The Washington times., 1904-01-16

master General Mr.. johnson admitted
many Of his letters We're SO starapea
put said II was his rule to sign the let
ters with his autograph.
The witness said ne never allowed the
stamp OF any order involving money.
He said it was very unusual to have
even standard supplies for which there
was already a contract ordered oyer a
stamped signature. He remembered
only a few instances. one OF which was
the order so signed. shown him. yester-
day Mr.. Douglass insisted that the or
dering Of standard supplies was routine
OF distrloution, and AR. Johnson agreed
that might be so. Witness admitted il
was not Machen's duty 10 investigate
each order for standard supplies. but
said It was the duty OF the supersntend-
enr or free delivery to see that she ar
icles We're really necessary. Unless he
had reason 10 believe there should be q
change in fasteners. there was no rea-
son for him 70 investigate the price OF
each lot asked for
Subject TO Scrutiny.
The quantity of fasteners necessary
was determined by the postmasters ana
route agents. but Mr.. johnson insisted
that those acquisitions were subject TO
intendent OF free delivery.
Rural free delivery grew rapidIv dur-
ing his service. said Mr. johnson, and
Machen gave it much OF his time. When
he went into Office there were LOO rural
free routes. AT the end OF six months
there We're 1,20e more, and at the end.
of June. 1901. there were 4,3OO, with the
intention of doubling that number be-
fore July I. 1902.
Mr.. Johnson did not remember II
Machen spent his nights in working on
rural free routes. but knew he gave
the subject much attention. Machen
was an expert and very efficient. He
discussed the subject with him almost
daily.
That Initiated Signature.
Mr.. Johnson knew Ina Liebhe-dt. Ma
chen's woman chief clerk. and thought
her very capable. He did not know Miss
Liebhardt had initiated Aiachea's sigma
ture- He thought the initials were those
of Machen. and if there had been an
imitation of signature II was without
his consent.
Even il the matter was OF the aerest
routine he would not have approved
of the practice of the woman in sign-
ing the mail in imitation Of the supeF-
signature.
If he gave consent TO some one elss
signing his mail. 1 would hold him ss
responsible as If he had signed it, said
Mr.. Johnson
Superior Responsible.
Mr. Johnson would not admit tha4
the initials of a subordinate in the cor
ner of a letter would prove the subor-
dinate originated the letter He said
some superior might have given oral
instructions about the writing OF tho
letter. and so have been responsible for
its contents. Clerks az 81, 100 might tabu-
late the requisitionS. but some ona
higher would pass on the requisitio4A
Machen had no right 20 rely upon ths
mere initials of a subordinate in the
corner, as the First Assistant had 70
rely upon Machens signature
You relied upon your chief clerks
said Mr.. Douglass.
"Machen was responsible to me and
my chief clerk 10 myself. said Ar.
Johnson. which caused a smile
Il gave no authority for anyone %
sign n chiefs name. and did not think
anyone would put name en- paper
to deceive me-"
Mr.. Douglass asked if Mr.. Johnson
TO insinuate that Miss LeD-
hardt had stealthily attached Machea's