Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-14
THE POSTAL HEARING.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Wynne on the Stand.


py CHARLES a. Douglass, counsel for
'iie oeIehce during which the opposing
attorneys had several tits. necessi-
.atihs word of admonition from JUS
ice Prltchard that they must conduct
the case in peace.
me nfst assistant postmaster gen.
erai vas piled with questions designed
10 test his knowledge of the duties of
MS Office. The witness frankly stated
ths't ne had often signed papers pre-
pared in Machen's division without ex-
aiming into their contents before they
came to him in official form and be-
cause of the fact that he regarded Ma
chen as one of the most expert men in
the service ana relied on him.
John +. HoWley. Mr.. Wynnc's chief
clerk, occupied the stand for Il brief
time, the principal part of his testi-
ihoiE relating to the fact that he suS-
Sested to his superior Off err the ad-
FlSahllity of examining into the legality
OF Machen's initials and signature
placed on letters and acquisitions by
Machen's subCrdinates.
Inc cfOsS-eXamination OF John T
iioWlty, chief clerk in the office Of the
iifst assistant postmaster general, in
the tllal Of August w. Iiachen and
others was continued, M. Douglass
conducting the examination. The wit
ness detailed the duties Of the general
superintendent of free delivery but he
could not state them as a. fact simply
from his knowledge OF office practice.
Concerning the llacinG of Machcn's
name and initials on letters by subar-
dinates. witness s&il Miss Liebherdt,
Machens stenOgraphcr, had for sever
|al years done so. He knew OF this
practice three years before he became
chief clerk. He did not speak Of it to
mis- chief, he said, h., cause he old rot
want to interfere with the affairs OF
Machcn'S division. He tolerated it. he
said, until tn" postal investigation
came up and finally informed First
Assistant Postmaster General Wy1ne
that the legality of these initials and
signatures should b" looked into. Wit
ness submitted that the order of Mr..
Wynne prohibiting the delegating of
authority to others to sign the names
of division chiefs was not issued until
the Investigation was on.
Replying to close questioning. How
ley said he could not recall any time
when he held any conversation with
Mr.. Wynne affecting the expenditure
of money for his Office. He explained
that division chiefs were trusted in
these matters and that he himself
never Investigated the subject matter
of letters.
On further questioning he said the
siSt.t Mt opnnr1l
requested personally to sign any let
ters calling for the expenditure of
money. although from the number Of
matters Mr.. Wynnc mad to attend to
he did not investigate their nature or
the necessity for the expenditure.
Mr.. kumler then took the witness
and secured from him the statement
that until the investigation he never
heard of any criticism Of the Croft
fastener.
on redirect examination. Mr.. Tag
CERT Had the witness identify certain
orders for Croft fasteners signed by
MIR. Wynne and himself as acting first
assistant postmaster general. He could
NOT identify Mir. Machans initials or
signature on tho orders nor the con-
tents of the papers, saying he had ncV-
or looked ut them.
Mr.. Wynnc. first assistant, having
took the stand and said that in the
nuttcr of the purchase of supplies TO"
the free delivery service he always
traasactcd his business with III.
AT2chcn, the general superintendent.
liz said it was not part of his dutlf3
to personally attend to the direction or
re.:aration of orders for Croft fasten-
crs or other supplies, no: did he deter
mine the question as to whether these
supplies were absolutely necessary %"
not unless particularly brought 70 his
nttcnti0n. In all such matters nc said
he relied upon Mr.. MaChen.
Attorney Kumler made II vigorous
protest against the admission OF Mr.
| WyAie. latter statement ms evidence,
| but was overruled by Justice Prifrhard
| AND m ,NrGptinn was noted. Continue
| ing. Mr. Wynne testified that III ali
matters where no question arose, Nv.
| Ma,hun would decide them for the first
assistant postmaster general. but
where any question was involved ne
| himself decided il.
Counsel for defendants took cTcop-
! ton to the character of Mr.. Wynne's
+ testimony. 1t was Insisted that Mach
en- is not charged in the indictment
| with the duty Of deciding anything and
| that the government ought not to D.
! allowed to go beyond the scope Of its
own allegations. The court ovcrrulc1
the pc;nt and an exception WAS noted.
Mr.. WYNN, said he had never heard of
the Croft fastener until the investigation
developed.