The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-04-17
WOMAN SHORN OF
Her GREAT POWER
Ina LIebhardt, Chief Clerk o.
Division, Controlled Co.,
600 Employees.
MORE POSTAL SCANDAL
She Made Promotions at Will, WASH.
Respectful to Senators and Con-
sressmen, and Was Really
the Whole Thing.

Washington, April 16.-The order is.
sued by Acting Postmaster General
Wynne late yesterday afternoon pro-
hlolting the further signing to letters,
orders, etc. of the names of officials by
ssubordinates, it now develops, was di-
rected against young woman in the
free delivery division
Miss Ina iebhart is credited with
virtually directing the affairs of the
great division as she sees fit. She is
said to have hitherto affixed the sigma
ture OF a. w. Machen, superintendent
OF the free delivery division, to all kinds
of papers, letters and documents The
higher officials have fodnd it impossi-
bic to detect the difference between "A
w. Machem" as written by himself and
as signed by Miss Liebhardt.
Miss Ltebhardt occupies the position
of chief clerk in the division of free
delivery. She is said to have developed
her power and authority until it has
assumed the most remarkable magni-
tude. No official in the government
service has jurisdiction over so many
employees or exercises power SO COM
pletely without let or hindrance as does
! this chief clerk
Machen Defends Her.
Superintendent Machen frankly de-
clares that he assumes full responsible
ity for all Miss Liebhardt does. He
says the affixing of his signature Is done
under his instructions. He has no fault
| to find with her administration of af-
fairs. He will protect her to the limit
Of his power.
When the question of legality in con-
| nection with the signatures made by
Miss Leibhardt was brought, an opin-
| ion was required from the assistant at
torney general This has not yet been
received. In the meantime, as matter
n o6 in ict trafi iyQ
termined to limit this authority as far
| as it could be done by an order.
There are 19,402 carriers under the
free delivery decision At the close of
the last fiscal year there were 1856
carriers in the rural free delivery SER
vice. This number will be increased to
|, $1,000 by July l. With the force Of
substitutes and clerks in the service
under Mr.. Machens jurisdiction the
number Of employees under one wom-
ans charge easily aggregates $4,000.
This division will expend nearly $40,-
100000 during the next fiscal year.
Such power has never before been
placed in one Woman's hands in the en-
tire history of governmental manage
ment.
Complain Of Woman Official.
| 1t is alleged that the recommenda
tions of Miss Leibhardt for the promo
tion of employees are often made to the
| detriment of them, having better
claim to preferment, but she insists on
| her Endorsements being accepted with
out question. 1t is asserted that the
long possession Of great authority has
caused Miss Leibhardt to be disre-
| spectful to senators and representa-
tives who call on official business, and
many of them have decided to keep
out Of the free delivery division They
! go elsewhere to make their complaints
and transact such business as is to the
| interest of their constituents
The higher officials have received
numerous requests that some arrange
ment be made so that their business
can be transacted without coming in
| contact with woman official Nothing
| has been accomplished in this direction
| Miss Leibhardt entered the postoff1ce
| department as stenographer during
the administration of President Har-
rison, when her father, D. P. Leibhardt,
| was made superintendent of the dead
| letter office. The father received $2,5OO
| a year and the daughter began with
| $500. There was a general outcry
| against the rapid promotion of Mis-
Leibhardt, but she was advanced at
various times until her salary now Is
| $1,800 year.
| When President Mckinley assumed
office D. P. Leibhardt was given his
| old place as superintendent of the dead
| letter office. There was so much COM
ment about the father and daughter,
both being in the bureau, that Miss
Leibhardt was finally transferred to
the free delivery service, and subse-
quently promoted to be chief clerk by