The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-09

ItSS-
In conformity with this request l have
Issued the following order, 20 take eff
feet at the commencement of business
on the 9th instant:
The division of free delivery. here
tofore under the general supervision of
the First Assistant Postmaster General,
is hereby transferred and assigned TO
the Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral, and the regulations of the depart
ment are amended in conformity there
with
You are hereby granted leave Of alb
sence until the investigation is conclud
ed, and will turn over the division of
free delivery TO the control OF NJ. c.
Fosnes, postofiice inspector, who has
been designated as the acting general
of the free delivery sys-
TEN. Respectfully yours,
~.T H. C. PAYNE.
Postmaster General
Superintendent Machen's Response.
Postoffce Department.
First Asst. Postmaster General,
Once Gen. Supt. Free Delivery System.
Washington, May s, 1903.
Hon. H. C. Payne, Postmaster General.
Dear Sir: l am in receipt of your let
ter OF this date, advising me OF your or
der. to take effect on the 9Th inst.
transferring the division of free delivery
from the supervision of the First Assist
ant Postmaster General to that of the
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General l
also note that I have been granted
leave of absence until the investigation
now in progress is concluded, and that
during my absence Mr.. NJ. G. Fosnes,
postoffice inspector, will be acting gen
eral superintendent of the free delivery
system
In n iT7c rrTrp IONS
1 will turn the division over 10 Mr..
Fosnes tomorrow morning. In this con-
nection I desire to state what / have
said to you heretofore, that l court the
fullest investigation of my official con-
duct. and stand ready at any time to aid
in the investigation now in progress. as
am conscious of having done no wrong.
Yours very respectfully,
AUGUST W. MACHEN,
General Superintendent.
Suspended Official Ill.
No formality was observed in shifting
the burdens and responsibilities of the
division from the shoulders of Mr..
Machen 10 those of Mr.. Fosnes- Mr..
Machen was unable to greet Mr.. Fosnes
as had been his intention He is i'll at
home. but his condition is not regarded
as serious.
Inspector E H. Thorpe. of the Brook
lyn Office. was at once detailed as assist
ant. He VIII" direct the afnairs'of the
Office through orders from Mr.. Fosnes,
thus enabling the latter to. conduct the
inquiry now in progress of the Postofice
Department.
Bristow Will Not Talk.
Mr.. Bristow was asked this morning
If he had requested the suspension be-
cause of the recent discovery of specific
wrongful acts by Mr.. Machen or because
of the aggregate number of charges
which have been filed since The Times
began its crusade. He refused to discuss
the question, saying that he did not care
to make any statement further than that
contained in his letter to Mr.. Payne.
Mr. Bristow said also that the rural
free delivery work would 90 on as usual,
but that during Mr.. Fosnes' time in Office
it was probable the work of inaugural
ing new routes would not be pushed as
rapidly as under ordinary circumstances,
as the officials would be too busy with
the investigation.
The Fate of Machen's Machine.
In the face Of accusation after accu-
sation. Mr. Machen has maintained a
firm front and declared he would IN
doubtedly be INDICATED. He has been
asked every day. for months whether or
not ne would resign and has always re-
piled that he would not retire under
fire. This assertion was repeated yes
terday when the letter relieving him
came from the Postmaster General, and
he said last night that he intended TO
was determined.
In the course Of the past few years
Mr. Machen has built up powerful po-
uticaI machine through the distribution
Of rural free delivery routes, Senators
and Representatives found him a most
useful ally when they desired TO
strengthen a doubtful constituency witE
a few carefully distributed routes, and
because OF his discretionary powers he
was able to help his friends and EN-
barrass his enemies more than any other
subordinate in the postal If not in the
entire public service.
live mouse is better than a dead
lion, and politicians and postal officials
are wondering how much cohesion there
Is in the Machen machine, and whether
now that he is relieved from duty he
viii be able TO rally around him those
he has favored and obtain sufficient sLT-
port TO keep him in Office.
pee+e with 0uts;6Are
Il is believed the success OF any ef-
forts Mr.. Macheu may make along the
line OF concerted political influence Will
be largely affected by the number of per
sonaI enemies he has made among peo-
pie who we're not in Congress- 1t the
height OF his power he was accused @;
being arrogant and OF Diminishing from
the service people who were not thor
oughly subservient 10 his publi' and
private ambitions He is said 10 have
dealt out dismissals and snubs to eco
pie Of little apparent consequence. some
of whom have since become prominent
on their cwn account. and others lave