The Tupelo journal., 1903-06-05
PROBING IRREGULARITIES.
Corps of Post Omce Inspectors Continue
the Hunt for Evidence, of linz
proper Practsces.

Washington, May 29.-Large corps
of inspectors, including some veter.
ans of the service, probed the alleged
irregularities at the post office de-
partment Thursday, but no further
arrests were made. 1T is said to be
possible that the intermediary, who,
it is alleged, figured in the transac.
tons which led to the arrest of Au-
gustus w. Machen, the former general
superintendent of the free delivery
service, may turn states evidence. His
identity has not been disclosed. Mr..
Machen's counsel issued a statement
asserting his ability to disprove fully
all the charges. The investigating of
ficials are equally confident. The gov
eminent is arranging to have its wit
nesses at Machen's preliminary hear
ing, June 5. The preliminary hearing
of the Croft Brothers. profits of
whose firm Machen is accused OF
sharing on a 40-per-cent. basis, has
been set for June 9.
The postal officials refuse to give
any information respecting the go
between who, it is alleged, figured in
the transactions hat caused Machen's
arrest. 1t is said there is a p%ossibili-
ty if not a probability that he will be
used as a witness for the government
The postmaster general, Thursday
night, said: THAT there is a third
party in this matter 1 have no doubt,
but 1 can not say anything further"
He was asked whether the delay in
making an arrest was due to the fail
ure to locate the man. The postmas-
ter general replied in the negative,
and added that some times there were
other reasons. He significantly sug-
gested hat sometimes it was found
best not to be too precipitate in tax
ing action and there was an intima-
ton that the department might de-
sire the go-between to turn states evil
dence.
A report was published here, Thurs
day, that George w. Beavers, the for
mer superintendent of the division of
salaries and allowances was in the
city, but the department denied hav-
ing any such information. Mr.. Payne
was asked as to the nature of the
charges on file against Mr.. Beavers.
He replied that they might be
summed up as to the payment of ex-
travagant prices for materials and
supplies used in his division, including
time clocks and stamping machinery.
He said there was only one charge
that Mr.. Beavers had received a com
mission on these supplies. The charge,
he said, was under investigation. A
much more rigid overhauling of the
affairs of Mr.. Beavers former Office
will begin shortly.
The investigation of the affairs of
the free delivery division, it is stated,
has not been interrupted by the ar
rest of Machen. The inspectors who
brought about that result are con-
tinuing their inquiry, and will probe
into other charges against Mr..
Machen. In this connection Postmas-
ter-General Payne, Thursday, said
that n of the charges under inves-
tigation was an allegation hat Mr..
Machen had forged the name of an
'hhN man ch III BdPCI dDOul
ten years ago. He said that Nh.
Machen knew of this charge and had
informed him (the postmaster gen
eraD that he (Machen) was ready at
any time to bring conclusive proof
that he was innocent. Other charges
involve letter box contracts. Some of
the charges are similar to those on
which Wednesdays arrests are based.
The overhauling of the free delivery
branch will be Thorough, and Post
master-General Payne. Thursday, de-
clared with emphasis that the %investi-
CATION would not end until all irregu-
l~arities have been thoroughly inquired
into and eradicated. He said there
had been a few charges against sew
eral other officers of the department.
but the complaints of irregularities
were confined practically to the fres
delivery service, the salary and allow.
ance division and the office of the a
sistant attorney general.