Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-30
CONTRACTS REVOKED
Said to Be Result of Postal
Investigation.
LET EARLY THIS YEAR
BRooKLYN's POSTMASTER CALLS
AT DEPARTMENT.
Mr.. Wynne Denies He Requested Re-
moval Of Mr. Machen Pend
ing Investigation.
LET EARLY THIS YEAR


in the Post Office Department rolls along
merrly, but. outside of the three peremp-
tory orders issued by the Postmaster Cen
eral since the investigation was begun, the
last of which resulted in the dropping OF
several employees in the city post ONCE car
ried on the rolls as laborers when they
were performing work that comes under
the classified service, the public has not
been taken into the commence OF those eoh-
ducting the investigati ton.
Postmaster General Payne explained 10
day that there had come to his attention
only a few cases of such violations of the
postal laws, but that he had made the Or
der general, so that any cases in the coun-
try unknown to him would DE remedied.
Some of Beavers Contracts Revoked.
It is said that some contracts entered into
with manufa cturers of certain devices and
with other persons by Mr.. Beavers have
been revoked as a result of the investiga-
ton.
1t is also said that the inspectors have
found that many contracts were let by Mr..
Beavers this year several months Garner
than in previous years, and that these are
being revised and In d numDer OF INSTANCES
abrogated.
The presence of Postmaster Roberts oi
Brooklyn at the Post Office Department to-
day gave rise to the report that he had been
summoned here for conference IN reSdru ~
the investigation.
Mr. Roberts denied that his visit was
for any other purpose than to urge upon
the department the Importance OF giving
him authority TO appoint twenty additional
clerks and forty-siX additional carriers 1oi
the Brooklyn post office.
Mr. Roberts said that the city of Brook
lyn was increasing In population at the
Ian ND ha .
business of the post office was yearly about
s150,OC0 in excess of the expenses.
Where an Investigation is On.
The Brooklyn post office is one of the i'm
portant offices that the inspectors have
been at work on for more than month
1t was charged that during the administra-
ton of Postmaster Wilson, Mr. Roberts
predecessor imperfect supplies and useless
contrivances were repeatedly thrust upon
his office 1t is said attempts were made
to dictate to Wilson in the matter Of pro-
motions, and that there was constant fric-
ton.
More than ten days ago 1t was under
stood that the affairs of the post offRe IN
Brooklyn. which is Mr.. Beavers home city,
were being inquired into, both directly by
inspectors detailed for the purpose and In
directly through the Investigations here in
Washington.
One of the inquiries, it was said, con-
cerned book typewriters and cash registers
and the relations of manufacturers of those
two appliances to officials charged.
According to the story printed by the
newspapers at the time, three of the type
writer's each costing considerably more
than s1OO were sent to the Brooklyn post
office Postmaster Wilson had them tried
and declared them worthless
Wilson Was Obdurate.
The agent bluntly declared that the post
master would be obliged to take them and
to pay for them. Mr.. Wilson. 1t is said,
retorted In very forcible and decided Ian
guage that the machines would leave the
building within twentyfour hours or go
to the refuse heap.
1t was planned. according to the story,
to install about thirty Of the automatic
change machines in the Brooklyn post Office.
each at a cost Of about 1925. Postmaster
Wilson vetoed the proposition. 1T is said,
and a stormy time ensued, in which he
finally won.
Postmaster Roberts said today that there
was one machine in the office of the cash
ier of the post office. and he thought 1t was
doing satisfactory work.
Mr.. Roberts had conference with
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne in the latters private office for
considerable period of time.
Wynne Denies an Interview.
Mr.. Wynne this afternoon denied point
blank that he had recommended the imme-
diate dismissal Of Mr.. Augustus w. Machen,
superintendent of the division of free deliv-
cry, and that he had the support and coun-
tenance of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow, as attributed to him In
alleged interview which appeared in
New York paper this morning
Postmaster General Payne. when he read
the story referred to, said 1t was absc-
lutely without foundation He said he had
received no such request from either Mr.
Wynne Mr.. Bristow for the removal of
Mr.. Machen.