The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-29
MACHEN BELIEVES HE
 WILLIE EXONERATED
BETWEEN MAY
 KNOW SOMETHING
OFFICIALS OF p. o. DEPARTMENT INTIMATE THAT MAN HAS BEEN LOCATED WHO WILL TURN STATES EVIDENCE.

Washington, May 2S.-Postal officials refuse to give any information respecting the go-between who it is alleged figured in the transactions that caused Super intendent Machen's arrest. It is said there is a possibility, if not a probability, that he will be used as a witness for the gov ernment. The postmaster general tonight said:
 That there is a third party in this matter. I have no doubt, but I cannot say anything further"
 He was asked whether the delay in making an arrest was due to failure to locate the man. The postmaster general replied in the negative, and added that sometimes there were other reasons. He significantly suggested that some times 1t was found best not to be too precipitate in taking action, and there was an inti- nation that the department might desire the go-between to turn states evidence.
 A report was published here today that George w. Beavers, the former superin- tendent of the division of salaries and all lowances, was in the city, but the de- partment denied having any such infor- nation MT. Payne was asked as to the
  Beavers. He replied that they might be summed up as the payment of extrava- gant prices for materials and supplies used in his division including time clocks and stamping machinery He said there was only one charge that Mr. Beavers had received a commission on these supplies. This charge, he said, Is under investigation. A much more rigid overhauling of the affairs of MT. Beavers forr11er offica will beRin shortly.
 The salaries and allowance division Is now in charge of a former assistant su- perintendent who is a veteran inspector, and the department thought for this req son 1t could concentrate It's Investigating work along other lines that needed im- mediate attention. The investigation of the affairs of the free delivery division, 1t is stated, has not been interrupted by the arrest of Machen. The inspectors who brought about that result are con- tnuing their inquiry and will probe into ether charges against Mir. Machen. In this connection Postmaster General Payne today said that one of the charges under investigation was an allegation that MT. Machen had forged the name of another man on the pay roll about ten years ago. He said that MT. Machen knew of this charge, and had informed him 0he postmaster general that he (Machen) was ready at any time to bring conclusive proof that he was innocent of the transaction, Other charges involve letter-box contracts. Postmaster General Payne said that he did not know as yet when 1t would be possible to close the in- vestigation. He said there had been a few charges against several other officers of the department but the complaints ct Irregularities were confined practically to the free delivery service, the salary and allowances division and the office of the assistant attorney general. MT. Payne has given considerable attention to means of better safeguarding the miscellaneous ap- propriation available in various bureaus. These appropriations are of the greatest latitude in expenditures.
 "Unquestionably. said MT. Payne, these abuses will not occur again.