
belittle the rumors of corruption. he now
admits their substantial truth"
. This admission of the truth of oul
charges is also our vindication.
:, The Times has no axes to grind. NJ
? proteges to place at the Government
crib. or help to fat sinecures, no rooms
to rent, no fayors to ask, no grievance
of it's own to redress. no debts TO dis
charge which it cannot discharge in tn
u coin of the realm. no obligations OF an.
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