The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-12
Free Delivery Superintend-
ent and His Ring Be-
come More Arrogant in
Their FIagrant Disregard
of Law and Precedent.
Action of Principals in Caus-
ing Salaries TO Be Raised
Without Recommendation
Savors OF INSTRUMENTATION.

Savors Of INSTRUMENTATION.
That August ". Machen. gupeFintend-
/ ent Of the free delivery division of the
| Postoffce Department, and the fellow
members OF the ring that has for years
been dispensing millions Of public mon
/ ey in sbvh manner as TO provoke re-
/ Deated attacks upon them, and thst has
required the power OF the greatest po-
! IitieaI forces in the country to prevent
public Investigation and resulting scan
/ dal, have not hesitated to disregard Ia4s
/ and executive orders becomes mere ap-
/ parent each day That they consider
/ themselves a law unto themselves seems
| obvious from an Investigation OF many
of their acts within the Last decade.
In that time they have repeatedly
made It apparent that they considered
I themselves without the vale Of the Or
dinarX Government employe. and have
disTegarded the spirit as veil as the
letter OF the law. and when. in their
opinion. the good Of the service re-
quired it."
FIagrant Disregard of Law,
Mr. Maehen's determination TO obtain
the contract for supplying coal to the
department v-he7 he shall have con-
fpleted the delivery ef the 500 tons which
we're contracted for without Eofne
through the customary and lawful form
Of inviting proposals. therefor. IS but
an example of this disregard of law and
precedent.
The opinion OF Atscney General KneE
as TO the application OF sections ~,
+ 17s1. 1Ts2. and 1883 II the Revised stat
utes of the United States to this case
is awaited with the deepest interest not
only by the public at large and the off,
cials of the Postof1ee Department. but
BY the Post master General as we'll. A
number Of other postofiee officials are
interested for the reason that If the
laws do not apply the positions which
they row occupy there viii bring them
many times the income which they are
now enjoying.
Only Await Opinion
Several, who have refrained from par
ticipating in such transactions heretofore
for the reason that they believed that
1t was contrary TO law, are prepared 10
accept partnerships il various concerns
doing business with the department, or
aspiring to contracts with the Govern
ment, if, in the opinion of the Attorney
General. it is lawful for them to do so.
If such transactions are legitimate, they
say, in refusing past opportunities they
have been unjust TO their families in
having thrown away thousands OF dol
lars that their connection with the de-
partment would have been worth to
them.
There is hardly a prominent official OF
the department that does not directly or
indirectly take some part frcm time 10
time in the awarding of CONTRACTS, and
it would be but human for a reciprocal
arrangement to help swell the income
Of each official, even though he was not
directly identified with the committee. or
officials, making the award. Il would not
even be necessary for him 70 solicit
recognition for his firm, as the mere fact
that he was interested iH one OF the
competing firms would suffice It would
be but a matter Of time when he would
have the opportunity Hto reciprocate for
the favor shown him by his brother Off
Gals
Act of Insubordination.
Not content with these practices. how
ever. August ". Maohen, superintendent
of the free delivery division, and George
W Beavers, occupying a similar posi-
tion in the division OF salaries and al
lowances. have placed themselves, or
have allowed themselves TO be placed.
n a position of Decentralization in hav-
ing secured the insertion in the current
appropriation bill without a recomzlen-
dation for the same on the part OF their
immediate superiors in rho department.
cf an item providing an increase IN Their
salaries from SO. 500 o $4,000 each.
There is no record of such recon-
nendation ever having been Easds
through the Office OF the First Assistant
Postmaster General their immediate sg-
perior. or OF it having been brought 70
the attention OF the Postmaster General
himself.
#, in the goodness of their hearts.
the members of the Appropriations Com
mittee have, without the suspicion OF q
suggestion from those who viii be at
fectsd. inserted this increase of their
own Tree VIII The Times VIII gladly
make amends Tor an erroneous report
and place each gentleman concerned ia
a correct light before the public.
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