The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-09
BriStOw Recommends the
 Removal. OFFICER WAS POWERFUL
To Him Congressman Were
 Compelled to Kneel.
Postofice Inspector Fosnes Put in Charge of the Department-Re- suit of Fight Begun by
 MT. Wynne.

Washington, May s.--The investigation of the affairs of the Postoffice Depart ment. which has been dragging along for two months, tock startling turn late this afternoon when. by order of Post master General Payne. August W. Mach en, General Superintendent of the Free Delivery system and one of the most widely known government officials in the United States. was relieved from duty and postoffice inspector A. c. Fosnes was designated to take charge of that service.
 The change will take effect tomorrow morning when Mir. Fosnes will assume charge of the free delivery service ana at the same time that service will pass under the control of the office ot the Fourth Assistant Postmaster General. Heretofore it has been under the juris- diction of the First Assistant.
 The action of the Postmaster General was taken on the written recommenda- tfon of Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen eral Bristow. who Is directing the inves- tigation of the affairs of the Department that the transfer of MT. Machen's bureau to his Jurisdiction and its administration by a postoffice inspector would expedite the investigation.
 Payne Reads Correspondence.
 Before a large number Of newspaper men Postmaster General Payne announced his decision and read the correspondence hetween himself and MT. Machen. to- -ethar with the recommendation of MT. Rristow, The latter's recommendation, made under date of yesterday was as fol- lows:
 .In order to complete the departmental investisation now in progress Tn more expeditions and satisfactory manner, beg to request that the division Of tne free delivery be temporarily assigned to the bureau of the Fourth Assistant sPostnas- fer General and that I be authorized 10 ass,en a nostoffice inspector as the acting sunerintendent of that division during the continuance of this Investigation.
 The letter of the Postmaster General to MT. Machen was as follows:
 CT am in receipt of a request from MT Rristow, Fourth Assistant PostmasueF General. that the division of free dehVery he temporarily assigned to his bureau ana rt hs he authorized to assign a post of1ce inspector as the acting general su
 ar,r,endent of said division during the peornrance of the investigation now In p"En conformity with this request A.,a issued the following order. to take orfac+ at the commencement of business on the sth instant:
 Order Relieving Machen.
 o The division of free delivery, hereto fore under the general supervision oL 'no First Assistant Postmaster Genera'' ! hereby transferred and assigned 10 the Fourth Assistant Postmaster Geherai anu the regulations of the Department "'e amended in conformity herewith.
 Cra .a,co until the investigation Is concluded sna will turn over the division of Tree SaI;,arv to the control of M. 8. Fosnes' postofice Inspector. who has been desie- mated as the Acting General Superinteno- ent of the free delivery system
 Following was MT. Machen's reply:
 "T am in receipt of your letter of this date advising me of your order to take effect on the 9th instant, transferring the division of free delivery from the su- pervision of the First Assistant Postmas- fer General to that of the Fourth As- sistant Postmaster General. I also note that I have been granted leave of ao- sence until the investigation now in pro- eress is concluded, and that during my absence Mir. M. s. Fosnes. Postofice In- spector, will be Acting General Super intendent of the free delivery system.
 "In conformity with your instructions I will turn the division over to Mir. Fos- mes tomorrow morning. In this connec- ton, I desire to state what l have said to you heretofore, that I court the full est investigation of my official conduct, and stand ready at any time to aid in the investigation now in progress. as am unconscious of having done wrong'
 Postmaster General Payne, in discuss ing the matter, said be believed the cor yEoIa said his conclusion to relieve MT. Machen was reached yesterday after office hours. MT. Bristow. he said. had come to his of- flee and they had a conference during which Mir. Bristow presented his letter requesting to be put into full charge of the office in order to expedite the investiga- ton.
 Says All Has Been Told.
 He said there was nothing back of the exchange except what appears In the let ters themselves. He declined to say whe.!vr the changes made would be per Ynanent, saying that depended upon the results of the investigation.
 Mir Machen came here from Toledo, Ohio. in 1893, and qualified as superin- tendent of free delivery service May 6, of that year. Since then the office has grown to immense proportions and the rural free delivery mail service has been introduced and extended to cover all parts of the country
 Mir Fosnes is one of the best known inspectors in the service. He Is Chief As- sistant of MT. Bristow in the investisa- ton. He is a native of Norway and his home is in Des Moines. Ia. He was once a special examiner of the Pension Blu reau and subsequently, served as Post office Inspector. He is still Postofice In- spector in charge of the St. Paul Di- vision. He Is best known in connection with his investigation of the postal frauds in Cuba.
 On the sensational dismissal of Estes G. Rathbone. MT. Fosnes was appointed Director General of Posts of Cuba, as- suming that office June g. 1900 and hold