The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-22
PAYNE ON THB P. 0. SCANDAL.
SAYS VISITS or SENATOR'S HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
Nothing Further From Truth Than That
an Attempt Is being Made to Hush Up
tho Anair-Macheu May Retaiiate
on wynne by Filing Charges.

tho Anar--Macheu May Ret aiiate
on Wynne by Filing Charges.
WASHINGTON. April 2l.-Postmaster-Gen
oral Payne said in emphatic terms to some
twenty-five newspaper represent atives to-
day that there had not been and would
not be any attempt to make light Of the
alleged scandalous condition Of affairs
In the Post Office Department and repeated
that his invest igations would take In every
part Of every bureau connected with the
administ ration Of the postal service, that
The guilty would be punished and all evils
corrected
Mr.. Payne'e remarks were occasioned
by a question az to whether the recent
visits to the department OF Senators Lodge,
Burrows. Aldrich. Warren and Spooner,
Representative Babcock OF Wisconsin
and Abner Mckinley. had any significance
In regard to the investigations now under
way Into the conduct Of affairs In the de-
partment
.Abner Mckinley never mentioned the
alleged scandals or the Investigations,
said Mr.. Payne emphatically, and not one
OF the other gentlemen you have named
introduced the subject In my presence.
We had other things to talk about which
wore more important.
when a thing Of this kind becomes
tnown,' Mr.. Payne continued, 'the public
always gets the impression that the leaders
Of the party Immediately begin to think OF
way TO hush up the inquiry and suppress
ell knowledge OF the facts. Nothing is
further from the truth.
Il know Of no prominent man In public
life who would dare to suggest that the
present investigations be diverted from
their natural course and the whole matter
concerning the alleged scandalous con-
dition Of affairs In this Department be al
lowed to simmer down and eventually be
dropped. / know Of no reputable citizen
insane enough to suggest such q thing"
But, said Mr.. Payne. Il do not believe
In hunting scandal with brass band
and I do not propose that the daily progress
OF these investigations shall be reported in
the newspapers day by day When Fourth
Assistant Postmas .er-General Bristow has
completed his report such portions Of 1t
as the public Is entitled to know will be
given out. Mr.. Bristow Is now engaged in
separating the hot air and blatant wind
from the cold hard facts, and I may say
that he has mighty hard job
1t was reported TO the Department to-
day that the friends Of Supt. Machen Of the
Free Delivery Service are preparing to
retaliate on the First Assistant Postmaster
General for his well-known hostility to
Machen by fling formal charges against
Mr.. Wynne's conduct Of his office.
No charges Of fraud will be made against
Mr.. Wynne. but allegations Of conduct
unbecoming a high officer Of the Govern
ment and specifying persecution of his
subordinates for personal ends will be
submitted.
II charges are filed against Mr.. wynne,
there will be only one high official OF the
service not implicated In the alleged scan.
dals which are engaging the attention Of
over twenty inspectors.
This official Is Fourth Assistant Posts
master General Bristow. and II has been
suggested that after Mr.. Bristow makes
his report to the Postmaster General. the
latter appoint committee OF investigation,
composed OF exonerated officials, TO In
vestigate the Investigations of the investi-
eating officer.