The Washington times., 1903-01-10
Silence, Deep and Unbroken,
s Greets Questions on De-
partment Commercialism
Proposed TO Postmaster
General Payne.
While High Officials Ponder,
the Firm Now Unde3 Fire
Goes on With Govern
ment Coal Delivery.

ilISilt SVdt OSiiYCl Y.
The question as TO the legality Of the
! letting OF a contract to a firm with which
an official of the department is connected
has been referred by Postmaster General
Henry c. Payne to the Attorney General
of the United States for al opinion. This
reference not only brings to direct is
sue the right of the Postmaster General
TO continue in effect the contract with A.
W Machen, the superintendent Of the
free delivery service. and his firm OF
Machen Bros. for supplying coal to the
Postoffiee Department, and his further
authority to renew that contract under
bids recently opened, but makes it in
cumbent upon the highest law officer OF
/ the Government TO direct that LTos ecu
tions be instituted should in his Iudg-
ment the penal clause Of the Law apply.
/ The action on the part Of the Postmas-
ter General renews confidence IN his de-
termination to do his full duty in the
/ premises
/ Simple Justice Forced Reference.
{
/ ing discarded an opinion supplied him
I by George a. c. ChEistiaRcy, the assist
ant to the Assistant Attorney General
/ in charge Of Postofice Department af-
fairs. who is in charge CT that ofhee IA
| the absence Of Gen James y Tyner-
This opinion is said to be. devoted large
+ ly 70 the defense OF Maehen in having
[
/ pose of the drafter of the opinion ap-
peared so evident that Mr. Payne could
not. in justice to himself, refrain from
I appealing 10 higher authority for ad-
vice in his desire to do his fun duty
That Mr. Christiancy is the power in
the Office of the Assistant Attorney Gen.
era1 for the Postofice Department is 70
secret. General Tyner is not as vig-
orous as he used to be. and appears
willing to be relieved Of many OF the
onerous duties of the Office by his as
sistant- This Mr. Cbristiancy owes his
appointment to local influences. which
have graeiously constituted themselves
the defenders and apoiogists Of the ring
that has been running the affairs Of the
Postofice Department in such manner
as best suited me personal interests OF
the members Of the combine.
Many delegations have been waiting
upon the Postmaster General sinc> The
Times undertook the exposure Of the
ring. and these delegations have serious
" handicapped Mr.. Payne in the trans
action of the business oe the Office.
There is hardly an afternoon that he
is not compelled to remain az his desk
until long after the other employees or
the department have finished dinner ard
are preparing for the enjoyments ot
the evening.
Mr. Payne Is Silent.
When Mr.. Payne reached the ONCE this
morning he found the accumulated mail
of three DAYS stacked high on his desk.
For several hours he denied himself to
all callers. and with the aid of several
stenographers set himself to the task OK
clearing his desk It was while he was
so engaged that a reporter for The Times
presented his card. Failing 10 see the
Postmaster General in person. q list OF
questions as to the present situation was
sent in to Mr. Payne with request that
he reply He sent ouS word that he was
not as yet prepared to make any state
ment concerning the matters referred TO-
In the Offices OF ali of the assistants
to the Postmaster General secrecy pre-
vailed. Everywhere it was said that all
information must come from The Post
master General
At the Department OF Justice an ef-
fort was made to secure some informa-
tion as to the probable action Of the At
torney General upon the question refer
red to him by the Postmaster General.
Information was there denied. on the
ground that ;he department was acting
IN the light OF a confidential adviser
TO the Postmaster General. and chat
when their opinion is furnished the
head Of the Postoffice, he alone viii
have authority 10 give it TO the press.
It viii probably be several lays before
the opinion Of the Attorney General VIII
be sent to the Postmaster General
In the meantime Machen Bros OF
which A. ". Machen, superintendent OF
the free delivery division. is the largest
partner, continues TO supply coal TO the
department at $3.50 4 ton There re-
main but ninety out Of the 800 tons
contracted for to be delivered. and the
bins of the department are now SUI
fciently filled 20 insure fuel for tne
furnaces for several weeks n S4S0 a
ton Machen is said TO be losing 10 cents
on each ton he supplies the department
This loss he hoDes &c make good on the
contract, to secure which he is nog
bringing to bear every influence ia his
power