The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-31
Statement Made that No Further Ar.
rests of officials Are I'm Immedf-
ate Contemplation.
LEASES OF POsTOFFICE BUILDINGS
TO BE INVESTIGATED.
Charge Made hat High Prices Have
Been Paid-Machen Not a Part
ner of the Groffs.

WASHINGTON, May 3o.-To-day was
observed as a holiday In all departments ex-
cept the postal inspection service, where the
inquiry into postal administration was
pressed vigorously. Fourth Assistant Post
master General Bristow, General Superin-
tendent Fosnes, of the free delivery
service. Mr.. Bristow's chief assistant in the
investigation, Chief Inspector Cochran and
several of the inspectors were in conference
most Of the day over details of the work.
Postmaster General Payne was not at the
department to-day. There were no i'm
portant developments and the investigating
officials say that none is expected within
the next forty-eight hours. The policy Of
the investigating officials is to proceed con-
servatively and to predicate arrests only on
what they regard as conclusive evidence.
They say no further arrests are in immedi-
ate contemplation.
The published suggestion that the defense
of former Superintendent Machen will be
that he was a partner in the firm of Croft
Bros, which had the contract for furnish
ing patent fasteners to the government, II
is declared. is without foundation. and the
statement is made that this is not the line
of Mr.. Machen's defense.
There will be a thorough investigation Of
the leases of postoffices throughout the
country when investigation of the affairs OF
the salary and allowance division is taken
up actively. This is the division of which
George W. Beavers. of Brooklyn. N. Y, was
the head when he suddenly resigned several
months ago. The leases of third-class post
offices. which constitute by far the largest
number of the three presidential grades,
mi har nnrnyinQfQ1 v = k0 and n lfrotfoA
In specific terms by law to a maximum of
$500 a year, plus $50 a year for fuel. There
is. however. no limit whatever governing
the rentals of the first and second-class
Offices and the amounts the government
contracts to pay for rent of such offices are
governed by local conditions, n of course
leases are investigated by inspectors and
assistant superintendent of the salary and
allowance division. While approved by the
first assistant postmaster general. the
leases really are passed on by the head Of
the salary and allowance division. The
purpose of the investigation will be to as
certain whether there has been any favor
itism or collision in arranging leases or
any excessive rentals paid. There has been
a steady average increase in postoffice
rentals as postal business has expanded, but
there is as yet no official indication that
abnormal rentals have been paid. No COM
p~utation of any kind, however, has been
made by the department along this line and
this phase of the case. When this task is
begun it is probable that inspectors will
be sent wherever the rentals appear to be
abnormal. This work Will not begin until
Investigations into other branches of the
postal service, which call for more imme-
date attention, have been finished. There
are other matters in the salary and allow
ance division which will be investigated.
1t is said that more than one go-between
may have figured in the alleged transactions
which led to the arrest of Mr.. Machen. the
head of the free delivery service, but the
investigating officials refuse to divulge any
information on this point. The inspectors
believe they have established the identity
of at last one alleged go-between in trans
actions between Croft Bros. and Mr. Machen
and he is under close surveillance.