The Washington times., 1903-05-09
Superintendent of Free Del2b-
cry Removed at Request OF
SIR. Srstoav Until Inquiry
Ends His Return Decid-
edly improbable.
His DfDision Likely TO Be
oAsSigned Permanently to
Fourth Assistant S Office.
Inspector Fosnes NoD in
Charge.
Weight of HIS Political Back
ing VIII S(ow Be Tested.
HIS Loyal Friends Versas
HIS Personal Enemies.
James DoDer Renobed.

In fuIfllment of the disclosures made s
in The Times last December the POST
master General has relieved A. W. Ma
chen. general superintendent of free de-
livery, from the duties of that office.
This action was taken yesterday after
noon and was certified to Mr. Machen
in the form of letter from he Post
master General. Mr. Machen acknowI-
edged this communication Immediately
and stated that he courted the fullest
investigation of his office and was con-
fdent of complete vindication. Not
withstanding this attitude it is accepted
among those best informed as to the de-
tails of this investigation that Mr..
Machen cannot be reinstated-
Postmaster General Payne based this
latest step in the investigation of his
department on a request from ]. L.
Bristcw, Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General. and the latter accredited his
desire that Mr.. Machen be temporarily
suspended to a belief that the inquiry
might be conducted Sin a more expe-
ditious and satisfactory manner If Mr.
Machen did not remain in active con-
troll of his office and clerical force.
NJ c. Fosnes. the postoffice inspector
who assisted Mr.. Bristow in rayeIing
thes CUBAN postal scandal has BEEN ap-
pointed acting head of the rural free
delivery system pending the conclusion
OF this investigation OF Mr. Nachen. On
this point it seems to be the general
opinion in the Postoffice Department that
the division of free delivery will remain
permanently under the authority of the
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General.
Two Important Consequences.
Concerning the belief that Mr. Machen
is not to be restored TO Office various
officials Of the Postoffice Department
whose names cannot be used Tor obvious
reasons-assert that Mr.. Bristow has al
ready developed sufficient information to
make Mr.. Machen's removal matter
Of imperative necessity. 1t is said that
this information has been obtained from
the regular and routine record of his
office. Il is said further, that it is so con-
elusive as to impress even he most
biased of Mr.. Machen's friends But it is
also said. and this point is of the utmost
>
recent request. that II these records had
the superintendent. the case against him
must have failed, as the inspectors have
examined no other records.
The belief that the division of free
delivery will hereafter be under the di-
rection of the Fourth Assistant Post
master General prevails generally
among these same officials In support
of it they indicate that it is the largest
bureau in the department; that IL has
grown until II involves the First As
sistant Postmaster General in more de-
tail than one man can reasonably hope
TO handle; that the First Assistant was
already laden with a full share of de-
tails. and that the Fourth Assistants
office is most available for this addi-
tion to its labors.
1t is known that since the organiza-
ticn Of the first county rural delivery
service Mr.. Machen has aimed at the
creation of new bureau correspond
ing to those OF the Assistant Postmas-
ters General. which should deal excIu-
sively with the delivery of mail and of
which he should be the head. But this
movement is now regarded as dead.
However fully he may be vindicated, the
officials of the department seem to think
il impossible that he should now be
made an Assistant Postmaster General
Broad hints were dropped this morn
ing that President Roosevelt has had q
hand in the suspension of Mr.. Machen.
and that other prominent officials OF the
department who have continued the even
tenor of their ways and remained in
full possession of their private and Of
fetal papers when inspectors were sup
posed to be searching the innost re-
cesses of the department archives are
now due to take a long rest. In this
connection the name most persistentlv
mentioned was that OF Michael w. Louis,
superintendent of the division OF post
Office supplies.
The Notice to Machen.
The letters in the Machen case fol-
low:
Office of Fourth Assistant Postmaster,
Washington, May Z, 1903.
Hon. H. G. PAYNE, Postmaster General.
General
Sir: In order to complete the depart
mental investigation now in progress in
a more expeditions and satisfactory