Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
BRISTaNz 0 R K S
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Post Office Ice Inquiry Grinds
On Despite Holiday.
sb
CLEARING UP DETAILS
sTe In,
NO. MORE SENSATIONS UNTIL
MONDAY, AT LEAST.
30 "a
Charles Emory Smith Reviews Work
Of MT. Payne in Detail-Wiu
leply to Tulloch.
CLEARING UP DETAILS


closed today there was no holiday for
Fourth Assistant Bristow, who is Postmas-
ter General Paynes captain general In the
post Office Investigation. s;Mr. Rristow was
IN his offices throughout the day, and held
frequent consultations with inspectors as
occasion arose for reports from the little
army of sleuths who are developing for
themselves reputation which Is causing
the secret service of the Treasury Depart
ment some uneasness.
General Br1Stow was authority for the
statement that no development in the situ-
alton could be- looked for before Monday,
and he added that he did not mean by
that that anything startling would be
Forthcoming on that day. a-
A talk with General Bristow today re-
garding the possible defense Of Machen
which the newspapers have advanced since
ms arrest resulted In the impression that
officials who are familiar with the char
acter Of the evidence against Mr.. Machen
have not the slightest uneasiness as to the
outcome of his trial.
This evidence is declared to show con-
clusively that Machen participated in the
profits of the Croft fastener Whether Mr..
Machen was a silent partner in the firm of
Groh Brothers Is a question with which
officials who developed the case against
him declare that they are not concerned.
Whether this defense will act to relieve Mr..
Machen of liability for punishment, should
he set 1t up, Is also a probability which
does not concern the gatherers Of the evil
dence
Clearing Up Details
General Bristow, while non-commit-
tai relative to the probable develop
ments Of the future, indicated that
his present work was more in
the nature of clearing up small details
rather than developing any sensational
climax Of a new character. He said. how
ever. that there are, and have been since
the investigation began. between twenty
and twenty-five inspectors busily engaged
on various phases of the inquiry into the
manifold charges that have piled high since
the gates were opened for action.
Some of these charges, which have on
their face seemed trivial and unimportant
have developed into the leading features
of the inquiry. The Gfoff fastener, for in
stance. was not. known before the post Of
flee investigation began, even by postal Of
ficials Themselves. The contracts for it's
purchase were looked into simply as a mat
ter of routine ina the natural course of the
investigation. The startling developments
which followed inquiryhave led to the most
careful scrutinyIof every detail and con-
tract which entered into the daily conduct
OF the various branches of the Post Office
Department.
Mr.. Smith Sees Gen. Payne.
Former Postmaster General Charles Emo
ry Smith was closeted for several hours
last night with Postmaster General Payne.
The result Of the interview was productive
of no news for the general public, the in
ference being that the former head of the
department was reviewing the progress, re-
suit and probable future Scope of the fnves-
tigatten. After the conference Postmaster
General Payne announced that Mr. Smith
had submitted his reply to the Tulloch
statement. and that this reply would be
given to the press Sunday afternoon
Mr:-Payne predicted that after this reply
had been read there would be nothing fur
ther to be said regarding the allegations
or the former cashier of the Washington
post office Mr.. Smith came to Washing
ton to deliver the address at Arlington to-
day and declined to- discuss post office az
fairs for pubicat ton. l-t-s
Mr.. Seymour w. Tulloch prefers to let
the statement he has made be Judged by
the public, with the replies which have
been published by the various officials. 1t
does not need any analysis, he believes; to
show who has come nearest the truth in
the matter.
Postmaster General Payne was not at his
office today and no Information of new de-
Veiopments was obtainable from him.
President Roosevelt's Desire.
While there have been hints that politics
party will have to be conserved throughout
the investigation. the character of the
Roosevelt administration begins to show
through more clearly every day An abso-
lutte cleansing of the department from all
irregular methods and of all 'irreeuIar''
officials and employees. no matter what DO
litical idols may be shattered In the pro.
cess is clearly the aim of President Roose-
welt.
It Is declared on good authority that he
Is the inspiration for the thoroughness Of
the purifying process, and that he has no
idea of curtai1ing the inquiry in any way
or of permitting 1t to be shaped SO as to
shield any one. Even with the results OBJ
tanned so far, 1t is declared from the polit-
ical point of view that the democrats can
not set up the claim that there Is any at
tempt to shield any one.
This, 1t Is declared, robs the democrats
of any possible chance to accuse the adj
ministratton of laxness or incompetency in
its sef-purificatfon. Whether any of the
prominent politicians whose names have
been connected with the alleged "deals'' in
whispers, will ever be placed in an attt-
tude of publicly defending themselves Is. of
course, one of the remotest possibilities of
the inquiry.
But whatever may be the result. the de.
sire Of the President and the momentum of
the inquiry at the present stage preclude
anything but complete and thorough over
hauling Of the department.
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