Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-21
RURAL FREE DELIVERY
Large Deficiency in the Bu-'
reau Discovered.
Mr.. PAYNE'S CRITICISM
THINKS MR.. MACHEN GUILTY OF
BAD ADMINISTRATION.
The Letter of the Postmaster General to-
Mr.. Bristow to Investigate
the Situation.
Mr.. PAYNE'S CRITICISM

Postmaster General Payne today uttered
his first direct public criticism of the adj
mnistration of Superintendent Machen.
, The cause of the criticism is the enormous
deficiency which has just been brought to
light by Fourth Assistant Bristow. This
deficiency amounts to S121 GOO in the rural
free delivery bureau at the present mo-
ment, and should the pace in establishing
new routes have been kept up as 1t had
been going under Mr.. Machen. this de-
ficiency would undoubtedly have been
many times larger.
Il regard that as very bad administra-
tion," declared Mr.. Payne, as he detailed
the discoveries that had just been laid be-
fore him by Mr.. Bristow. Il was not alto
gether pleased to find that the deficiency
appropriation of s5O0,OO0 made by Congress
last winter had been entirely used up and
that the bureau had gone right on making
this deficiency"
Ground for Machen's Retirement.
With this one charge of bad administra-
ton made against Mr.. Machen, those who
have been confidently predicting his perma-
nent retirement from the service now
claim to see the public ground on which
that retirement will be based. Mr.. Machen
reported to Mr.. Payne just before he was
given his leave of absence that there was
a deficiency in his bureau, but the Post
master General declares he is surprised to-
find that deficiency so great.
The matter of deficiencies was called at
tention to about two weeks ago by First
Assistant Wynne. who reported to the POST
master General that deficiencies in the rural
free delivery service and in the free deliv-
cry service amounting to something like
900 had been called 10 his attention. Mr..
Payne Immediately took the matter up and
addressed letter to Mr.. Bristow asking
him to ascertain and report exhaustively
on the subject of deficiencies. The reply of
Mr.. Bristow, who reports that besides the
enormous deficiency in the rural free deliv-
cry service there is deficit of over $1O5 G0
already created in the free delivery service,
has brought CONSERVATION to the post Office
administration.
Mr.. Payne announces that while the total
deficit in both delivery services amounts to
$22l, ,461, he does not feel that 1t would be
good administration to cripple either serv-
ice, and that the routes established will be
maintained and Congress appealed to for
another deficiency appropriation to make
up the difference.
I'VE will have to take our chances with
Congress,a, was his remark. as he announc-
ed that there was no use in trying to make
up the large amount by economy.
Special Appropriation.
When the department. was entirely with
out funds to establish any additional rural
free delivery routes last winter, Mr.. Payne
said today Mr. Machen went before
the congressional committees and informed
them that the further extension of the
service would be impossible unless funds
were appropriated and made immediate tely
available. The entire amount of the regu-
lar appropriation he told them had been
expended. If it was the desire that the
service should be extended in the future
as. rapidly as it had been in the past, IL
was imperative that additional money be
made Immediately available. Congress
made an appropriation of 100000, said Mr..
Payne, which was the amount asked for
by Mr.. Machen. without delay.
1t is this appropriation which has been
expended since that time, and a deficiency
create OF the amount ated and II is this
sort of administration that Mr. Payne con-
demns this morning.
Letter to Bristow.
Mr.. Payne gave permission for the re-
production of his letter to Mr. Bristow
asking for information regarding the
finances of the rural free delivery and free
delivery services. 1t is under date of May
o. and reads as follows:
ION the 7th instant General Wynne ad-
vised me of the probabilities of a deficit OF
$4,000 in the rural free delivery accounts.
and that If the activity of the bureau is
kept up in the work Of preparing to install
additional rural free delivery routes until
July 1 this deficit would be largely in
creased. = e..
deficit. Congress at Its last session made
an additional appropriation of $JO0000 for
the rural free delivery service making the
appropriation Immediately available and We
should so conduct the business of the ONCE
as not to exceed this appropriation.
II have therefore to request that you will
investigate the situation promptly and cur.
tail the expenditures so that II II is pos
sible we will not have deficit at the end
of the fiscal year. In accomplishing this,
however. it is advisable that great care
should be taken not to suspend the actual
investigation of proposed rural free de-
livery routes more than is absolutely nee
essary should think ii entirely practical
to bring about economies in other branches
of the bureau which would accomplish the
- II. c. PAYNE.
Postmaster General
An Interview Denied.
A dispatch from Milwaukee, Wis. last
secretary OF FIRST Assistant Wynne on tho
subject of the probable resignation of Post
master General Payne before the expira-
ton Of his term. as follows:
..They will never be able to involve Mr..
Payne in the scandals he is now probing
but would not be surprised IL he got
tired of 1t all and resigned hts post.
'Mr Payne will not be forced out.
though, but the strain Is telling on his
health He walks about the corridors bent
and stopped and his health is being under
mined / do not know what will be the
end of the matter. Several heads of de- =
partments have resigned and do not know
who will be next. or where the matter Will
end" ---~- ~
First Assistant Wynne received dis
patch this afternoon from his son, Henry
b. Wynne dated Fox Lake. Wis. saying
that the statements attributed to him.
printed in the newspapers this morning.
concerning the Postmaster General were
entirely false. -
The Gallatin Route.
There were no developments today In the
matter Of the Gallatin, Tenn. rural free de-
livery route. The resignation of the COLI
ored carrier Allgood has not yet been ac-
cepted by Mr.. Payne, as he is waiting to
hear from the civil service commission re-
garding the alleged irregularity in the ap-
pointment of Allgood This irregulartty -
declared by Mr.. Payne to have probably
been a simple clerical error In estimating
the general average Of Allgood, which