Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-09
MACHEN RELIEVED,
-
Shakeup in Postal Free Rural
Delivery Department.
The Chief Given "Leave Of Absence"
Pending an investigation.
elimination of Friction in Some Parts
of the Service.

Washington. May S.-The investiga-
ton of affairs of the post office de-
Dartment which has been dragging
along for two months, took q sen.iA.
tional turn, late this afternoon, when
by order of Postmaster General Payne,
August w. Machen, general superin-
tendent of the free delivery system and
one of the most widely known govern
ment officials in the United States, was
relieved from his duties, and Post Of
ice Inspector NJ. {. IOSnes was desig-
mated to take charge Of that service.
The change will take effect tomorrow
morning. At the same time that SER
vice will pass under the control of
the officers of the fourth assistant post
master general. Heretofore it has been
under the jurisdiction of the first as
sistant.
The action of the postmaster general
was taken on the written recommends
ton of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General BristoW, who is directing the
investigation of the affairs of the de-
jartment, that the transfer of Mr.
Machen's bureau to his junior and it's
administration by a post office inspec-
or would expedite the investigation. In
ordering the change recommended, the
postmaster general gave Mr.. Machen
leave of absence until the inVestiga-
ton is concluded"
Mr.. Machen promptly acquiesced in
The decision of the postmaster general,
taking occasion to say in doing so, that
ne courted the fullest investigation of
his official conduct
Mr.. Machen has been under fire ever
since the investigation begun. Charges
IF various kinds have been preferred
against the administration of the free
delivery branch of the postal service.
They included allegations of collision
With letter box manufacturers in the.
furnishing of boxes to post office pa
irons, particularly on rural mail routes,
the furnishing of advance information
regarding the selection of routes and
the appointments of carriers. etc.
There also has been conflict between
Mr. Machen and First Assistant Post
master General Wynne ever since the
latter assumed office.
Late this afternoon, before a large
number of newspaper men, Postmaster
1VItl oll L dy lie announced Ills utClSlOll
and read the correspondence between
himself and Mr.. Machen, together with
the recommendation of Mr.. Bristow.
The letter of the postmaster general
to Mr.. Machen was as follows:
Il am in receipt of a request from
Cen BristoW, fourth assistant postmas-
ter general, that the division of free
delivery be temporarily assigned to his
sign a post office inspector as the gen
erai superintendent of division during
the continuance of the investigation
now in progress.
In conformity with this request, I
have issued the following order to take
effect, at the commencement Of business
on the 9th inst:
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
scnce until the investigation is conclud-
ed. and will turn over the division of
free delivery to the control of NJ c.
Fosnes. post office inspector, who has
been designated as the acting general
Continued on page A.