Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-05-16
ANOTHER OFFICIAL
HEAD HAS FALLEN
Superintendent Machen of tn,
Free Delivery System
Is Relieved.
SOME OF LIQUIDS WoRI
Gx- ntative of California Was
Potent Factor-M achen Is Silent,
but Confident He Will Be
Cleared.

Washington, May 1.-THE investiga-
ton of the affairs OF the postoffice de-
partment, which has been dragging
along for w months, took a sensa
tional turn late yesterday afternoon,
when by order of Postmaster General
Payne August w. Machen, general S
perintendent of the free delivery sys-
tenn, and one of the most widely known
government officials in the United
States, was relieved from his duties,
and Postoffice Inspector NJ. G. Fosnes
was designated to take charge Of that
service.
The change takes effect this morning
when Mr.. Fosnes will charge OF
the free delivery service, and at the
same time that service will pass under
the control of the office of the fourth
assistant postmaster general. Hereto
fore it has been under the Jurisdiction
of the first assistant.
On Bristow's Recommendation.
The action of the postmaster genera
was taken on the written recommends
ton of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow, who is directing the
investigation of the affairs of the de-
partment, that the transfer of Mr.. Ma
chen's bureau to his jurisdiction and its
administration by a postoffice inspector
would expedite the inv astigation.
Before a large number Of newspaper
men Postmaster General Payne an
nounced his decision, and read the cor
r~espondence between himself and Mr..
Machen, together with the recommen-
dations of Mr.. Bristow.
Postmaster General Payne, In dis
cussing the matter, said that his decis-
ion to relieve Mr.. Machen was reached
Thursday after office hours.
MI. Bristow, he said, had come to his
office, and they had q conference, dur
ing which MI. Bristow presented his
letter requesting to be put in full charge
of the office in order to expedite the in
Vesigation. He declined to say whether
the charges made would be permanent,
saying that depended on the results of
the investigation.
Mr.. Machen came here from Toledo,
o., in 1898, and qualified as superintend-
ent OF the free delivery service on May
6 of that year. Since then the office has
grown to imense proportions, and the
rural free delivery mail service has
beeen introduced and extended to cover
all parts of the country.
Fosnes Has a Record.
Mr.. Fosnes is one of the best known
inspectors in the service. He is chief
assistant OF MI. Bristow In the in
vestigation. He is a native of Nor
way, where he was born in 1851, and
his home is in Des Moines, Ia. He was
once a special examiner Of the pension
bureau, and subsequently served as
postoffice inspector at Philadelphia,
Chicago, Helena and st. Paul He is
still p~ostoffice inspector in charge of
the st. Paul division. He is best known
in connection with his investigation
OF the postal frauds in Cuba. On the
sensational dismissal of Estes c.. Rath-
bone Mr.. Fosnes was appointed di-
rector general Of posts of Cuba, sun
ing that Office on June %, 1900, and
holding 1t until May 20, 1902, when the
United States sovereignty on the is
land ceased.
EX-Representative Loud OF California
who was chairman of the house COM
mittee on postoffices and postroads, has
spent much time during the past
two or three days in conference with
Postmaster General Payne, First AS
sistant Postmaster General Wynee and
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow. Mr.. Loud and Mr.. Machen
have been at odds officially for nearly
two years, and it is believed that the
counsel of Mr.. Loud resulted in yester-
days developments.
Mr.. Machen had q conference with
the postmaster general, and immedi-
ately after their talk, as had beer ar
ranged, Mr.. Payne sent his letter to Mr..
Machen.
Mr.. Machen last night was not in
clined to talk, but expressed confidence
that he could refute the allegations
made against him.