The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-08
WaVering Between Loyalty
to Party and Allegiance to
Oath Of Offce-Condition
Of DiSorganiZation Exists.
Letting of Contracts.

Letting of Contracts.
The recent exposure IN The Times af
the irregularities and persistent dlsre-
gard and violation OF the law in The
Postofice Department. and the further
intimation of startling revelations OF
fraud yet to come, has nowhere been
received with deeper concern than in the
Office OF the Postmaster General. Henry
L Payne. Mr. Payne is in no way in
sympathy with operations of the eIiqus
that has been making OF the public ofRee
a private snap" and no one more deep
y regrets the existence Of such a con-
dItioR than does he.
Already steps have been taken to cor
rect the evil. by direction Of the Pest
master General, and many questionable
practices have for the moment been dis
continued Even with dozens Of mem
GERS Of Congress, and other officials
pressing upon hIE for consideration. and
DESPITE the onerous routine duties that
Gendnd his almost undivided attention
he has denied himself TO all callers for
hours at q time to familtaFize himself
with the conditions which exist and
which have existed for years past.
Mr. Payne is BY this time fully aware
Of the depIorabIe condition, and while
he is in no way responsible Tor that
which has just come to his attention.
if he fails TO take drastic measures TO
put an end 20 the conditions the respon-
sibility from now on VIII rest with
him He is fully aware that a public
exposure of the wholesale frauds il
the department may be taken advan-
tage OF 20 embarrass the Administration
and that political capital is bound 70
be made Of it. II is his desire 10 con
duct his investigations n secret and 10
weed out the wrdagdoers without at
tracing public attention In this he
viii fail The evil is so deer seated
that little short Of a reorganization Of
the department wiz enectuaIIy remedy
it
Mr. Payne Wavering.
Mr.. Payne is waverfng between bfs
loyalty to his party and his sworn al
Iegianee TO the constitution and laws.
VIII he uphold the laws OF the country.
or viii he protect his party from 7os-
sfbIe attacks?
Although it is nearly a week sfncs
The Times called his attention 70 sec
tons +12. 1871, 1882. and 1888 of the
revised statutes. which forbid the l-r-
ting Of contracts TO an official IN the
service. he has satisfied himself with a
Of the matter to the attorney
for the department. where in the usual
course OF such matters il win die q
natural death
Yesterday the opinion of the Attorney
General Of the United States bearing rp-
on the question was placed before aim.
by The Times This opinion leaves no
doubt as TO it being his duty 10 fmme-
fiately dismiss \. W Machen from The
service. institute proceedings against
lim, cancel the existing coal contract
with AaeheH Bros. and exclude their
for supplying coal for the re-
nain7eT of the ear from consideration
Inactivity stf-I prevails in the Office Of
the Postmaster General so far as Mr..
Payne's plain duty in the prem msses is
cone. .rncd- How long this viii continue
be alone knows
Condition Of DisOEganization
IN the meantime condition of dizor-
sanization exists IN the department.
which seriously interferes with The
proper transaction OF public business.
officials identified with the CLIQUE as
5embIe at all hours to discuss recent
developments and TO determine how
their graft" can be continued and dis
closures prevented. Retrenchment is
evident among them. and they are In
q condition bordering on panic.
Among the clerks and other employees
the condition is equally strained How
far the disclosures may so is he con
slant subject or speculation on the part
Of the employees. The official order for
bidding disclosures Of public matters vas
not necessary Reporters are looked
upon as plaques. Even their intimats
acquatntancas in the department frs-
IuentIy fear to recognize them while In
he building.
Even Mr.. Mschen, who prides him
ielf on his security in Office, because
# political support that practically
makes him independent of the Postmas-
er General, has changed his practices.
Ic go longer rides to the Office in his
stylish turnout as was his wont. ar9
low contents himself with riding down
n the street cars.
Hathaway and he have their funds de-
'osited in two OF three different bankz-
me of them is in Washington The
mounts TO their credit there do not
.xceed the amount of their combined
alaries. The location of the other
,aHks is something of a secret.
Among the many questionable praa-
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