The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-05-06

waxed wroth tonight on learning
that Postmaster General Payne had
defended Mr. Machen, superintend-
ent of free delivery.
He intimaled strongly that Mr..
Machen's discharge had besn order
ed before his departure and that
unless that was an accomplished
tfacs before his return, there would
-bs trouble and the postmaster-gen-
eral might be asked to resign.
Washington, April 29.-Those Of
6cials who are thoroughly informed
of the conditions of affairs in the
postotfiee department see the be-
ginning very soon of the investiga-
tion of The bureau chiefs.
1t is said that Postmaster Gener-
al Payne today received this terse
MESSAGE,
You are the postmaster-geheral.
I hold you responsible.
(Signed) ROOSEVELT"
The only self-posseesed and con-
6dens man in the building on Penn
sylvania avenue is First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne. To-
day he is quoted as saying:
have recommended the imme-
diate dismissal from the govern
ment service of A. w. Machen, SUI
perintendent of free delivery, and
in this action [ have the support
and countenance of Mr.. Bristow,
the fourth assistant postnaster-gen-
eral, who has been delegated to
make the official Investigations.
In my opinion nothing will be
done until the return to Washing
ton of President Roosevelt on June
9th, when not only Machen, but q
dozen other bureau chiefs will be
Isummarily dismissed or relegated
to the oblivion of retirement.
New York, April 29.-Stung. to
defiance by the inference that a
truthful answer to question asked
him as a witness would tend to in
criminate, President Baer of the
Reading Company and head of the
coal trust, sprapg to his feet today
while under examination in the
hearing of the complaint of Will
liam Randolph Hearst before the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
and in a burst of temper poured
forth a flood of the vituperation
that has made him feared by every
man in his employ and by every
independent operator he has ever
crushed beneath the weight of the
trust fabric he has reared.
Those who knew President Baer
of the Reading Company, the Phil
ado lphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company, the Philadelphia
Railway Company, the Central
Railroad of New Jersey and more
minor companies than he can re-
member, know that he is irascible
and intolerant of opposition. When
confronted coldly and fearIeesly to-
day by lawyer that had nothing
to gain from him and nothing to
fear, President Baer's restraint on
his temper gave way completely.
Striding back and forth on the
dais upon which the witness chair
is placed, he swung his long arms
in whirling gesticulations and,
shouting his words in voice hoarse
with rage, denounced Lawyer Cla-
ence J. Shearn. It was spectacle
that the commission, grave and
serious body, had rarely been called
on to witness. It was the outpour-
ing Of the feeling of one holding
power .by divine right" and Bit
terly resenting the temerity of any
one not member of the trust at
tempting to beard its master.
It was not surprising that Mr..
Baer lost his temper, for Mr.. Shearn,
coldly and unfeelingly, as surgeon
twists and turns probe, sought af-
ter the secrets of the coal trust and
found them. Bit by bit. he. forced
admissions from Mr.. Baer that add