The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-02
2. 0. DEPARTMENT SCANDALS.
FIREMAN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
COVERING 20 PAGES.

lie Accuses the Chief Engineer, the ChieI
Clerk and the Disbursing Clerk oi
Forming q Ring-six Scandals Now
Under Investigation by Inspccters
WARRINGTON. April 1.-The latest scan
dial In the Post Office Department was
aired to-day, when Fireman James Dover
employed in the Department. fled charges
covering twenty manuscript pages against
Chief Engineer James O'Donnell. Chief
Clerk Blaine w. Taylor and Disbursing
Clerk Merchant. The fireman complains
TINT ",iie hiS'-this is another ring quite
distinct from the half dozen or 30 already
under investigation-of which Chief En-
gineer ODonnell Is the head and. front
have failed to recognize his merits and
promote him accordingly, That. however,
is only a small item IN the specifications.
Fireman Dover wrote the charges himself
and on every page he calls q spade a spade.
He believed In saying things, and he says
them. Chief Clerk Taylor and Disbursing
Clerk Merchant come In for good share
that they are charter members OF the
ring and that they allow the chief engi-
neer to spend all the money he wants In
any way he wants 70.
discuss the charges seriously. .contenting
themselves with the statement that all will
be found to be straight in the bureaus
under their respective control. The chief
engineer says likewise. but acting post
hm mast 1c1 Wynne, whose time has
OF Mr.. Payne from Washington some weeks
ago. In considering charges and ordering
Investigations into the methods Of his
subordinates, has determined that the alle-
No. shall DO conscientiously inquired
into.
It's q poor day in the Post Office Depart
ment now that doesn't see an investigation
either begun or finished, and as one result
OF al these internal troubles, each one OF
General Bristow, who has
charge Of the force Of inspectors, IL rum
ming very short Of men, and II any more
Investigations are ordered before those
under way are ended inspectors must be
called in from the field to undertake the
work.
Scandal No. I, which has to do with the
operations of the alleged Machen-Beavers
ring for the distribution Of patronage.
a N ss or dns
charges into the methods employed in
the salary and Allowance Division. calls
for two more Of the detective force; Scandal
No. s. relating to the alleged connection
Delivery Division with mail box company.
concerns the alleged Matchmaking methods
employed by the Assistant Attorney-Gen-
erals Office Of the Department, calls for
pleasant condition Of affairs In a branch
Of the local post Office, is looked after in
spare moments, while no one has as yet
been assigned to dig away at Scandal No. Q,
made up of the charges OF Fireman Dover.
enough not TO be influenced by the, fire and
croes-fre of accusation and allegation,
think that when the investigations have al
been made and the findings reviewed by
the highest authority. 1t will be found that
there has been great deal OF smoke and
very little fire, and that the wretohed con-
dition OF affairs which now exist in one OF
the most important departments OF the
service Is due in large measure
TO the personal luminosity Of certain high
officials against officials OF the postal
1t is an open secret that Postmaster
General Payne recognized this condition
OF affairs so well, that when he left WASH
ington he instructed Acting POSTMASTER
soever during his absence from Washing-
top. But when the resignation Of Super
intendent Beavers Of the salary, and al
lowance division was announced a week
or 20 ago those who knew OF the strained
relations between certain oficiais OF the
and who knew that there was
something DOING but who didn't under
sfand just what, thought 1t was the begin- |
ming Of a complete reorganization OF the |
postal service. Mr.. Beavers's resignation |
was announced as voluntary, but this was
known to be not so. and 1t was predicted |
hat his was the first OF the many heads to |
fall 1t looks very much just now as II |
his will be the only one, and while this may |
be trife optimistic, 1t is not very far from |
4 correct estimate.
The investigation which is now going |
IN in the free delivery division is to. de- |
erTnine whether Supt. Machen Is con-
,ected in any way with the mail box"
scandals which have been aired in Con- |
yress from time to time and which have |
been investigated by the Department two |
Or three times before. II Mr.. Machen is |
IL Is admitted that he cannot |
De removed, as he Is In the classified service.
md the additional charge against him, |
hat he went over the heads Of his superiors |
n securing an increase Of salary from Con- |
yress. will be fatty denied by each and
'very member of the Post Office COM
nittees OF both houses. 1t can be deh-
,itely stated that Mr.. Machen will not re-
ign under any circumstances while the
investigation into his integrity Is In progress.
Whether or not he will remain in the Depart
nent IL exonerated is matter that MIR.