The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-05-29

May the Post Master General called
for statement of the appropriation
for rural free delivery and was
informed by Superintendent Machen
that there would be deficiency of
perhaps $4,000 at the close of the
fiscal year. The Postmaster Gen
eral Immediately wrote to Machen
instructing him to retrcnch in every
way possible so that, if practicable,
this deficiency might be eliminated.
This week, Inspector Fosnes, now
acting general superintendent OF free
delivery, discovered that instead of
a deficiency of $50, 900 it would
amount to 1927 900. Mr.. Payne
has expressed himself in emphatic
condemnation of this method of con.
ducting division of the department.,
accusing Machen of "maladministra.
ton The real facts in the case
arc tIat Machen has long believed
that his interests lay in granting the
favors asked by members of Congress
rather than in needing the admoni-
tons of his superior officers, and
therefore, he completely ignored the
Post Master Generals orders and
proceeded to establish free delivery
routes whenever member of
Congress requested it. This has
been the custom of Superintendent
Machen for long time. BY this
method he has built up a powerful
political machine which lie supposed
would stand between him and the
wrath Of his proper supcriors. That
nc will be disappointed in this cx>
pec.ation is evident. His political
friends will desert him as rats desert
a sinking ship, and it is reasonably
certain that August Machcn will
never again resume his duties in the
Postollce Department.
The greatest interest from a polit.
lcal standpoint, attaches to the Ohio
State Convention which will be held
the first week in June. Senator
Foraker has announced that he would
lr.ss for adoption a resolution en-.
dorsing President Roosevelt for the
nomination in 1904. Senator
Hanna, on the contrary, has an.
nounccd his opposition to such
resolution which he declares is IRE
mature. 1t is we'll recognized that
there is no love lost between the two
Ohio Senators and it is predicted
that the Convention will be the
scene of merry war. Indca.
tons, in so far as they can be judged
from Washington. are that the Fora
ker resolution will be adopted, but
if Mr.. Hanna really attempts to de.
feat it, it will precipitate the mos,
interesting political situation in the
country today.
Less than two weeks remain be-
fore the presidents return to Wash
ington which is looked forward to
with much interest as a number of
important appointments await lis
action and some interesting events
arc scheduled to occur at that time
Two assistant secretaryships are va.
cant and will probably be filed as
soon as Mr.. Roosevelt returns.
These are the places made vacant by
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury
Ailcs and the new position of assist,
ant secretary of Commerce and La.
hor. There is also a vacancy on the
Civil Service Commission, Mr.. Hen
gclmullcr, to whom the President
o!forcd the position, having declined
it, A commission which will have
IN charge the sale of land estimated
as worth S25, 100000 is also to be
appointed. These are the mineral
lands in Indian Territory which
have been aggregated by the Dawes
Commission, in its allotment in scy-
crafty of the Indian lands, and which
the law provides must be sold to the
highest bidder in blocks not exceed
ing 100 acres. 1t is also anticipa
ted that some drastic action regard.
ing the Post office situation will be
taken by the President.
The State Department has re-
oeived adviccs from Ambassador
Mccormack at St. Petersburg which
are calculated to set at rest all un-
casiness regarding Russia's policy III
Manchuria. Mr.. Mccormack sac
that the Russian government Is at
one with the United States in lis de-
sire to preserve the open door to