Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-05
OMAHA GETS HEADQUARTERS
Rural Free Delivery Division to Be Moved
the First Of July.
CLERKS TO Be BROUGHT FROM DENVER
Des Moines Makes an Effort 20 Secure
it, but Previous Promise is
Kept by Postmaster
General.
ZION a staft correspondent.l

| livery will be located at Omaha by rea.
Son Of an official order made today by
Postmaster General Payne. Ever since the
| creation of the division of the rural free
delivery Nebraska representatives IN con-
gress have urged the establishment Of di.
vision headquarters in Omaha. I'm.
fortunately, however the rural free de.
livery service did not have money enough
to make any change in headquarters 10.
cation until the beginning of the fiscal
year. Congress last winter gave a very
large sum for rural free delivery service
and in conformation with an act of con-
gress and the desire on the part of the
postmaster general to equally distribute
the money throughout the several sections
1t was decided to change the headquarters
of the western division of the rural free
delivery service from Denver to Omaha,
thereby centralizing the headquarters In
the territory included within the western
division.
For a time II looked as II Des Moines
might be designated as headquarters of the
western division, but the Nebraska sem
ators, having had a pledge from the post
master general that when they came to
remove the headquarters from Denver he
would place 1t in Omaha, they held him
to his pledge. Senator Millard, who was
in Washington recently, made It point
to emphasize his understanding of the sit
uation with the postmaster general as to
western division headquarters. Mr.. Payne
at that time told the senator that former
assurances would be carried out and the
order Of today making Omaha head
quarters of tho western division of the
rural free delivery is the result. 1t is un-
derstood the force now in Denver will be
removed to Omaha so that active work
may be commenced shortly after July l.
Routine of Departments.
These rural carriers were appointed to-
day: Nebraska-Pawnee City, regular,
George w. Tracy, Hubert M. Eckman;
substitutes, Wesley Champion, James N
Eckman. Red Cloud, regular. w. A.
Brown; substitute, Alpheus w. Brown.
Rising City, regular, Solomon B. Smith;
substitute William H. Smith. Iowa
Battle Creek. regular Harry o. Metcalf;
substitute Albert Squires. Monticello,
regular, Edgar @. Brazelton; substitute
Rose e. Brazelton. Roland, regular, Ed
ward B. Ericsson; substitute, H. NJ Peter
son. Yale, regular, Clayton Miller; sub
stitute, E. D. Miller. South Dakota-Lake
Preston, regular Lewis Ludvickson; sub
stitute, Emma Ludvickson. wyoming
Sheridan. regular, John s. Addlemon; sub
stitute. w. L. Townsend.
Postmasters appointed: Iowa, Alice r.
McGoyern jackson Junction, Winnisheik
county. wyoming-George w. Brandon,
Dover, Albany county; Lefty M. Ruble
Kane, Big Horn county.
The increases in salaries of presidential
postmasters were announced today; Ne
braska-University Place $500; Creighton,
500; Wyomlng-Encampme $2Oo
Machen Case Presented.
The case of August w. Machen, late
uperintendent Of free delivery service of
the Postofice department, who is charged
with having received bribes to the amount
of $4,000 in contracts, was presented to
the federal grand jury today.
District Attorney Taggart represented the
government The first witness was Andrew
NJ McBath chief of division in the office
OF the auditor for the postoffice, who was
under examination for several hours.
Inspector Mayer, who worked up the case
against Machen, followed Mr.. McBath. An
other witness who was present to give
testimony was Mr.. Eckloff, cashier OF the
Second National bank of this city. The
secrecy with which the names Of the wit
nesses has been surrounded is still main
tAined.
The witnesses from out of town who were
present. acting under Instructions when
approached declined to state who they were
or where they were from, nor would any
Of the court house officials or employees dis
close their identity.
AS a further safeguard, all the witnesses
| were assembled I'm the district attorney g
once instead Of the room usually set apart
for that purpose Adjourned until tomor-
row.
May BE No Preliminary.
II was stated at the Postofice depart
ment today that II the grand jury should
tomorrow report an indictment against
Mr. Machen the preliminary hearing
scheduled for Saturday will not be held.
His trial iii that event will take place in
the term beginning next october.
Postmaster General Payne said that
there was no foundation for rumors in cir
culation that investigation of affairs at the
| department had disclosed large percent
age of routes. particularly in the south,
where the receipts fall far below expenses
and where carriers do not perform the
amount of service for which they are paid.
He said that question has not been taken
up.
A rearrangement of the divisions of the
rural free delivery service, however, is one
! OF the possible results of the investigation
and the washington division Of special
agents which comprises what might be
| called flying squadron Of inspectors,
who, while reporting direct to the depart
ment. investigate cases in any OF the other
divisions may be eliminated and these
agents transferred to other work.
The postmaster general was asked today
regarding the contracts for the time clocks,
| the circumstances surrounding which have
been given considerable publicity in con-
nection with the investigation. Mr.. Payne
| was asked II there was any idea OF doing
| away with these clocks and OF substituting
time clerks for them. He replied that the
government had bought 50 many OF them
outright that there were enough to last
'for some time 10 come"
Millions Are Starving.
Secretary Hay has received a cable from
| Consul McWade at Canton which says:
| Governor Wong telegraphs me that over
900 900 natives in Kwang are starving and
earnestly appealing for help from American
charity. All relief distribution through the
hands of American and British mission
| aries"
| Assignment of Omeers.
provisional assignment OF officers of
the general stan to department headqua4-
\ ters 20 take effect August rs next, has
| been announced at the War department as