Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-09


cash payments. and of new note signed
by Lorenz for s2,36S.45, the $4,000 note
was Sattled
The New Note.
'Why was this new note given?" in
quired Attorney Douglass.
I have been under very heavy ex-
pense,'. replied Machen, land / asked Mr..
Lorenz to give me note that 1 could
negotiate, if necessary"
why haven't you negotiated it?' asked
counsel.
Because my brother-in-law advised me
to do so only in Toledo, and I haven't had
the time yet" answered the witness.
You have been busy lately?'
Very"
As an Official.
At the instance of Attorney Douglass
Machen then told at great length of his
work and responsibilities as the head of
the free delivery system of the Post Office
Department. His policy, he explained, was
one of GENERALIZATION. He always sub
mitted his views to his superiors He took
the position of always encouraging never
discouraging, all devices and inventions
that might increase the efficiency Of the
service
When the witness came to Washington
he had from ten to fourteen clerks. There
We're then only 610 free delivery post offices
In the country. The witness established
the practice of making weekly report of
the condition of the approximations When
an allowance was made to a postmaster It
was considered disbursed from the moment
1t was made. Mr.. Wynne changed the prac-
uce from weekly reports to monthly re-
ports.
Machen next told of the enormous growth
of his division. When the department
moved to the new building, September II,
1888, provision was made there for thirty
seven clerks, that number being considered
fhn two laf+ 10 rn
he had 26S clerks under him in the Wash
ington Office. The appropriations for the
free delivery system increased from $40, 600,
In 1896, to S12 100000 in 1903. The entire
time of the witness was occupied with the
administrative affairs of the system. There
were no presidents to follow. All rules and
regulations had 20 be originated after
tests 1t was impossible for the witness to
give personal attention to the details and
routine matters of the office. During the
sessions of Congress, according to Machen,
he had to look after the administrative af-
fairs after Office hours.
Machen told how the postmasters
throughout the country made requisitions
for supplies, and the method Of paying
fer the supplies.
After 1900 the witness had time to ex-
anime cCldy a small proportion of the mail.
Later he looked at only those letters that
hds chief clerk, Miss Liebhardk, considered
especially important. The witness instructed
Miss Liebharlt in 1901 to relieve him of in
itaMng and signing letters and orders ex-
cept those that actually demanded his Per-
sonal attention
I want to refteqate what l have said
many times before added Machen, that
l hold myself responsible for every paper
initi aled for by Miss Liebhardt."
Continuing the witness expressed the be-
lief THAT Miss Liebhardt had initilled with
"a. w. NJ fully 70 per cent of the orders
for Croft fasteners that had been offered in
evidence.
The rule in regard to testing new devices
was to allow inventors to test their devices
at their own expense.
Croft Fasteners.
The witness first heard of the Croft fas-
tener through the receipt of a letter from s.
A. Croft. The postma ster of this city was
authorized by the witness to permit Mr.,
Croft to use two letter boxes in connection
with a test of the fastener. Later the wit
ness was informed by Mr.. Marche that the
Groffs We're anxious that he should exam
inc the fastener. The witness thereupon
went to box opposite the old post Office
department building, on which Croft fas-
tener had been in use a year. 8. A. Croft
was there. The witness remarked to him
that the fastener did not work very well.
That was the first talk he ever had, he
said with Croft. He denied that he said to
Croft that if the fastener did not work bet
ter he would wash his hands of it."
When Mr.. Marche recommended that the
Croft fastener be installed in Washington.
and explained that the Groffs wanted 81
for each complete fastener, the witness
said, so he testified, II won't stand for it.
patent or no patent"
Later Mr.. Marche announced that the
Groffs would supply the fastener for $50
each Machen said he talked the matter
over with Mr.. Jones, the then first assist
ant postmaster general, and it was decided
to first try the fastener here, right under
the eyes of the department officials
IF there had been any purpose of con-
work this thing in improperly, 1t would
have been installed somewhere else. not
here in Washington"
Resumng the stand after the usual mid
day recess Machen pointed out the advan-
tages the Croft fastener possesses over the
old method of attaching letter boxes to
posts by hand. The use of the fastener
made the painting of letter boxes much
simpler than before, for the reason that
boxes could be easily removed to shop to
be painted and substitute slipped on while
the box that had been removed was in the
shop.
lighting the placing of wires under ground
and the consequent removal of poles, ac-
cordng to Machen, conspired to make II
necessary to do away with the bands The
Croft fastener was just what was needed.
Once more and at great length. stress
was laid on the fact that the Croft fastener
in an excellent device. This has been adj
mitted by the government time ana aS am
At the time the fastener was adopted the
witness said he considered the price then
paid for it, 81. 80, reasonable.
Prior to- the instituting of the proceedings
now on according to the witness, he had
seen Diller b. Croft only twice, and then
the meetings were of a casual nature.
Relations With Lorenz.
How long have you known George E.
I.orenz?' inquired Attorney Douglass.
HE has been my intimate friend for
eighteen years." replied Machen. mo man,
outside of my immediate family, has been
associated with me more closely
The witness added that he has known
Mrs. Lorenz as long as he has known her
husband
Continuing his testimony, Machen declar-
ed that the first knowledge he received
that Lorenz was interested in the Croft
fastener was in August, 1895, while he and
Lorenz were on their lake trip" Lorenz
mentioned the matter on that occasion, and
the witness informed him, in substance,
that 1t was useless for anybody to visit the
postmasters throughout the country in the
interest of the fastener, for 1t had been
determined to install the same as rapidly
as the appropriations would permit.
In reply to queries, Machen asserted that
the fact that Lorenz was Interested In the