Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-06-24
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandra oase.'e'i
Washington, d. c.. June "a.

rr-orresnondence Of the Alexandria 0azette.l
washington, D. c.. June "a.
The appointment of Major Holmes
Cd and Chas. j. Bonaparte to
Ut 1T in the prosecutions brought and
a. -ho brought on account of the pqstofilce
disclosures was the result of letter from
the President to Attorney General Knox,
made public today, in which the former
suggests the appointment ofspecial assist
ants in these postoffce cases, not only to
take UP the cases in which indictments
have been found or hereafter may be
found, but to examine into all charges
that have been made against officials in
the postal service, with view to the
removal and prosecution of all guilty
men in the service and the prosecution
of the guilty men whether in the service
or not, where cases are not barred by
the statute Of limitations.
Postmaster General Payne has set in
motion an inquiry as to what official OF
the Postofiice Department, if any, is re-
sponsible for the circulation OF the charge
that Third Assistant Postmaster General
Madden had so drawn up specifications
for registry books as to exclude as DID
ders all manufacturers except the Gene-
raj Manifolding Company Of Franklin
Pa, in which Congressman Sibley Is
said TO have been interested. In his
forenoon mail he had received spirited
/ letter from Mr.. Madden, who is now IN
Detroit. in which the charge was de-
nounced as malicious cruel and without
the slightest foundation" and demand
ING "not only as man to man, but as
consideration due my Office" the investl
cation as to the authorship of the story
But General Payne did not wait FOL
the arrival of the official copy. lie reac
in the morning papers the letter as made
nublic by Mr. Madden and without de.
| Law called General Wynne and Genera
Bristow by telephone to ask an explanIa'
ton. General Payne was not IN the
best of humor over the incident
He was out of patience with General
Madden in making public matter tina
he felt should have been left to the DIS
cretion of the head of the department
This feeling was aggravated by th'
knowledge that much private informa
ton relative to the present investigation
was being given out from some one III
high position. General Wynne has beel
charged by close friends Of the Post
master General with having given GU
the greater part of this information II
some quarters the personal public crit
cism of General Payne's course has beef
laid at this door. For some months tn
feeling between the Postmaster Genera
and his first assistant has not been q
such cordial character as to permit O
any discussion or explanation OF thes
reports. -,
Postmaster General Payne did nc
reach the Department today until ate
the luncheon hour lie has not bee
feeling we'll and the publication OF tn
Madden letter so disturbed him that b
had his mail sent to his rooms. lie wa
. in brief telephone communication wit
Gems. Wynne and Bristow and will TAX
up the case in detail with them later
Officials of the Department are puzzle
over the action of Gen. Madden in wha
they declare is tantamount to an assis
ant Cabinet officer addressing an ope
letter of censure TO his superior
They of course, relieve him OF an
such intent. First Assistant Wynn
and Fourth Assistant Bristow deny thi
they have given to the public any il
formation rejecting upon or tending I
embarrass Mr.. Madden. In official Gil
cles the addressing Of an open letter to
superior is generally considered an act
hostility. Friends of Mr.. Nader
recognizing this fact, fear that indiscr'
ton may create embarrassing complies
tons. In other words he was to be GOV
erned by the attitude of the majority
He has informed the department that /
will return to Athens by way OF Coz
stantinople.