The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-16
Relations of Postmaster Generals
Confidential Clerk With Machen
to Be Investigated.
INSPECTORS UNDER PRESSURE.
Chain of Evidence Against Former
superintendent of Rural De-
livery Tends to Confirm
Charge of Bribery.
The Republic Bureau.

18th st. and Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, June 15.-H. H Rand conf
Dental secretary to Postmaster General
Payne. is to be investigated.
The public charges of his business con-
nection with A. w. Machen. under indict-
ment on the charge CT bribery and collll.
sion. have embarrassed the Postmaster
General greatly
lie has known Rand for many years and
vouches for his integrity. but in response
TO public criticism has ordered Fourth As
slstant Bristow to make any inquiry into
ms offcial conduct. This, 1t is underst TODD
VIII be undertaken when certain other work
the inspectors now have In charge is com.
pleted.
Every indication at the department to-day
was that the officials particularly interested
IN the investigation are laboring under high
pressure
The daily mail of Fourth Assistant Bris-
Tow has not been touched. That official is
engaged in his back office, now known as
the sweat box" and several inspectors are
with him.
chief Cochran of the Division of POST
once Inspectors. has returned from his
hurried trip to New York. where he re-
viewed the work done by the score of in
SPec na who have. been investigating
s srair OF a promotion syndicate. and ex-
aiming particularly into the number and
price OF automatic counting machines in
. omat once and at the srbstations. He de-
ciIiieS 10 discuss the result of his trip
postmaster General Payne's stenos-
, r"pe.s ana those Of several other depart
Inv, are bending every energy in prepar-
ins copies OF the report of Fourth Assistant
Bristow and his inspectors of the investiga-
non MADE in 1900 of the office of First AS
sistant Perry s. Heath
Mr., Ppvnp /
Wis unable TO fix the time when that report
would be given out There will be no de-
ny AFTER the copies are made, however, and
'iis Work may be completed Tuesday
HOW MACHEN WAS EXPOSED.
Inc manner in which the facts We're dis
covered upon which the charge and the in
dictment against Mr.. Machen were based
was explained to-day.
when the Post Office Inspectors obtained
information to the effect that Mr.. Machen
mad been receiving IA "rake-off'' of 40 per
cent from the Croft Bros. on the amounts
they received from the department in paw
meht Tor Croft letter-boX fasteners an eff
fort was made to locate the bank or banks
tna.99 ,as which ;6ns the checks PASSED.
After n long search, and more by accident
than otherwise. It developed. it is said that
Machen was conducting his operations prin-
eipaiiy through bank in small town in
clared, bore the Endorsements of all the mar
ties concerned but in some instances there
Were breaks in the chain of Endorsements
SoHutctiiR liihS were 1OuIlQ, however, in
the fact that the amounts involved In the,
instances in which the chain was broken
were invariably just 40 per cent of the pay
eners.
When the inspectors sought information
at the local banks. 1t is stated. they met
with difficulties in that the bank officials
declined TO disclose any Information relating
10 the transactions and the acts of their
respective depositors.
The inspectors thereupon laid the matter
before the United States Attorney for the
District of Columbia, and subpooenas were
issued from the United States Attorneys
office and served on the presidents of sew
eral local banks. The bank officials prompt
ly reported with the desired records.