Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-06-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, ID, c., June 5.


Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.l
Washington, d, c., June 8.
The Federal Grand Jury, after being
in session this morning ten minutes,
concluded its consideration of the case
of the postoffice against August w.
Machen, charged with bribery, and
agreed to report its findings in Criminal
Court No. / at O. clock this afternoon.
No witnesses were examined this morn
ing. Officials of the government are con-
fdent that an indictment will be return
ed. This would relieve United States
Commissioner Taylor, who has set
Machen's preliminary hearing for to-
morrow at 1890 O. clock, of jurisdiction.
If indicted, Machen will not come to
trial till next fall. 1t is learned today
that his defense will be made on the
claim that the amounts he is said to have
received from Croft Bros. we're from
another source having no connection
with that firm. The amounts in question
are alleged to have been paid to
him by one of his associates in his
mining enterprise as legitimate bust
ness transactions in connection with
their operations in the west The
investigation at the Postoffice Depart
ment in now turned in the direction of
rural free delivery routes. Postmaster
General Payne conceded to day that no
rural route has been abandoned since the
inauguration of the system few years
ago as an experiment. But he does not
take kindly to tho charge outside and in
side of the PostOflice Department that
routes have been established in many
communities by former Superintendent
Machen by reason of personal or polit-
ical understanding with certain members
Of Congress. 1t is understood that the
investigation furnished, however, many
striking condolences in support Of this
charge. Congressman, known to have
used their influence to suppress the pres
ent investigation and who had been loud
in their denunciation of what they char
acterized as persecution of Machen, have
been unusually fortunate. 1t is charged
that in South Carolina routes have been
established in mountainous regions where
the previous postal business of the
few families along the route scarcely
aggregated half a dozen pieces year.
Senator Latimer, it is said, has gone on
record as demanding of President Roose
welt First Assistant Wynne's official
scalp. 1t is learned that Senator Lati-
mer several months ago complained to
the President that when he sought po-
sition in the department for young wo-
man, he was met by the gruff retOrt from
Mr.. Wynne that there were no places
that the department was full enough of
bad women and that it had come TO pass
that any woman with a pretty face and
fine figure could secure Congressional
endorsement. The President in per-
sonal conference with the first assistant
reprimanded him. Mr.. Wynne defended |
his action by showing that the converse
ton of which Senator Latimer COM
planned had taken place five months be-
fore; that be probably did make the |
remark concerning Congressional en-
dorsement, for he said that in the main |
it was correct, but he declared he did not |
class all women in the department as
bad, but only small percentage. This,
he said, he would stand by. He did
declare to the President that of all rotten
ness in the government that in the
Postoffice Department took the lead.
Later, it is learned, the President exon
Grated Mr.. Wynne from all blame, de-
claring that he believed there was con-
spiracy on foot to officially ruin the First
Assistant for his determination to weed |
out what he held to be criminalty in the |
1t was following this that |
the President demanded that the Post
Office Department investigation go to the
bottom of things, no matter where it
struck.
The Federal grand jury this after
noon returned an Indictment against
August w. Machen, former superinten-
dent of free delivery OF the Postoffce
charging him with fraudu-
lently participating in profits on a gov
erment contract to the extent of $751;
70 in conspiracy with Croft Bros,
of Washington, who have been furnish
ing patent mail box fasteners to the de-
partmeut under Machen' direction. The
indictment contains counts, each Of
which specifies a particular amount of
money and the date which Machen is al
legged to have received it from the firm
in question. 1t is charged that these
payments were in accordance with col
lusiye understanding or arrangement
with Machen whereby he was to have 40
per cent of all the moneys paid by the
government for these patent fasteners.
1t is also alleged that the payment to
Croft BrOf., by the government we're out
of funds under Machen's command, and
that he was Influenced by the aforesaid
understanding or agreement in purchas-
ing the patent fasteners from Croft Bros.
The indictment is drawn under the pro-
visions of section 550l, revised statutes,
upon which the warrant for his arrest
week ago was based.
Mr.. Machen will discharge the Union
Surety and Guarantee Co., of Philadel-
phia as his bondsmen and will substitute
f,r that oavaro1 t,rorninanf