The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1903-08-14
Washington Letter.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, d. e., Aug. 8, 1908.
Recent Developments in the Post
Office situation have served to con-
vince the postal officials that former |
Superintendent Of Free Delivery Ma
chen has left more then q record Of
dishonesty and corruption as q legacy |
TO those who are now trying to bring
the free delivery service, aud especi-
ally the rural free delivery routes,
within the pale Of busincsslike princi-
pies. A lively campaign Is being in
augurated by those still friendly To
Machen and those who have benefit
ted from his constituencies admins
tration Of his Office, to have the rural
service transferred from the super
vision Of Fourth Assistant Postmas-
ter General Bristow. Mr.. Bristow
has, since he assumed the direction Ut
this branch, insisted that The regula-
tiOns shall be adhered to and he has
further abolished the system whereby
the greatest number Of rural routes
fell to the districts Ut the mist influ.
entail congressman. Ut course, Bris-
tOw's purpose Is good one and will,
in the end, result IN the best service
for the largest number Of persons, but
meanwhile those who have heretofore
dictated affairs are deeply incensed
that their word will be no longer law
to the postal officials. Acting Super
intendent Fosnes has asked for rat
ing of all free delivery carriers, in
speetors and agents and 50 many Of
these are the proteges Of Machen,
they are filed with fear and are using
their Influence with members Of Con-
gress to secure curtallment Of Bris-
lows power and, II possible, his dis
missal from the position he has SO
well tllled.
The record of the free delivery SER
vice for the month Of July completely
bellies the claim that 1t will be Grip
pied by Bristow, the facts being that
during that month there were 2,455
rural routes established as against q
total Of 1904 for the entire fiscal year
ending with June. In this connec-
tiOn 1t is interesting to note that the
condition OF the appropriation makes
II possible to establish 1000 more
routes during the current fiscal year.
just as the public began to imagine
that the Postofiice Investigation was
drawing to close, the Washington
grand jury returned an important
batch Of indictments. These covered
four cases Of swindling, for all Of
which August w. Machen, former
general superintendent of free deliy-
cry, was responsible, and involved be.
sides himself, seven Of his confeder-
ates. The evidence presented to the
grand jury showed that Machen, BY
means OF fraudulent contracts let f0l
carriers bags, registered letter cases
painting mail boxes ETC., had swim
died the government out of not les
than SIT, 1000, probably much more
D Among those Indicted as confederate
: Of Machen were William Gordol
Crawford, manager of the Postal De
vice & Lock Co., Of New York, him
self prominent club man Of Wash
Z lngton, William c. Long, bette
known as "Cllf'' Long, Of Washing
ton but formerly Of Ohio, John 7
Cupper, mayor OF Lockhaven, Penn.
and several others. The evidence Q
y fraud thus far discovered tc hav
been perpetrated by Machen, demon
strates that he has robbed the govern
o ment OF at least 100000, this en-
tirely exclusive Of the defalcations G
: George w. Beavers whose graft"
believed to be equally extensive.
Postmaster General Payne returne
to Washington from his trip up tn
81 New England coast and at first ap
10 peared to have been much benefitte
90 by his rest but less than a week {
warm weather and the anxiety Incl
dent to the investigation has set hi
back again and, for the last two da,
: ae has been unable to spend mol
al then half day each at the Depar,
ii ment. The delicacy Of Mr.. Payne
r. health leads to the belief that he wi
1t be compelled to resign from the Cab
ii net at an early date and already spec
~ ulation as to his successor Is rife.
The Secretary OF War has complete
his investigation OF the Littauer glo,
case, 10 which Representative Litt'
uer of New York Is alleged to ~ha,