Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-08-06
washington Letter.
(FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE

A startling story OF graft was maoe
public today when the District of Co.
lumbia grand jury brought in indict-
ments against August W. Machen, for
mer general superintendent of free de-
livery in the Postoffice department, and
seven of his confederates, story which
revealed the fact that on four contracts
made on behalf of the Postoffice depart
ment Machen had secured "rake off "
aggregating $4,000. While, of course
Machen did not personally profit to the
full extent of this amount, being obliged
to divide with the many confederates
who participated in his fraudulent pro-
ceedings. that is the amount of which
he has defrauded the government on
these four contracts alone, while on 9TH
er contracts already unearthed enough
more has been fraudulently secured to
bring the aggregate, as result OF Ma
chen's Vaccinations alone, up to ap.
proximately 100000. From the evil
dence produced before the grand jury
it appears that Machen has been con-
Quoting his fraudulent operations ever
since 1892 and possibly longer.
Along with Machen were indicted
VIM. G. Long of Washington, formerly
of Xenia, O., Maurice Runkle of New
York, John L. Cupper, mayor OF Lock
Haven, Pa, w. G. Crawford, manager
of the Postal Lock and Device Co., of
New York, and one time deputy au-
ditor for the Postofflce department.
Indictments on fresh counts were al
so brought in against Machen, Mr., and
Mrs. Geo. E. Lorenz of Ohio, L. j.
Stern of Baltimore and T. w. McGreg-
or, formerly clerk in the rural free
delivery division. While the number
of indictments exceeds four counts,
there are really four contracts on which
they are based. 1t appears that in two
instances Machen awarded contracts
for letter carriers satchels or bags, the
specifications calling for leather should-
er straps. He then purchased at the
expense of the government, these straps
and had them delivered to the manu-
facturers of the satchels while he divi'
ded with his confederates the saving 30
effected. about IS cents strap on many
thousand satchels. The third contract
called for small leather cases used by
carriers. These were purchased with
out competition at cost of 80 cents
each. that being 60 cents in excess of a
fair price, and Machen and his pals di'
vided the 60 cents. In the fourth in
stance Machen gave to mayor Cupper a
contract to paint all letter boxes, al
though the contract with the manufac-
turers of the boxes required them to
paint them. On this deal alone Mach.
en-, Cupper and Long divided between
them $4,000.
In the light of the wholesale corrnp-
ton practlced by Machen during sever.
al administrations it would appear that
there were no recent postmasters gen
eral who had a right to boast of theil
administrations, which have been sc
occupied with securing places for polit'
ieal proteges as to be utterly oblivious
OF such systematic and unblushing ras-
cality. The grand jury is still consid-
ering other cases and there is, as yet
no telling when the investigation will
end, or the extent of corruption thai
will ultimately be revealed. In this
connection it may be said that there is
no truth in the report sent out from
Washington and from Oyster Bay to
the effect that President Roosevelt has
taken steps to hasten the completion Of
the investigation, his only instructions
being to conduct the affair so thorough.
ly that no guilty person shall escape
the dragnet. 1t is also worthy of note
that while stories of corruption in Ma
chen's division have long been in circu.
lation, no attention was paid to them
and it is doubtful If any would have
been, had not the President appointed
as first assistant postmaster general,
Robert J. Wynne, q former newspaper
correspondent. Mr.. Wynne almost i'm
mediately discovered that rascality was
being practiced and brought the matter
90 forcibly to the attention of the Pres
ident that he ordered fourth assistant
postmaster general Bristow to inaugu.
rate the investigation which has yielded
such abundant "pay Dirt to use the
postmaster generals favorite express.
ion.
Secretary Corte)you has determined
to give further trial to women imml-