The Tupelo journal., 1903-05-15
AN ENFORCED VACATION.
August w. Machen. General SuperintendcuA
of Free Delivery. Relieved
From His Duties.


ton of the affairs of the post office
department which has been dragging
along for two months took q sensa-
tional turn late Friday afternoon,
when, by order of Postmaster-General
Payne, August w. Machen, general
superintendent of the free delivery
system and one of the most widely
known government officials in the
United States, was relieved from his
duties and Post Office Inspector M. G.
Fosnes was designated to take charge
of that service. The change took eff
feet to-day, when Mr.. Fosnes assumed
charge of the free delivery service
and at the same time that passed I'M
der the control of the Office of the
fourth assistant postmaster general.
Heretofore, it has been under the
jurisdiction of the first assistant.
The action of the postmaster general
was taken on the written recommen-
dation of Fourth Assistant Postmas-
t~er-General Bristow, who is directing
the investigation of the affairs of the
department., that the transfer of Mr..
Machen's bureau to his jurisdiction
and its administration by a post Office
inspector would expedite the investi-
CATION.
In ordering the change the post
master general gave Mr.. Machen
leave of absence until the investiga-
ton is concluded. Mr.. Machen
promptly acquiesed in the decision of
the postmaster general, taking occa-
ed the fullest investigation of his Of
fetal conduct.
Mr. Machen has been under fire
ever since the investigation began.
Charges of various kinds have been
preferred against the administration
of the free delivery branch of the pos
tai service. These included allega-
lions of collision with letter box
manufacturers in the furnishing of
boxes to post Office patrons, particu-
larly on rural mail routes and the APP
pointment of carriers, etc.
Charges of characterization.
There also has been a conflict be-
tween Mr.. Machen and First Assistant
Postmaster-General Wynne ever since
the latter assumed Office. Mr.. Wynne
charges Mr.. Machen with insubordi-
nation. The strained relations be-
tween the head of the free. delivery
service and other officials resulted in
an embarrassing state of affairs and
for several months correspondence be-
tween the general superintendent of
the free delivery service and his i'm
mediate superior, the first assistant
postmaster general, has been conduct
ed on the part of the former, through
one of his subordinates. Mr.. Bristow
all along has been of opinion that the
best interests of the service would be
subserved by the relief of Mr.. Macheu
and has pointed out to the postmas-
ter general that that action was i'm
peratively necessary to the successful
conduct of the investigation.
Postmaster-General Payne, in dis"
cussing the matter, said his concur
sion to relieve Mr.. Machen was
reached yesterday after office hours.
| Mr.. Bristow, he said, had come to his
office and they had a conference dur
ing which Mr.. Bristow presented his
letter requesting to be put into full
| charge of the Office in order to expe-
dite the investigation. He declined
to say whether the changes made
would be permanent, saying that that
depended on the results of the inves-
tigation.
Mr.. Machen came here from Toledo,
O., in 1898, and qualified as superin-
| tendent of the free delivery service on
May 6 of that year. Since then the
Office has grown to immense proper
tions and the rural free delivery mail
service has been introduced and ex-
| tended to cover all parts of the
try.
Fosnes u Native of Norway.
Mr.. Fosnes is one of the best-known
inspectors in the service. He is CHIEF
| assistant of Mr.. Bristow in the inves-
tigation. He is a native of Norway,
where he was born in 1851, and his
home is Des Moines, Ia. He was once
a special examiner of the pension bu-
real, and subsequently served as post
office Inspector at Philadelphia, Chica-
| go, Helena, Mont, and St. Paul. He
is still post office Inspector in charge
| of the St. Paul division. He is best
known in connection with the investi-
| CATION of the postal frauds in Cuba.
On the sensational dismissal of Estes
G. Rathbone, Mr.. Fosnes was appoint
ed director general of posts of Cuba,
assuming that Office on June %, 1900,
| and holding it until May 20, 1902,
| when the United States sovereignty
On the island ceased.
Ex-Representative Loud, of Cali
fornia, who was chairman of the
| house committee on post offices and
post roads. has spent much time dur
ing the past two or three days in con-
| ference with Postmaster Payne. First
| Assistant Postmaster-General Wynne
and Fourth Assistant Postmaster
| General Bristow. Mr.. Loud and Mr..
| Machen have been at odds officially
for nearly two years.
MI. Machen, Friday night, was not
| inclined to talk, but expressed
| confidence that he could refute ale
cations made against him.
Attempt to Wreck a Train.
Denver, Col, May 9.-An attempt
was made, Friday night, to wreck the