The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-22
DEFICIT IN P. 0. DEPARTMENT.
S1af,6OO ~ THE RURAL FREE
DELIVERY SERVICE.
Over aIOS 600 in Washington City Den'erS
Service - Post mast er.Generai Payne
AstOnIslJeti--Supt. Machen May nave
to Resign or He Suniniarily dismissed

10 Resign or he Summary dismissed
WASHINGTON, May 2l.-The unexpected
discovery to-day OF a large deficiency IN
the free delivery service of the Post onice
Department caused Postmaster-('eneral
Payne to utter his first public criticism
Of Supt. Machen OF the free delivery d.
vision, who was suspended some ume
ago pending an investigation into lhe
affairs Of his Office.
While there has never been single year
since the organization Of the rural free
delivery service that the expenditures
have not exceeded tho receipts, the dis
covery OF the present large deficit just
at this time. when affairs in the Post once
Depart ment are in such a chaotic condi-
ton, has attracted more attention than
it otherwise would have done, and caused
Mr.. Payne TO change his attitude toward
Supt. Maohen
The deficit in question amounts 10 $221,-
487. made up OF a deficit Of si2l,ooo in the
rural free delivery, and another of over
3lOs,oO0 in the city delivery service.
Some weeks ago the Postmaster General
called on First Assistant Postmaster-Gcn-
eral Wynne for statement Of the financial
condition Of the rural service. Mr.. Wynne
in reply sent Mr.. Payne copy of the report
made TO him on May by Supt. Machen,
showing deficiency Of only $4,000 for
the rural free delivery and surplus for
the city delivery.
The fact that the rural service was he
hindhand this small amount did not alarm
Mr. Payne, but as he is particularly anxious
just at this time that the Department
shall show clean record at the end of the
fiscal year he gave instructions that the
amount of the deficiency must not be in
creased, but, on the contrary, that retrench-
ments be made which would wipe out the
$50, COO and render il unnecessary for Con-
gress to make a deficiency appropriation
for the rural service at the next session.
He was therefore greatly astonished
when it was reported to him that the deficit
in that branch Of the postal service would
reach 1927 ,487.
The Postmaster General called attention
to-day to the fact, that although the appro-
priation for the rural free delivery service
FOR the present fiscal year was over 81 500
900 an additional $500, 700. to be imme-
diately available, had been secured from
Congress at the last session to enable the
extension Of the service to be carried on
without interruption.
This made the present deficiency n Sc
rio,Is matter and showed either, an abso-
lutte disregard OF such thing as deficit,
or else a sublime confidence in the Rener-
Gus dis position of the Legislative body
toward the rural free delivery service.
He said the fact that there would be large
deficiency had not been reported TO him
by Mr.. Machen and that the first he had
heard of it was through the report Of Fourth
Assistant Postmast er-General Bristow. the
new head of the service.
Even the most loyal and optimistic Of
MIR. Machen's friends nov admit that he
he sn't the ghost of show Of ever return
ing to the Post Office Department ats,
the head of the rural free delivery service
or in any other capacity. As en- official
remarked to-day; He's dead duck, If
there ever was one. and it's only question
now of whether he will be permitted to re-
sign or be summerily dismissed
According to the Post master General,
Mr.. Machen will Ras res3gp Ibis is also,
what Mr. Aia0henr ~ Sna er Cob.
eral Payne said:
Il am not looking for Supt Machen's
resignation and / don't expect it. He
has said on a number Of occasions that he
will not retire from the Department of his
own free will. and if the present investi ga
lion into his conduct OF Affairs results in
the discovery OF any criminality or irregu-
larities, Mr.. Machen must take his medicine,
There will be no attempt TO shield any
one, nor TO avert the natural consequence
of wrong doing. The innocent will have
fair show. and the guilty will he punished
to tho limit of the law