Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-26
Hints of a Big Scandal Con.
tanned In the Resignation
of Beavers
RURAL DEPARTMENT INVOLVED
Superintendent Maehen and Beaver
Alleged to Have Built up Huge
System of Political Patronase-Fav-
ored Box Companies Were in the
Deal-lnvestisations Made.

Washington, March 26.-It was stated
ment that the resignation of George w.
Beavers, chief of the salaries and al
lowance division, after twenty-thre
years spent in the service, was entirely
voluntary However that may be, SUI
perintendent Beavers resignation is
evidently the beginning Of a shake-up
in the department. An investigation is
now under way which will result either
in the removal Of several officials who
Nave been under fire for some time or
of those who have been most active
in pressing the charges.
1t is we'll known that most unsatis-
factory situation exists in the postotfice
department, and President Roosevelt
has been made acquainted with the
charges against superintendent Beav-
ers, whose resignation takes effect on
the 31st inst, and a. w. Machen, SUI
,perintendent of the free-delivery di
vision, the other official who has been
under fire. The conditions out of which
the present situation grew are the de-
velopment of years and from time to
time charges have been made that
things We're not as they should be in
the bureaus Of Machen and Beav-
erS.
The salary and allowance and the free
delivery divisions are two of the most
important in the postoffice department.
The superintendent of the first named
branch has practically full control over
the allowances for all postofiices, the
to any town and the disbursement of
over S40,0o0,000 year.
Superintendent Machen has absolute
Jurisdiction over rural free delivery.
and his establishment of routes the
extension of service, and all matters
pertaining to this branch.
It is alleged that Superintendent
Beavers and Machen have built up a
system of political patronage which has
given them independent power and
which enables them to conduct the bus
mess OF their bureau in their own way
and practically without regard for
the desires of their immediate superior
officer, first assistant postmaster gen.
eral. 1t is charged that they transact
business and arrange matters directly
with congressman, instead OF acting
thru their superior officers, and that
this is done to their own advantage and
gain. political and otherwise. to the
destruction OF discipline and to the
detriment of the postal service.
Some years ago during the earlier de-
veloprnent of the rural free-delivery
service, charges were made against Mr..
Machen In connection with the sale of a
mail box to rural residents along the
lines of the routes. it being alleged
We're tipped off" In advance whenever
a new route was to be established, thus
enabling them to get on the ground a.
head of any other concern and practi-
cally destroying competition.
The charges against Mr.. Beavers
have been similar in that they allege
that he used the power and influence
of his position for his own benefit.
These two officials have been charged
with being the head centers of a ring
that has run the department with a.
high hand
From time to time during the past
four or five years. Investigations were
made and the charges declared to be
But since the admin
of First Assistant Postmaster
General Wynne began the situation in
regard to the alleged scandals in the
salary and allowance and rural free
delivery divisions has become acute, |
due in large measure to new develop
lnents during the last session of Con-
gress. The report of the Postmaster
General last fall asked that the salaries
Of the four Assistant Postmaster Gem
erals be increased from $4,000 to $4,000
= year, but no increase was asked for
Superintendent Beavers and Machen.
The House postoffice committee, how