The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-30
SILENCE IN P. 0. SCANDAL.
ORDER COMES FROM THE PRESI-
DENT, 1T rs INTIMATED.

Post master.G cneral Payne's Vacation May
Last for Weeks Ofiiciai Under Madden
Has Son In Employ OF General Mani.
fold Co.-MOre Machen Indict ments.
WASHINGTON. June 29.-Following long
conference this morning between Post
MASTER General Payne and the Assistant
Postmasters- General, 1t became very APP
parent that positive orders had been issued
prohibiting employees Of the postal service,
from the highest official to the humblest
mailcarrier, from discussing, for publica-
ton or confidentially, any phase OF the
postal service scandals, past, present or
future.
This order was so positive in character
and the punishment held out as the conse-
quence of a breach of instructions was 80
severe that there was considerable diff
Guilty in even confirming the facts with re-
gard to the conference itself. This was
finally secured, however, with the lntima-
ton that the order for silence" had origi-
mated with President Roosevelt.
1t is known that the Postmaster-G General
and his four Assistant Postmasters-G General
were not of one mind with regard to the
necessity for such an order. First As
sistant Postmaster General Wynne believed
in reasonable amount Of publicity, and it
is understood that he was frank enough to
say 80. Second Assistant Postmaster
General Shallenberger is said to have agreed
with him. Postmaster-General Payne,
Third Assistant Madden and Fourth AS
sistant Bristow Endorsed the idea OF silence.
1t is understood. however, that the order
for Silence" would have gone into effect
had the four Assistant Postmasters-G General
opposed it as a unit. Postmaster General
Payne is the head Of the Post Office Depart
ment and President Roosevelt is exercising
general but careful supervision over the
direction of the present inquiry.
The fact Of the order having been estab-
lished, 1t was an easy matter to verify the
manner in which it was obeyed. The
Sun reporter called on First Assistant Post
master-General Wynne this afternoon and
asked him question concerning phase
Of the postal service scandals which has
heretofore been a subject Of open dis
cussion. Mr.. Wynne replied: Il cannot
discuss the matter. l must refer you to
the PostmasterGenera for all information
on the subject"
The order promulgated by Postmaster
General Payne this morning is probably
his most important official act prior to his
departure next Friday for New York,
whence he will go to the Catskills.
to-day that Mr.. Payne intended merely
to leave Washington 1over the Fourth, but
II would not surprise those familiar with the
physical condition of the Postmaster
General il this announced brief absence
extended into weeks. Mr. Payne is sick
heart attack last week and even the few
hours he has spent at the Department daily
since his partial recovery have been in OPP
position to III" instructions of his physicians.
Third Ass Sd INT Postmaster-G= neral Mad
den returned 10 Washington to-day from
his home in Detroit, where he recently made
public the open letter to the Postmaster
General criticising the First and Fourth
Assistant Postmasters-General,w which dis
pleased Mr. Payne and ere ated considerable
friction in the Department. Mr., Madden
had long conference with Mr.. Payne this
morning, but nothing could be learned ss
to what took place.
The invest cation into the registry book
contracts, which was undertaken over q
month ago. is still in progress. A further
particular phase of the scandals to-day
when it beca ME known that son of William
II. landvo superintendent Of the cassif-
cat ion division and one of Mr., Madden's
chief subordinates, is employed by the Cen
in which Representative Sibley of Pennsyl-
vana, a member of the Post Office Commit
tee of the House, is the largest stakeholder.
and which has the contract for furnishing
the registry division, under the Third As
sistant Postmaster General with the mani
fold books used in the service,
IL was the publication of the facts con-
nected with the contract between the Gov
eminent and the General Manifold Company
that aroused Mr., Madden's ire and was re-
sponsible for his letter to Postmaster-Gen-
eral Payne, which practically asserted
that either the First or the Fourth Assistant
had furnished the news
papers with malicious and cruel misinfor-
nation.
Inspectors are now at Franklin. Pa,
where the General Manifold Company has
its headquarters and shops. making a thor
ough investigation. When it became
known to-day that a. prominent official
under Gen. Madden had a son in the employ
of the General Manifold Company, an
official of the department remarked:
Il am very sorry to say it, but this looks
very much like another Metcah case"
Mr.. Metcalf, superinte ndent of the money
summarly dismissed for en-
ieayoring to divert a contract for manu-
money-order blanks.
Three additional indictments against the
Croft brothers and former Superintendent
W. Machen Of the free delivery service
turned to-day by the Grand Jury. The
indictments found to-day comprise three
counts, making with those previously re-
turned total of twelve counts. These
additional indictments were found neces-
sarv to connect the Groffs and Machen
Torenz, who were recently arrested in
Ohio for handling the alleged rake-off
On the patent letter-box fasteners.