The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-16
SITTING POSTAL SCANDALS.
Mr.. PAYNE'S CONFIDENTIAL
SECRETARY EXONERATED.
Charges That He "induced" Employees
10 Buy Mining stock Proved TO BE
Unfounded-The Awarding OF Coal
Contract to Machen Bros. Declared
All Right by Attornsy.Generai Knox

Contract 10 Macnen bros. Decihreu
All Right by Attornsy-Generai Knox
WASHINGTON, April I5.-The Postmaster
General this afternoon looked over the
napers in the case OF George w. Beavers.
former chief Of the salary and allowance
di,ision of the Post Office Department,
Who recently resigned and whose bureau
;snoy under investigation by the inspectors
force. under the direction Of Fourth As
sis,ant Postmaster-General Bristow. Mr..
Reaverss letter of resignation and the
latter of acceptance written by the then
ocine Postmaster General Wynne will
he made public by Mr.. Payne In short
time.
The case OF the alleged improper con-
,ec,ion Of H. II. Rand, the Postmaster
Generals confidential secretary, with a
mining company whose stock was sold
10 employees of the postal service. and
Mr.. Rand's part in awarding alleged IT.
regular coal contracts was stricken from
the list this afternoon, an investigation
having shown that the statements made
we're absolutely without foundation. Mr..
Rand's connection with mining companies
antedates his entrance into the postal
service by considerable period, and no
DECENTRALIZATION can Dt lOi tuO kto
that he used his official as well as his per-
sonal influence in inducing employees of
the postal service TO invest in stock, with
the understanding that their promotion and
Advancement would be accelerated.
In regard to the charge that Mr.. Rand
assisted in awarding coal contracts to the
firm of Machen Bros, the senior member
Of which is Supt. Machen OF the
free delivery division, the records OF the
ahA Int
which Mr. Rand was a member recon-
,nended TO the Post master-G General that the
bid of Machen Bros, which was consider
ably lower than that OF any other Compel
ing firm, be accepted IL the proceeding
be entirely regular and be sustained by the
opinion Of the Assistant Attorney General
OF this Department.
f. ia also a matter Of record that Assistant
Attorney-G General Christiancy held that
there was no irregularity In awarding such
bids were submitted In q regular manner.
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Knox upheld this
ruling and the contract was awarded &C.
cording to the recommendation.
As far as the other investigations under
way are concerned. the inquiry has not
progressed far enough to warrant any
specific statement as TO the outcome. II
NAV be stated on high authority, however,
that no facts have been brought TO light a.
vet which would warrant criminal action
against any 0Tncer OF inc poetdi bcrvio0
whose conduct in ONCE has been MADE the
subject Of investigation.
There has been no question OF veracity
raised between Supt. Machen and former
First Assistant Postmaster-General Heath
as TO whether Mr.. Machen's resignation
Office. Mr.. Machen said to-day that before
tie investigation OF the charge brought
against him that he had accepted $500
from a woman as compensation Tor secur-
ing her place in the Government ser,
vice, Mr.. Heath had made an informal
request for his resignation. This request
wat withdrawn when the investigation
made failed to substantiate the charge
in any degree.
Postmaster General Payne continues to
clnphasize his statement that the inveeti-
cations will be most thorough and searching
and will cover every feature Of the admin
istrative service Of the Department He
desirts that when the report OF the inquiry
c.orcT,isions and taken action In accordance
with them, there shall be no possibility
~ recurrence Of the present unsatisfactory
condition of affairs.
Henry Robinson, lawyer, OF Concord,
n, H., has been strongly recommended
for Assistant Attorneys eneraship for the
Post ONCE Department made vacant by
the retirement Of James II. Tyner, the
acceptance Of whose resignation win DO
made public by Postmaster General Payne
in day or two Mr. Robinson 70 Endorsed
by the New Hampshire Senators, Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts,, ex-senator Chand-
Ter OF New Hampshire and other influential
men. .
Senator Lodge and Mr.. Chandler called
on the Postmaster General yesterday to
urge Mr.. Robinson's appointment. Mr..
Payne was rather inclined TO favor the pro-
motion Of George A. 9. Christianoy Of Michi-
gan, who il assistant attorney under Cen.
Tyner. but those who are urging MIR. Robin.
sons appointment argue that, - Q matter
Of policy and In tho tnterests Of peace and
harmony, it would b advisable for the
Postmaster-G General to appoint q man from
the outside who can take up the admin
istration Of the of1ce vnhampered. II
Mr.. Robinson is appointed II will be for
that reason and Mr.. 6ristiancy will be
urged TO retain his present place as
assistant attorney.
1t has been persistently reported. since
the Investigations into the many alleged
scandals In the Post Once Department.
were instituted that Gen. Tyner's retire.
ment was due to his attitude toward turf
investment and raoe-tipping concerns.
which were Investigated by the Depart
ment and allowed to continue In operation
until closed by the police authorities Of st.
Louis. The correspondents viii show,
however, that Mr.. fyners retirement was
decided upon long before the turf swindles
were taken up, and that his resignation
was deemed advisable on account of his
great age, his recent serious illness and his
increasing inhrmities. May was decided
upon as long ago as last November AZ the
date of (y,n TvnerIa rptiramant