Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-26
Methods Of Post Office De-
partment Division Chiefs.
DISCLOSED BY INQUIRY
NOT SUFFICIENT SUBORDINATION
HAS BEEN SHOWN.
Resented by Authorities as Usurpa-
ton of Their Powers and
Prerogatives.

The impending voluntary retirement of
Mr.. George w. Beavers from the position
of head of the division of salaries and
allowances of the Post Office Department
is believed by those with inside knowledge
of the affairs of the department to fore
shadow a general reorganization of the
working forces of the department which
will entail some radical changes.
Independent Action.
For years past, it is stated. there has
been a certain independence among the
heads of certain of the important divisions
of the department connected with the office
of the first assistant postmaster generals in the
transaction of the business of their respect
i've divisions. This, it is said. has especial
ly been the case in the division of salaries
and allowances, from which Mr.. Beavers
retires and the free delivery division. of
which Mr.. A. W. Machen Is the head. The
work of these divisions which is as i'm
portant, or even more important, than any
of the other subdivisions of the Post Office
Department force, has been carried on and
watched jealously by the two chiefs, and
they have been permitted to a large extent
to take the initiative in all matters relat-
ing to their forces, with the result that the
two divisions have been brought into the
position, it is claimed, of almost separate
departments of the government service
working for but independently of any
other section of the governments great
business machine.
Mr.. Wynne's Reforms.
Mr.. R. ]. Wynne came into the Office Of
first assistant postmaster general about
year ago and Immediately set about getting
his working force in order. 1t was not long
after Mr.. Wynne took charge of his office
that he came to the conclusion that mat
ters relating to free delivery, both city
and rural, and postmasters allowances,
were being conducted in manner which
was contrary to the esta blished policy of
the executive departments in general and in
direct violation of the rules of the Post
Office Department in particular. He found
that in these two divisions, and in others
also, members Of Congress visited and
called for information, directly on the
heads of the offices and not on the heads
Of the department, as custom and the
proper discipline Cf the working force SEEM
ed to demand. Mr.Wynne found that instead
Of coming to the Postmaster General or
his assistant for an allowance OF clerk hire
a member of Congress would go directly
to Mr.. Beavers, and often the first thing
the Postmaster General or the first assist
ant postmaster general knew of the trans
action would be when the papers relating to
it had all been made out and waited only
for signature.
Resented Usurpation of Power.
BOtn une postmaster GeneTdl anu lne ITSC
assistant resented, it is said, what they
viewed as a usurpation Of their powers and
prerogatives, and a quiet investigation was
made to discover just how far the matter
had gene. This investigation was carried
on in connection with the recent session of
Congress. In his report to the President
the Postmaster General recommended that
his assistants be given increased salaries.
but made no recommendation regarding the
chiefs of the free delivery and salary and
allowance divisions. When the approprla-
tion bill was reported to the Senate from
the House it contained a clause appropriat
ing money to pay increased salaries to the
heads of these two departments and paid no
attention to the recommendation of the
Postmaster General regarding increases for
his assistants This was supposed to show
the influence of the heads of these two de-
partments as against the influence Of the
assistant postmasters general, who had ap-
peared before the post office committee and
had urged the increases suggested, while
tn heads of the two divisions had not ap-
peared at the Capitol and were simply rep
resented by friends, it is alleged
The strained relations between Mr.
Wynne and Messrs. Machen and Beavers
which have resulted have, it is stated,
turned upon the question whether or not
the Postmaster General, with his direct as
sistarts. shall reign supreme over his de-
partment The post office authorities rec
in question are noted throughout the coun-
try for the efficiency to which they have
raised the departments under them during
the past few years. Mr.. Beavers has been
connected with the salary and allowance
division of the Post Office Department for
over twenty years, and Is probably
better posted as to the fiscal affairs of the
postal service than any other man in the
country.
The same is said of Mr.. Machen in con-
nection with the free delivery service. He
is the father of the rural free delivery
scheme. which has been of untold benefit
to hundreds and thousands of farmers. 1t
is not alleged, or it is stated, believed by
their official superiors, that these chiefs
have been guilty Of any criminal msdongs
1t is with their methods and the manner
in which they have seemed to ignore their
superiors in matters that related vitally to
them that complaint has been made