Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-09
Payne Gives General Superin-
tendent Free Delivery Sys-
TEN His Walking Papers
MACHEN HAS CONFIDENCE
He Says He Can Rebuff all Allegations
Made Against Him-Action Taken
on Recommendation of Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General Bristow
Who is Conducting the Investigation.

Washington, May 9.-The investiga-
ton of the affairs of the postoffice de-
partment, which has been dragging
along for two months, took sensational
turn Friday afternoon, when by order
of Postmaster General Payne, August
w. Machen, general superintendent OF
the most widely known government Of
ticials in the United States was re-
lieved from his duties and Pos toffice
Inspector NJ. G. Fosnes was designated
to take charge of that service. The
change took effect today, when Mr..
Fosnes will assume charge of the free
delivery service, and at the same time
that service will pass under the control
of the office of the fourth assistant
postmaster general. Heretofore it has
been under the Jurisdiction of the first
assistant. The action of the postmaster
general was taken on the written rec
ommendation of Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow who is di
recting the investigation of the affairs
of the department, that the transfer of
Mr. Machen's bureau to his jurisdiction
and its administration by a postoffice
inspector would expedite the investiga-
ton.
Before a large number of newspaper
men, Postmaster General Payne an
nounced his decision and read the COR
respondence between himself and Mr..
Machen, together with the recommen-
dations of Mr.. Bristow.
Postmaster General Payne, in dis
cussing the matter, said his conclusions
to relieve Mr.. Machen was reached
after Office hours. Mr.. Bris-
tow, he said, had come to his office and
they had conference, during which
Mr.. Bristow presented his letter, re-
auesting to be put in full charge of the
office in order to expedite the investi-
CATION. He declined to say whether the
changes made would be permanent,
saying that that depended on the re-
suits of the investigation.
Mr.. Machen came here from Toledo,
Ohio, in 1898, and qualified as superin-
tendent of the free delivery service on
May 6 of that year. Since then the
office has grown to immense proper
tons and the rural free delivery mail
service has been introduced and eX-
tended to cover all parts of the coun-
try.
Mr.. Fosnes is one Of the best known
inspectors in the service. He is chief
assistant of Mr.. Bristow in the invesu-
cation. He is native of Norway,
where he was born in 1851, and his
home Is Des Moines, Iowa. He was
once special examiner of the pension
bureau, and subsequently served as
postofiice inspector at Philadelphia,
Helena, Mont, and st. Paul.
He is still postotfice inspector in charge
Of the ST. Paul division. He is best
known in connection with his investi-
cation of the postal frauds in Cuba. On
the sensational dismissal of Estes G.
Rathbone, Mr.. Fosnes was appointed
director general of posts of Cuba, as
suming that Office on June @, 1900, and
holding it until May 90, 1902, when the
United States sovereignty on the island
ceased.
x-Representative Loud of Califor-
MA, who was chairman of the house
committee on postoffices and post roads,
has spent much time during the past
NO or three days in conference with
Postmaster General Payne, First As
sistant Postmaster General Wynn and
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
3ristow. Mr. Loud and Mr.. Machen
lave been at odds officially for nearly |
swo years and it is believed that the
of Mr.. Loud has figured in to-
lays developments.
Mr.. Machen had a conference with
he postmaster general today and inn
nediately after their talk, as had been
arranged, Mr.. Payne sent his letter to
dachen. Mr. Machen tonight was, not
Inclined to talk but expressed con-
idence that he could rebut all allega
iprs made against him