Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-21

Wmle fOurthi Assistant postmaster Gen.
eral Bristow is the official designated by
the President Of the United States to con-
duct the investigation. the actual work Is
being directed. under Mr.. Bristow's super
vision. by Chief Post Office Inspector Will
lam E. Cochran. who has had vast expert
ence in such work.
Chief Cochran receives reports daily of
the work of the men who have been de-
tailed on the investigation. and he in turn
Is daily In touch with Mr.. Bristow.
The fourth assistant postmaster general
Is busy man. these days, often being I'M
able to get away from his office until even
ing.
The Brooklyn Post Office.
One of the post offices the workings Of
which inspectors are investigating care
fully is Brooklyn. the home of George w.
Beavers. the retired superintendent of the
division of salaries and allowances
1t is charged that during the administra-
ton of Postmaster Wilson imperfect sup
plies and useless contrivances were re-
peatedly thrust upon this Office. It is said
attempts were made to dictate to him in
the matter Of promotions. The result was
constant friction.
The affairs of the Brooklyn post office
are being inquired into, both directly by
the inspectors detailed for the purpose and
indirectly through the investigations here
In Washington, which affect Brooklyn
One of the latter inquiries concerns book
typewriters and cash registers. The rela-
lions of the manufact urers Of those two ap-
planes to officials charged are undergoing
close scrutiny here.
From what can be learned 1t would seem
that the Brooklyn post Office was one at
least. where the scheme Of the officials
against whom Charges have been made to
install them was frustrated.
AS the story gOeS three of the typevriters
each costing considerably more than 500,
were sent to the Brooklyn post office Post
master Wilson had them tried and declared
them worthless.
The agent bluntly declared that the post
master would be Obliged to take them and
to pay for rhem;,GIs Mr.. Wilson, 1t is said, re-
t aorted in very tprcible and decided Ian
suage that the machines would leave the
building in twenty-four hours or go to the
refuse heap;
They were takeh away. Elsewhere thew
more susceptible to bIuffing and browbeat.
ing. Twelve OF the machines are said to
pe now In the basement of the post office
In New York; n. - =.
out change automatically. were found to
Work as the manufacturers claimed, but to
them ~a n tha to install about thirty Of
a cost of about SIS Postnast s e Wi1so at
vetoed the proposition, it is said. and a
stormy time ensued. in which he finally
won. -
Beavers Was Watched.
The Evening Star learned today, from
what may be- considered good authority,
That peculiar methods In Beavers office
came to the attention Of the higher officials
of the Post Office Department more than
year ago, and that. unbeknown to Beav-
ers. trusted employee was placed in his
1l4
duties were in reality to keep a close tab
on Beavers workings
So carefully were the alleged practices in
Beavers Office carried on that it was only
a few weeks before Beavers resigned that
First Assistant Postmaster General WINNIE
had what he considered quite enough to in
sist upon the investigation that Is now in
progress.
Machen Not Disconnected.
With all the stories that have been
printed. and all the rumors bringing into
them the name of Augustus w. Machen
superintendent of the division of free de-
livery, that official seems anything but dis
concerted. f-..
He Is at his desk every day. and GO
Ing along with the business of his office
with apparent Indifference to the charges
that have been preferred against him and
which are being investigated.
AS usual, Postmaster General Payne had
Mr.. Bristow with him in conference to-
day. Both officials are maintaining strict
silence. both declining to discuss the in
vestigation or what it may bring forth
New charges involving the divisions of
salaries and allowances and free delivery
are coming in every day. There would
seem to be no end to them.
1t will be month at least. perhaps
longer before Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow will be ready to submit
report of his findings. Nothing is being
left undone to run down every charge Of
corruption.
"Canceling Inspectors" Discontinued.
Postmaster General Payne has ordered
the discontinuance of the services of the
entire staff OF inspectors of canceling ma
chimes and has directed them to return to
the post offices to which they are accred-
tied.
These inspectors are borne on the clerical
rolls of certain post offices. but are assigned
to travelling duties throughout the country,
installing, inspecting and reporting upon
the condition of the machines in the various
post Offices 10 s.
There are six inspectors, one of whom Is
now engaged IN confidential work in con-
nection With this. pending investigation of
offices to #hich they are directed to re-
turn immedtHtely are George E. Barnard,
Boston; r. n. Bhnning. Cleveland; Irving
n. SYRACUSE w m Il. Estes san
The quest1pE s9fr the legality of such as
signments of employees paid from an appro-
priation for other purposes is pending be-
fore the contfoliet of the treasury
The "bookheeper machinists' drew sala-
ries of FROM $40 upward. Their employ
ment in the1 capacity named was SO OBJ
viously a v3blaHm of the law that the
Postmaster Genefal declared 1t "malad-
ministration'' as soon as he was acquainted
with the details. and recalled the request
for a legal 4piHiop on their status, which
had been made by First Assistant Postmas-
ter General Wyhne In Mr.. Paynes absence
from the city. The charge that these men
were also in, tharemploy of the owners of
the canceling machines is being investigate
ed by Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow.
Pleas OF Not Guilty.
When arraigned today before Justice An
derson in Criminal Court No. the follow
ing pleaded not guilty: William johnson. as