New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-24
MACHEN GETTING EVEN"
THREATS IRE RECALLED.
attacks on Investigators Begun
Special Prosecutors Chosen.
[rRon TEE rnIarxE RrnEAr.I

lFRoW TIE TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington. June 23.-When First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne first called the at
tention OF the Postmaster General TO the fact
that A W Machen. general superintendent Of
free delivery. and George W. Beavers. super
intendent Of salaries and allowances. we're cor
Quoting their divisions with high hand. threats
made that any interference with the Of
fcials mentioned would be met with exposure
Of prominent officeholders and politicians which
would startle the country. No sooner had the
inspectors entered Beavers Office than he re
signed. Machen has been indicted on two counts.
both for conspiracy, and now the promised dis
closures are beginning to find their way into
the newspapers. Machens first effort in this
direction was the allegation that ex-Representa-
tive Loud. chairman of the Postoffice Commit
tee in the last Congress. was improperly cop
nected with the sale of letter box device This
charge appeared in the newspapers this morning
When seen to-day in regard to these charges.
Machen maintained that he had in his possess
sion letters which would implicate Mr.. Loud but
refused to exhibit them. referring all callers TO
his attorneys. Douglas & Douglas. In q general
and mysterious way Machen intinated that he
was in position TO reveal grave irregularities
on Mr.. Loud's part but would not disclose their
nature.
Mr.. Loud has frankly stated that he bespoks
the consideration of the department for the In
vention Of his constituents and urged tbs
prompt payment OF their bills after the device
had been purchased. but he has declared thar
he received no consideration in return Tor MS
assistance, and that there was nothing improper
in the transaction. Mr.. Bristow Is conducting
an investigation into the subject
Another story which enanates from Machen is
that Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bris-
tow was himself interested in mining properties
in Alaska, and that he sent an inspector TO Bos-
ton at government expense in order that M
might float the stock Of the company. 1t is also
alleged that John P. CIum. another Inspector
snent considerable time locating claims In
Alaska while ostensibly on business for the de-
partnent The inspector alleged to have been
sent TO Boston is Mr.. Waters, now acting super
tntendent OF salaries and allowances Mr..
Waters made the following statement Wnen
asked about the subject to-day:
have never had anything to do with any
Alaskan company ApparenILy II1 pTiSol, Sc Scr
arate and distinct transactions some SeaIs
ago. while / out West. L 1nVesIS4 sou SoIL7
money in a copper mining company az WlcKen-
here Arfz There were ten OF US IN all, mostly
postofice inspectors. in the western countLS..
among them Inspector Frederic ana lh7 PIe7i~
chief inspector. Cochran
While the war revenue law was in force We
talked about organizing company ana lssolhS
stock but the cost Of purchasing stamps was so
Great that we abandoned the idea, and ever
since we have been putting up money Ior me
development of the property, or rather some OF
US have I did not suppose any on one ,ee- aIoa"a
here except the few of US interested Knew
thing about our Arizona enterprise We are
honing tc make money out Of il some day once
or twice have obtained leaves OF absence ana
gone down there to inspect the mint
The records of the department VIII SHOW tuat
7 once went 10 Boston on official business, W hlca
occupiAd me as I remember IT, for three or 1olr
davs Then I secured leave and remained ssN-
eral days at my own expense on private OuS--
ness.
Mr. Bristov said to-day there was little truth
i'm the report that he interested in mining
nronertv in Alaska He said he invested 500
AT the solicitation Of Mr. CIum- VINO did not
have money enough of his own 10 carry the
claim, He said il was not a company, and no
stock had been issued
II is probable in view Of the numerous
threats that similar stories will find their way
into the newspapers from now on. perhaps daily
II is stated this evening that the grand jury
Is about 10 investigate the contract for painting
the mail boxes throughout the country with a
na+erted aluminium paint, at cost for the
en,a1Ier boxes of bout so cents each, and OF 81
for the larger boxes. From the fact that the
GRAND fury has taken the matter up. It Is re-
eardad as probable that there are good grounds
for sr1snecting fraud. and that indictments VIII
follow.
Attorney General Knox has designated Holmes
Conrad solicitor General OF the Department OF
Iustice in the last Cleveland administration
and Charles ]. Bonaparte, the prominent Civil
service reformer and lawyer OF Baltimore, 70
assist the local District Attorney IN the prose-
cutfon Of the postofice cases before the grand