New-York tribune., 1903-05-22
THE POSTAL DEFICIENCY.
Nay Call for His Resignation
Tribune Disclosures Cause a Stir.
IBY rkLEGRAPE TO THE TR1DUNE.)

Washington. May 2l-The exclusive dis
closure in this mornings Tribune of the big
deficit in the free delivery division. heretofore
presided over by Superintendent Machen, was
he talk Of the Postoflce Department to-day,
and taken in connection with Nachen's report
20 the First Assistant Postmaster General eleven
dsys ago showing deficit of only $4,000 led
Postmaster General Payne so to criticise the
former general superintendent Of free delivery
as 10 create the belief that this misleading
financial report VIII be made thu basis Of de-
-nard fer Machen's resignation
Postmaster General Payne had expressed sin
oere rcgTeT that there should have been de-
zciency Of $4,000 and The discovery of the
much larger shortage announced in this morn
fns's Tribune occasioned surprise and chagrin.
Il has been the policy of Mr. Payne throughout
h.s administration Of the Postofica Department
10 curtail deficiencies far as possible. and he
felt that when he appealed to Congress for a de-
hciency appropriation OF S5o0go0 for the free
delivery branch last January. with z statement
hat with this sum he could avoid further
deficiency before the END of the fiscal year. he
Sas averting all possibility Of embarrassment.
While the Postmaster General VIII not pass
Judgment until Machen has had an opportunity
70 explain the discrepancy between his state
uent and the facts it was impossible for him
20 conceal his oispleasure and to refrain from
guarded denunciation Of the action Of his sub
ordinate to-day.
TIE interview published under Milwaukee
date line and credited TO the son Of First As
sistaat Postmaster General wynne turns out
TO have been fictitious. young Wynne having
telegraphed to his father to-day that he had
made none Of the statements credited to him
Nj Payne. in discussing the big deficiency in
the free delivery service tonight, said:
Il is very reprehensihle fo- a bureau officer to
have q deficit Of 100000 rolled UP on May L
Il was bad, very bad, administration bureau
officer should not incur deficit without con-
sUlting his superior officer, the Postmaster Cen
eral. cannot stand for that kind Of admins
tration. and do not approve Of It Al official
must be held TO a more strict accounting l DO
not say that there was anything criminal. nor
anything wrong in Mr. Nacheu's action. buJ il
was certainly loose administration. ano ne
should have had his business more in hand:
believe. however. that Congress will quickly
vote the money 20 cover the deficiency
Nj Payne said that NIachen would have an
opportunity TO be heard. He parried all cues
tons as TO the effect of the discovery OF Mach
er's status. He said the matter would be looked
into. and a communication might be sent to
Nachen, asking an explanation Of the condition
Of affairs. The entire map work Of the rural
free delivery service has been suspended, ano
10 more maps will be made before the begin
ring Of the next fiscal year. The funds for this
purpose have been exhausted
MAcHEN's METHODS CRITICISED.
Congress Will be asked at the opening Of its
next session TO make IN appropriation TO cover
Deficiencies in both the regular free delivery
service and the rural free delivery service OF the
Postohice Department. Postmaster General
Payne announced to-day that this deficiency
now aggregated exactly S227.5e0. Of which Sloo'-
700 is in the free delivery branch and Sl2l'ooo
in the rural free delivery service The Post
master General said he greatly regretted the
existence OF the deficit. and for the first time
publicly criticised the administration OF Macheh-
This. IS not the arst time that deficiency has
occurred in the free delivery service" said MI
Payne hut regret its existence AT the open
ing Of the last Congress Mr. Machen pointed out
that without additional appropriations no more
routes could be established beyond those ready
70 be installed on January / He said. however
Il Congress appropriated S5OoOOo for the pur-
,,oss the work could be continued during the
rest OF the hscai~year This appropriation was
promptly made. but it was exhausted Despite
rats fact the Office Che free delivery office was
eoing On increasing lie deficiency, and If we had
not taken steps TO curtan the expenditures ana
suspend the establishment OF routes until the
beginning Of the next fiscal year the dehclt
would have been much larger. Il was not good
administration"
TIE Postmaster General said tha: part OF the
deficiency was discovered before Mr. Machen
-eceivsd his leave OF absence He reported z
rsrt Of il himself" Mr.. Payne aode% First
Assistant Postmaster Genera! Wynne recently
reoorted 70 me that $4,000 deficiency existed
IN the rural service, and Nj Wynne and L
agreed that by economical measures the depart
r7ent might eliminate thai. I suppose that was
the amount reported 70 Mr. Wynne-
Immediately following that report The POST
master General sent the following letter 70 MI
Bristow dated May 3:
IN Nav : General Wynne advised ne OF xn Ile
--0bahfiee Of deficit Of S1JeVJ IN me IL- q
delivery accounts. ana t-ai u ILle d n IN
r-.rea3 Rzs keEt up in the Work OF -
sal additional a free Ce.lFery to1SeS ~i.r-t
5-Its 6afcir would be largely increased II Is ILy
1-iSr -1a1 there should be nc oenclt cong SO a.
= 30 60 for The rural free delivery service nklng
-Re srlr,r5uriatiOn Immediately eNatISJ-es 60 -
sFouIg 50 conduct the business o. tie o--iO1 - -
10 exceed this appropriaIlor -. ,,, ,,,fu i-,yes-
.sea+S +1e sirsaIsoa promptly ana cATta-i lIe & &eA
.-5-S-,,yee "a that # il is possible We VII LoI
ksvea defcit at end Of the ilscai a.. IN
rornnIishne this however. IL Is aoNsaoe
fe-.51e+ton of proposed rural free GeliVtIy u.
-oYe Tban IS absolutely necessary ! eo'-l. -
= e~-ral.y o~actical 70 bring ABOUT eco5I9--e9
c+bsr Irs inches Of the bureau Whlch "o-iU d'00--i
Dish the result oeSl5eo-
NJ Br.stow later reported 70 the FostIileSoe ,tea
r,e,eral -hst the amount aggregated eZ-'''o'
g., -o,,r6 numbers Mr. Payne said it was not
@.s,bfe ~ crfpple the service by suspeLoIlls
- - +be -oljfes now maintained, ana IIlat q
64Ecjencv appropriation would De esA7o -