The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-09
MACHEN IN MIDDLE
FREE RURAL DELIVERY GENERAL
SUPERINTENDENT OUT.
PAYNE HAS RELIEVED HIM
AND PUT PoSTOFFICE INSPECTOR
FOSNES IN HIS PLACE.

Row in the POstOHRce DEPARTING mt
Takes Another Turn-Bickerings
and JcnIOuSies That Have Charac-
teriEed IL Result i'm Mnchen Get
ting the SaclS-He Says He Courts
the Fullest InVeStieatiOn-He and
Wynne Could Not Get AIOnG-What
Payne Says.
Washington, May S.-The investiga-
ton of the affairs of the Postoffice De-
partment, which has been draggin :
along for two months, took a sensation
al turn late this afternoon. when, by
order of Postmaster General Payne,
August w. Machen, general superin-
tendent of the rural free delivery, and
one of the most widely known govern
ment officials in the United States, was
relieved from his duties. and Postoftice
Inspector NJ. c. Fosnes was designate
to take charge of that service.
The change will take effect to-mor-
row morning, when Mr.. Fosnes will as
sumo charge of the free delivery serv-
ice, and at the same time that service
will pass under the control of the office
of the fourth assistant postmaster gen
eral Heretofore it has been under the
jurisdiction of the first assistant.
The action of Mr.. Payne was taken
upon the written recommendation OF
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow. who is directing the investi-
CATION of the affairs of the department
that the transfer of Mr.. Machen's Blu
reau to his Jurisdiction, and its admin
lstration by postofilce inspector would
expedite the investigation. In order
ing the change recommended, the
Postmaster General gave Mr.. Machen
leave of absence until the investiga-
ton is concluded"
Mr.. Machen promptly acquesced in
the decision of Mr.. Payne, taking occa-
zion to say in doing so that he courted
the fullest investigation of his official
conduct.
Has Been Long Under Fire.
Mr.. Machen has been under fire ever
since the investigation began. Charges
of various kinds have been preferred
against the administration of the free
delivery branch of the postal service.
These included allegations OF collision
with letter box manufacturers in the
furnishing Of boxes to postoffice pa
irons, particularly on rural mail routes,
the furnishing of advance information
regarding the selection of routes and
the appointments of carriers, etc.
There has also been a conflict be-
tween Mr.. Machen and First Assistant
Postma ster General Wynne ever since
the latter assumed office. Mr.. Wynne
charged MIR. Machen with insubordina-
tion
The strained relations between the
head of the free delivery service and
other officials resulted in an embar-
RAISING state of affairs, and for sew
eral months correspondence between
the general superintendent of the free
delivery service and his immediate SUI
perior the first assistant postmaster
general, has been conducted, on the
part Of the former, through one of his
subordiIates.
Mr.. Blistow all along has been of
opinion ,that the best interests of the
service would be served by the relief
of Mr.. Machen, and has pointed out to
the Postmaster General that that ar
ton was imperatively necessary to the
successful conduct of the investiga
ton.
Payne Talks About 1t.
Postmaster General Payne, in dis
GUESSING the matter said his conclusion
to relieve Mr. Machen was reached
yesterday after office hours. Mr.. Bris-
tow, he said. had come to his office,
and they had had a conference, during
which Mr.. Bristow presented his letter
requesting to be put in full control of
the Office as a necessary step to eXpe-
dite the investigation.
Ia daolinad m Xyhafhnr tha
changes made would be permanent,
saying that depended on the results OF
the investigation.
Mr.. MaChen came here from To'edo.
O., in 1898, and qualified as superin-
tendent of the free delivery service on
May of that year. Since then the
office hos grown to immense proper
tons, and the rural free delivery mail
service has been intl oduced and ex
tended to cover all parts OF the coun-
try. Mr. Fosnes is best known in con-
nect.on with his investigation of the
postal frauds in Cuba. On the sensa-
tional dismissal of Estes G. Rathbone,
Mr. Fosnes was appointed director gem
eral of posts of Cuba.
Ex-Representative Loud of Califor-
MIA who was chairman of the House
Committee on Postoffice and Post
Roads, has spent much time during the
past two or three days in conference
with Postmaster General Payne, First
Assistant Postmaster General Wynne,
and Fourth Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Bristow Mr.. Loud and Mr. Machen
have been at odds officially for nsary
two years, and it is believed that the
counsel of Mr.. Loud has figured in to-
days developments.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne left the city to-day for short
vacation.