The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-09
OFFICIAL ACTION.
BristOw's Recommendation, Mr..
Payne's Order and Machen's Reply.

Associated Press Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, May S-The investiga-
ton of the affairs of the Postoffice Depart
ment. which has been dragging along for
two months, took a startling turn late this
afternoon. when, by order of Postmaster
General Payne. August w. Machen. gen.
eral 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 In
spector NJ. G. Fosnes was designated to
take charge of that service.
The change will take effect tomorrow
morning. when Mr.. Fosnes will assume
charge of the free delivery service. and at
the same time that service will pass under
the control of the office of the fourth as
sistant postmaster general. Heretofore it
has been under the jurisdiction of the first
assistant.
The action of the postmaster general was
taken on written recommendation of Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow,
who is directing the investigation of the
affairs of the department. The transfer of
Mr.. Machen's bureau to his jurisdiction
and its administration by a postoffice in
spector would expedite the investigation.
W
Postmaster General Payne announced his
decision and read the correspondence be-
tween himself and Mr.. Machen, together
with the recommendation of Mr.. Bristow.
The latter's recommendation, made under
date of yesterday, was as follows:
'In order to complete the departmental
investigation now In progress in more ex-
peditious and satisfactory manner 1 beg
hat he dfxyiSi Of
cry be temporarily assigned to the bureau
of the fourth assistant postmaster general.
and that 1 be authorized to assign post
office inspector as the acting superintend-
ent of said division during the continuance
of this investigation"
The letter of the postmaster general to
Mr.. Machen was as follows:
'T am in receipt of a request from Gen.
eral Bristow, fourth assistant postmaster
general, that the division of free delivery
be temporarily assigned to his bureau and
that he be authorized to assign q post
office inspector as the acting general su-
perintendent of said division during the
continuance of the investigation now in
progress In conformity with this request
have issued the following orders. to
take effect at the commencement OF busi
ness on the 9th instant:
THE division of free delivery heretofore
under the general supervision of the first
assistant postmaster general Is hereby
transferred and assigned to the fourth as
sistant postmaster general and the regula-
tions of the department are amended in
conformity herewith.
"You are hereby granted leave of alb
sence until the investigation Is concluded
and will turn over the division of free de-
livery to the control of NJ. c. Fosnes. post
office inspector, who has beer designated
as the acting general superintendent of
the free delivery system"
Following was Mr.. Machen's reply:
"I am in receipt of your letter of this
date advising me of your order, to take ef
feet on the 9th instant, transferring the
division of free delivery from the super
vision of the first assistant postmaster
general to that of the fourth assistant post
master general. l also note that / have
been granted leave of absence until the
investigation now in progress is concluded,
and that during my absence Mr. NJ. c.
Fosnes postoffice inspector. will be acting
general superintendent OF the free delivery
system.
will turn the division over to Mr.. Fosnes
tomorrow morning. In this connection /
desire TO state what / have said to you
heretofore, that court the fullest investi-
CATION of my official conduct and stand
ready at any time TO aid in the investiga-
ton now in progress. as am unconscious
of having done wrong.
Postmaster General Payne in discussing
the matter said he believed the correspond
ence told the whole story. He said his con-
clusion to relieve Mr.. Machen was reached
W,
he said, had come to his office and they
had a conference. during which Mr.. Bristow
presented his letter requesting TO be put
into full charge of the office in order to
expedite the Investigation. He said there,
was nothing back of the exchange except
what appeared in the letters themselves.
He declined TO say whether the changes
made would be permanent, saying that that
depended on the results of the investiga-
ton.
Mr.. Machen came here from Toledo. o..
in 1898 and qualified superintendent of
the free delivery service on May 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.
spectors In the service. He Is chief assist
ant of Mr. Bristow IN the investigation
He Is a native of Norway. where he was
born in 1851, and his home is Des Moines
La. He was once special examiner of the
Pension Bureau, and subsequently served
as postoffice inspector at Philadelphia, Chi
cago. Helena Mont. and st. Paul. He Is
still postofice inspector In charge of the
st. Paul division. He Is best known in
connection with his investigation OF the
postal frauds I'm Cuba. On the sensational
dismissal OF Estes c. Rathbone Mr.. Fosnes
was appointed director general OF posts Of
Cuba. assuming that oface on June % 1900.