New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-09
PAYNE RELIEVES MACHEN
Free Deliuery Superintendent Gets
Indefinite Leaue of Absence.
FBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuxE.l


ny TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuxEl
washington May S.-The biggest sensation.
end what is generally regarded as the most i'm
rortant and far reaching development. in the
-cetoffice scandal occurred to-day, when the
postmaster General relieved A w. Afachen from
duty as general superintendent of the division
~ free delivery and gave him an indefinite leave
~ absence pending the conclusion of the cur
-snt investigation This action was taken at
-be request of Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Bristow who, in a letter TO the Postmaster
General intimates that the absence OF Mr..
,racben will contribute to an expeditions and
satisfactory conclusion of the investigation.
This recommendation and the favorable and
,,ronpt action Of the Postmaster General are
regarded as peculiarly significant in view Of the
Fact that only recently Mr.. Payne said to a
number Of newspaper correspondents: ''Mr.
R-;stovs reputation is az stake in the thor
ourbness Of this Investigation
postmaster General Payne has for the same
reason. at the request Of Mr.. Bristow. trans
ferred the entire division Of free delivery to the
brresu Of the Fourth Assistant, and Inspector
NJ c. Fosnes who. il will be remembered. earned
q most erviable reputation for his excellent
,-n-ly in straiEhtenfng out the Cuban postal ser
vice after the rnaIadministration of Rathbone,
has been assigned as acting superintendent.
THE CORRESPONDENCE.
Nr Bristow's letter to the Postmaster General
IS as follows:
In order to complete the departmental investi-
rstion now in progress in q more expeoitioCS
and satisfactory manner, beg to request that
.he I0i1-ision Of Free Delivery be temporarily
-ssrred 10 the bureau Of the Fourth Assistant
Pcefr7aster General. and that I be authorized
"a assign a postof1ce inspector as the acting
general superintendent Of said division during
the continuance OF this investigation
The Postmaster General acted Immediately on
NJ 57ristov's recommendation. and addressed
The following letter TO Superintendent Machen:
am in receipt Of a request from General
Rristow. Fourth Assistant Postmaster General,
that the division of free delivery be tempo
rariIy assigned TO his bureau, and that ne pe
authorized TO assign postofflce inspector as the
ecrine general superintendent Of division during
~ Fo9finTIance of the investigation in
progress In conformity with this request
have issued the following order. TO take efect
at the commencement OF business on 'He ''n
inst:
. ere-ai SUPERVISION of the First Assistant POST
master General is hereby transferred ana asSis 9
the regulations of the department are amehoeo III
conformity herewith
Yol, are hereby granted leave Of absence until
the investigation is concluded, and viii @ tuI1
over the Division Of Free Delivery 10 the con-
troll of NJ C Fosnes. postoffce inspector, VINO
has been designated as the acting general super
intendent Of the free delivery system
This afternoon Postmaster General Payne re-
oeived from Mr. Machen the following reply:
lam in recent of your letter of this date ad-
Using me of your order, TO take effect on the
ofh inst transferring the Division Of Free De
fsz-e-v from the supervision OF the First AS
rfe+apt Postmaster General 10 that OF the
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General l also
note that have been granted leave OF absence
until the investigation in progress IS con-
cluded and that during my absence NJ u
Fosnes postoffice inspector, VIII be acting gen
eraI SUPERINTENDENT OF the free delivery service
In conformity with your instructions, VIII turn
the division over 10 Mr.. Fosnes tomorrow
morning. In this connection ! desire TO state
what ! have said to you heretofore, that
court the fullest investigation OF my ofhclal
conduct, and stand ready at any time TO aid In
The investigation now in progress as am con-
scious of having done no wrong
Mr. PAYNE TELLS THE NEWS
Late this afternoon before a large number of
rewspaper men Postmaster General Payne
r,ounced his decision. and read the correspond
enoe He said his conclusion TO relieve Mr..
Machen was reached yesterday after office
hours. Mr. Bristow, he said, had come to his
office and they had a conference, at which Mr.
T3ristow presented his letter requesting to be
put in full control Of the Office as a necessary
step to expedite the investigation He declined
70 say whether the changes made would be per-
Y7apeut saving that depended on the results or
the investigation
The radical steps taken by the PostInaster
General are regarded as most significant with
the division Of free delivery under his inme-
date s11ueryisior, Mr.. Bristow viii be able 10
conduct a searching investigation. and MT
Fosnes. who is regarded by both Mr. Payne ana
Mr. Bristow as one of the most expert lnVesu-
gators in the service, viii have free scope to
probe the alleged scandals TO the bottom. Nhat
had been discovered TO warrant the assignment
Of the most expert detective in the service TO
the post of acting superintendent Of free deilV-
cry the Postmaster General refused TO divulge,
saving that would form part OF Mr Bristow
report which, II is promised. VIII be MADE pun
lie early next month.
An attempt was made this afternoon oy some
Of the newspaper correspondents TO elicit from
Postmaster General Payne statement 10 the
effect that advantage had been taken OF the
absence OF First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne. who left the city last night for brlef
fishing expedition, TO make the change noteo'
but Mr. Payne denied that such was the case
When asked IL there was any significance IN
the matter, Mr.. Payne merely laughed